Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03
FATE OF THE RIDDLES
CONTINUED. from First Pase.)

pared them for burial. Arrangements are
being made to take the bodies to Pittsburg
tomorrow morning. They will be In charge
Of Sheriff b. r. Hoon.
At 6 O'Clock this evening the bodies of
the Biddles we're removed from the Jail to
one Of the Railways OF the sherin's DWELL
Ing, and the public was given an oppor-
tunity Of looking at the two notorious Grim
lnals. Hundreds OF people had braved the
worst blizzard Of the year, besieging the
Jail doors for admittance. which was re-
fused until this evening, when the doors
Of the dwelling house attached to the fall
we're opened and all we're given an oppor-
tunity to crafty their morbid curiosity.
Late tonight a long line Of people is
standing in front Of the door, the blizzard
blowing about their ears, each waiting his
or her turn. Noticeable among the crowd
Is the lumber Of women to see. even In
death, Ed BiddleS who is said to have
had such a charm over the women when he
was alive.
Mrs. soffel Is reported TO be having
hemorrhages from the mouth tonight at
the hospital and her condition is not con-
sidered favorable. The track of the bull
let wound in her breast runs close to the
pleura, and the doctors are not yet able TO
tell whether the hemorrhages is caused by
~ Jul VI 40 6NNA iUANablV " UNIV OehNA
cause.
Since the officers concerned in the Ugh
have had time to cool of a little there
seems to be a disposition to be fair to each
other In the matter Of the distribution of
the prise money, and an arrangement to
divide the 81, 200 equally among the four
officers here, the driver, j. A. Snyder, and
the three PittsbuFg detectives, has been
practically consented to by all the men, ex-
cept Detective McGovern, who Is not here
today.
Preach ON the Crime.
The pastors Of nearly all the churches
in Butler today referred to the sensational
capture Friday of Mrs, Kate Sofel and
John aud Edward Biddle, who died in the
county Jail last night,
Rev. Father Walsh. rector Of st. Paul's
Roman Catholic church. who ministered to
the Blddles In their dylNg hours, spoke Of
them 70 the member of his congregations.
He touched briefly on the.r statements
given out and said 1t was for every person
to decide for himself as to the guilt or
innocence Of the men. When seen at his
residence this afternoon. Father walsh
said:
Besides the statSInshts given out by
the Biddie boys to tEs Svaspapers and
officers, both Ed and Jack Biddle made
confessions to ME. Eds was made on
Friday night. There was no one present
but myself and Jack lying in the next cell.
Jack did not confess until yesterday. Their
confessions were full and complete in every
particular and they will never be revealed,
While ministering. TO them almost, every
hour after they were brought to. fail, they
often would talk to me of how they were
wrongly accused Of crimes.
Deny Committing Murder.
They denied positively that they killed
Grocer Kahney In Mount Washington, and
Ed told me In the most emphatic terms that
he did not shoot Detective Patrick Fitz-
gerald,
The poor boys died like dogs, literally
riddled with bullets. and some one should
be held responsible for inhuman actions
in shooting them down when they were
entirely helpless, unarmed and unable to
make the slightest defense"
Rev. Samuel Cronin West OF st. Marks
Evangelical Lutheran church. in his SER
mon tonight. spoke at length Of the GRIM
inal history made in Butler county In the
past few days. He criticized severely the
woman, whom he held responsible for the
whole affair. He saidi
The BIddles and Mrs. Soffel made a vain
flight from justice and retribution swiftly
came upon them. The blindness and In
fatuation Of this woman In leaving her
husband and helpless little children for a
gang OF desperadoes Is the worst criminal
act thus far in the history OF the twentieth
century"
Disguised In ChurehIy Garb.
Wearing the gaFb of nuns Of the Roman
Catholic church. under the protecting wing
Of which the condemned murderers had
found spiritual rest, the Biddles and Mrs.
Soiel had resolved to make their escape.
1t was Mrs. Soffei's plan. and the arrange
ment Fas, as soon as the trio had reached
a place Of temporary safety. they were to
don the black robes and wells as travelling
Sisters OF Mercy. They had planned to
make for some remote mining place In
Canada. whers they were to live together,
Mrs. soffel's dead lover had told her that
he intended to give up his former netar-
ious trade and work in the mines with
Jack.
This statement was made to DR.. Brleker
at the Butler hospital by Mrs.
SoEel. and was confirmed by Jack Biddle.
Saturday. II was not Jacks intention al
ways TO remain with his brother and his
sweetheart. While Or. Bricker was at
tending the displrited woman at the hos
pitai she Conhded this plan Of escape.
JACK biddle told DR.. brickef, before he
died, that they we're at a loss for some plan
to disguise themselves when they broke Jail,
I This problem was unsolvable - them for
days. Al last Mrs. SOfel hit on this means
for her lover and his brother. 1t was pro-
posed to the condemned men only two
weeks ago. and that was the only link in
! their chain Of night that hEd not been
forged. by the men.
I'd Biddle told Mrs. sofel he had many
friends in Toledo, o., and in Michigan.
When once with them they would secure
some assurance Of their future freedom.
/, With Mrs. soffel. Ed Biddle planned their
future as husband and wife.
Mrs. sOneI Better Satisfied.
The thought that though the means wal
death, she had assisted her lover TO escape
, the scaffoid. seemed to sooth Mrs. soneTs
. mind and wounds today. She remarked %
! the attendants in the hospital that she had
accomplished her purpose and was ready to
meet her fate.
At midnight conflicting reports are made
! concerning Mrs. sonel's condition. One Il
that the symptoms Of pneumonia are beeom-
j, Ing pronounced, and II not checked soou
- ur,..Ia nrava fatal