Gilpin observer., 1902-02-06
FATE OF BIDDLEs.
MURDERERs oHoT IN BATTLE
sUcCUMD TO WOUNDS.
Autopsy Rcaro Gu. atatsmcnt That
They Shot Observation-Disclosures In
noocnce in Killing Nahney and l-itz.
gerald to the Last.


fate of the Biddles is the sole topic of
conversation here and a curious throng
OF people haze been defying the storm,
hanging about the Jail entrance in
vain attempts to get in to see the bod
les of the dead murderers. A great
deal of sympathy for the boys is ex-
pressed on all sides. The verdict OF
the coroner's jury is that Ed Biddle
came to his death by revolver shot
fired by himself and that Jack Biddle
met his death from a gunshot wound
inflicted by the officers in discharge CT
their lawful duty. The evidence Sc
cured by the autopsy bears out the
statements that the Biddles intended
to kill themselves rather than he
taken alive, and that Ed succeeded
in his attempt, while Jack failed.
though his life was forfeited.
The Biddles, who were under sen
tence of death for murder. es-
capped from the Allegheny county
Jail, aided by Mrs. Soffel, the wife Of
the Jail warden. on Thursday morning.
Mrs. ScKeI Is Worse.
Mrs. Soffel is reported to be splitting
blood at the hospital and ner condi-
ton is not considered favorable. the
track of the bullet wound in her breast
runs close TO the pleura, and the doc
tors are not yet able to tell whether
the hemorrhage is caused bg the
wound or is attributable to some other
cause which has not yet fully deyel-
oped.
ri " he ort -f,
man Catholic church, under the pro-
tecting wing of which the condemned
murderers had found spiritual rest.
the Biddles and Mrs, SoIel had re-
solved to make their escape. 1t was
Mrs. SoffePs plan and the arrange
ment was as soon as the trio had
reached q place OF temporary safety.
they were to don the black robes and
wells as travelling Sisters Of Mercy.
The thought that though the means
was death. she had assisted her lover
to escape the scefold seemed to scothe
Mrs. Soffels mind and wounds. She
remarked to the attendants in the hos.
pital that she had accomplished her
purpose and was ready to meet her
fate.
pcctor Tells CT Deash5sd Torturco.
DR.. Bricker gave the following state
melt after the autopsy: Jack Bid
die was the worst wounded OF the Two
men, although he was in better ccndi-
tion than Ed when the men were
brought to the jail Friday night. He
had two gunshot wounds On the right
side in the region CT the liver, the bull
let's ressinS up and around the body
and did no damage. They were re-
moved on Saturday. A bullet would
was found in the roof of the mouth.
but IL was slight and would not have
caused his death. The wound was in
ficted by himself, with the evident
intention of committing suicide. IN
all. Jack was suffering from nine
wounds, but excepting the ono that
penetrated the kidney none of them
would have been fatal. Eds terrible
sufferings we're caused By bullet
wound that struck him on the lett
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. This wound was made by
Ed himself. The powder marks are
visible on the skin. Death was caused
by hemorrhages and the man suffered
untold agony to the last breath Both
bullets found in Ed were 80 calibre
and in the opinion of the doctors who
held the autopsy there is no doubt that
he killed himself"
After the autopsy the bodies of the
Biddles were taken in charge by an
undertaken. who prepared them for
burial. Arrangements are being made
to take the Biddles to Pittsburg to-
day. They will be in charge of Shsy.
III Ho6n.
Since the officers concerned in the
fight have had time to cool Off little,
there seems to be a disposition to be
fair to each other in the matter of
the distribution of the prize money.
and an agreement to divide the $4,000
equally among the four officers here,
the driver. J. A. Snyder, and the three
Plttsburg detectives has been practi-
cally consented to by all the men.
Deny They Killed Men.
Rev. Father Walsh, who admins
tered to the Biddles in their dying
hours, in sn interview, said: Besides
the statements given cut by the Biidle
boys to the newspapers and officers.
both Ed and Jack Biddle made conre3-
sions to me. While ministering to
them almost every hour after they
were brought to jail, they often would
talk to me of how they were wrongly
accused of crimes. They denied POSI-
lively that they killed Grocer Kahney
in Mount Washington. and Ed told me
in the most emphatic terms that he
did not shoot Detective Patrick Fftz-
gerald. The poor boys died like dogs,
literally riddled with bullets and some
one should be held responsible for in
human actions in shooting them when
entirely helpless"