The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-05
BOTH PRISONERS DEAD.
The 5iddle Brothers Succumb to
Their Wounds.

-
Their Wounds.
Butler, Pa, February Sat the
close OF a day of intense excitement
and many conflicting stories concern
: ing the chances for life of the
wounded Biddle brothers and Mrs.
Kate Soffel, the unexpected has hap
pened. John Biddle, who until late
this afternoon was considered the
more likely of the brothers to escape
present death, succumbed first and
died at 1885 p. m. His brother Ed,
who has been unconscious all day
and who was considered in a dying
condition last night, survived until 10
o'clock, when he, too, went over the
great divide. Both men died with
out any apparent suffering at the
close.
Mrs. Soffel developed symptoms of
pneumonia this afternoon, after pass
ing through an operation this morn
ing for the extraction of the bullet.
She has chance for her life, and I'M
less some unforeseen complication
sets in she will recover. The death
of Jack Biddle was caused by bullet
wounds in his abdomen and body.
Early in the day physicians thought
peritonitis was the principal danger
in his case, but internal hemorrhage
set in and proved fatal in a short
while.
AS long as he was able, Jack was
extremely talkative and was at times
boastful. But as soon as the shadow
of death began to fall on him and he
recognized it he became repentant.
II know" said he, that my time is
short, and you can say for me that
I am Christian and will die a sin
cere believer in God, and hope I will
have strength enough to say so to the
last. I know / have taken part in
many wrong deeds, but I have never
killed any man, and was never impli-
Gated with any one who did. | wish
I could see Mrs. Kahney. l would
tell her the truth about the killing
Of her husband. This life has been
pretty tough to me, and the end can
not come too quick, and I don't care
how"
A sister of the Biddles arrived in
town this evening and was admitted
to the Jail, but Ed was unable to rec
ognize her.
A lost letter from Ed Biddle to his
prison sweetheart, Mrs. Kate Soffel,
found in the snow near the bloody
scene of their capture, reveals the
long, careful plot for their escape
from the Allegheny county Jail. The
letter clearly shows the hazardous
man to secure the escape of the Bid
dies. Since December 2, 1901, they
had been making preparations to es-
cape. The epistle tells how Mrs. Sof-
fel carried the saws to the cells of
the Biddles. 1t manifests the ex-
IRENE infatuation of Mrs. Soffel for
the murderer and burglar. It clearly
sows the wonderful influence Ed Bid
die had over Mrs. Soffel.
Mrs. Soffel fell in love with Ed
Biddle in November. The burglar
soon realized his power over her. It
not long until he started to write
love letters to her. His affection
was reciprocated. Mrs. Soffel fell
madly in love with Ed Biddle and
about the early part of December he
proposed a plan of escape to her.
She consented to lend him her aid
Between December IA and 16 they
had completed all the arrangements
to escape from the Jail. Then they
learned of the governors respite
After this Ed Biddle almost per-
suaded Mrs. Soffel to fly with him
and his brother. The contents of the
letter show that it was originally
agreed that Mrs. Soffel was to leave
the city for Canada on the eve of the
boys escape.
The letter, in part, follows:
I'VE were searched pretty close to-
day and these fellows would swear
on stack of bibles ten feet high
that we could not have had the stuff
on us since Saturday. See that you
clear yourself of all suspicion, with
out the fellow where you bought the
saws would come to the surface,
some people might suspect you. That
would cut no figure, they never could
prove it to save their lives.
ut would be much easier for us to
get away If you staid at home on &C
count of the warden, you know. In
case you should not want to go, go to
the post Office at Homestead about
March Is and call for mail under the
name of Mrs. Charles Mcdonald. You
will get a letter.
Watch the papers close and if
you see they have any trace any part
OF the way, leave Toronto on the
quiet and go to Montreal. Leave let
ter in Toronto for me and as soon as
you get settled in Montreal write me