The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-02-08
BOTH BIDDLRs DEAD.
Tragedy Of the Pennsylvanis Crimi-
nails Comes. to IN END
at Butler.

:
the worse in the condition of theii
companion, Mrs. Soffel, and the dis
closure that the three fugitiyes came
by their wounds as the result of con
certed attempt to commit suicide were
developments that kept at high pitcf
the interest in the tragic running dowr
Of the escaping prisoners from Pitts
burg. "Jack" Biddle's death was caused
by bullet wounds in his abdomen ant
bladder. Early in the day the ply
sicians thought peritonitis was the
principal danger in his case, but al
night internal hemorrhages set in and
the man bled to death in short while
As long as he was able Jack was ex
tremely talkative, and was at times
boastful. But as soon as the shadow
of death began to fall upon him and he
recognized 1t he became repentant
Ed Biddle was uncon scious most of the
day. Internal hemorrhage of the lungs
kept him almost continually choked
The end came at IL o'clock Saturday
night. Mrs. Soffel developed symp.
toms-of pneumonia after having come
safely through an operation for the ex-
traction of the bullet. She is in crit
ical condition.
An inquest was held Sunday. The
verdict of the jury is that Ed Biddle
came to his death by revolver shot
fired from a 32-caliber revolver by
himself. and that Jack Biddle met his
death from a gunshot wound inflicted
by the officers in discharge of their
lawful duty. Under the instructions of
Coroner John L. Jones, an autopsy was
held on both the Biddles Sunday morn
ing. The surgeons in charge were Drs.
McCurdy Bricker and j. Clinton Atwell.
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.
Jack Biddle was the worst shot of the
two men. In all he suffered from nine
wounds. Only one of these wounds, a
slight one in the roof of the mouth, was
inflicted by himself. with the evident
intention of committing suicide. Eds
terrible sufferiugs were caused by a
bullet wound that struck him on the
left breast about II. inches to the right
of the nipple and passed down between
the fourth and 9Th ribs TO the left
o. the heart and through the lung.
This wound was made by EG himself
the powder marks being visible on the
IL ~. -
o-rhages and the zar sEsere6 untold
srony 20 the last breath Another
wound found or his bc.5F was on the
same side, about AZ inca from the eft
nipple. but the bullet s-rzek the fourth
rib. passed under the ska and did no
damage. Both bullets found in Ed
were s2-czliber. ard in the opinion OF
The doctors who held the autopsy there
is 10 doubt that he killed himself.
At six o'clock Sunday evening the
bodies of the Biddles were removed
from the jail TO one of the Railways
Of the sherif-s dwelling. and the pub
lie was given an opportunity of look
ing at the two notorious criminals.
Hundreds of people during the day
braved the worst blizzard of the year,
besieging the Jail doors for admit
lance, which was refused until even
ing, when the doors of the dwelling
house attached to the Jail were opened
and everybody given an opportunity
10 crafty their morbid curiosity. I'm
til late at night long line of people
were 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 no.
ticeable among the crowd was the
number of women, who were curious,
even in the death. to see Ed Biddle,
the man who is said to have had such
n charm over women when he was
alive. Mrs. Soffel is reported to be
splitting blood at the hospital, and her
condition is not considered favorable.