The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-03
BIDDLES we're
SHOT TO PIECES
AUTOPSY ON THE BODIES HELD
YESTERDAY SHOWED TER
RIFLE WOUNDS
ED BIDDLE KILLED HIMSELF
But Jack WAS Fatally and FearfuIiy
RiddIed by the Cans OF the Pur-
suing Officers, Says the
COrOner's Jury.


throng of people have been defying the
storm, hanging about the Jail entrance
in vain attempts to get in to see the
bodies of the dead men. A great deal
of sympathy for the boys is expressed
on all sides, and not a few of the fe-
male portion of the crowd expressed a
desire to see what manner of a man
Ed Biddle was that he should exert
such a wonderful influence over men,
and particularly women.
The Jail doors We're closed all day and
no one got in but the doctors who at
tended the autopsy, and the cOroners
jury, which organized at o'clock this
morning. Even the newspaper reporters
were excluded from the inquest, which
was held in the Jail and nothing con-
corning their deliberations could be learn
ed till late in the afternoon.
The testimony of all the officers con-
cerned in the capture was taken except
Ray, the Butler policeman, who is sick
abed; also the testimony of DR.. r. 8.
Greer, one of the doctors who attended
the BiddIes and of Sheriff Thomas r.
Hoon.
One Suicided, Other Killed.
The verdict of the jury is that Ed
Biddle came to his death by a revolver
shot fired from 32-caliber revolver by
himself and that Jack Biddle met his
death from a gunshot wound inflicted by
QlSCQdTS6
lawful duty.
Under the instructions of Coroner John
L. Jones an autopsy was held on both
the Biddles this morning.
The evidence secured by the autopsy
bears out the statements that the Bid
dies intended to kill themselves rather
than be taken alive, and that Ed sue
ceeded in his attempt, while Jack failed,
though his life was forfeited.
DR.. Bricker gave the following state
ment after the autopsy:
Jack Biddle was the worst shot of
the two men, although he was in better
condition than Ed when the men were
brought to the Jail on Friday night. He
had two gunshOt wounds on the right
side in the region of the liver the bull
lets passing up and around the body and
doing no damage. They were removed
on Saturday. A bullet wound was found
in the roof of the mouth but it was
slight and would not have caused his
death. This wound was inflicted by him
self with the evident intention of COM
hitting suicide.
Both Men Terribly Wounded.
'His right arm was shattered by five
bullet wounds. The wound that caused
his death was made by a 41.75 caliber bull
let that passed through the crest of the
1hum on the right side and passed back
through the kidney, causing hemorrhage.
In all Jack was suffering from nine
wounds, but excepting the one that pene-
trated the kidney none of them would
have been fatal.
Eds trrible sufferings were caused
by bullet wound that struck him in
the left breast about an inch and a half
to the right of the nipple and passed
down between the fourth and fifth ribs
to the left of the heart and through
the lung. The wound was made by him
1,oi,,
the skin Death was caused by hemor-
images and the men suffered untold
agOn yto the last breath
Another wound found on his body was
on the same side, ABOUT al iach from
the lett nipple; but the bullet struck
the fourth rib, passed under the skin
and did no damage. Both bullets found
in Ed were thirty-two caliber and in the
opinion of the doctors there is no doubt
that he killed himself
To Pc Buried at Pittsburg.
After the autopsy the bodies of the
Blddies We're taken in charge by an I'M
dertaker who prepared them for burial
Arrangements are being made to take
the bodies to Pittsburg tomorrow, in
charge of Sheriff T. r. Hoon. Since the
officers concerned in the fight and cap
ture of the Biddles have had time to
cool off little there appears to be a
disposition to be fair towards each other
IN the matter of the distribution of the
prize money, and an agreement to d1-
VIDE the $1,000 equally among the four
officers here, the driver, J. A Snyder.
ana the three Pittsburg detectives, has
been practically consented to by all of
tho men except Detective McGovern. WIN
is not here today
Contrasting Clerical Views.
Rev. Father Daniel S. Walsh. rector Of
st. Paui's Roman Catholic church. who
administered to the Biddles in their dv
ing hours, spoke touchingly of them to
the members of his parish in both masses
this morning. He touched briefly on
their published statements and said it
was for every person to decide for them
selves as to the innocence or guilt of
the men.
When seen at his residence Father
Walsh said:
Besides the statements given out bv
the Blddle boys to the newspapers. and
officers of Butler county. both Ed and
Jack Biddle made confessions 70 me
Their confessions were full and com
plete In every particular and will never
be revealed
''They denied positively that they killed
Grocer Kinney in Mount Washington.
and Ed told me in the most emphatic
terms that he did not shoot Detective
Patrick Fitzgerald.
The poor boys died like dogs, literally
riddled with bullets and someone -shouId
be held responsible for inhuman actions
IN shooting them when entirely heIpless
unarmed and unable to make the slight
est defense or resistance"
Rev. Samuel Welt, of ST Marks Evan
gellcaI Lutheran church criticised severe
ly the woman, whom he held responsible
for the whole affair He said:
The Biddles and Mrs SoffeI made n
vain flight from justice and retributfon
swiftly came upon them The blindness
and infatuation of this woman in leav-
ing her husband and helpless little child
rem for gang of desperadoes is the
worst criminal act thus far in the his
tory Of the twentieth century,
Dead Mon rs CuriOsitIeS.
This evening the bodies of the Biddles
We're removed from the Jail to one of
the Railways of the sheriff's dwelling.
ana the public was given an opportunity
OF looking at the two notorious Grim
inals.
Late tonight a long line of people are
standing IN front Of the door. the wind
blowing about their ears and the driving
snow singing their faces like icicles
waiting their turn, and noticeable among
the crowd is the number of women who
are curious, even in death, to see Ed
Biddle, the man who is said to have had
such charm over women when he was
alive.
Mrs. Soffel is reported to be expectorat
ing blood tonight at the hospital and her
condition is not considered favorable