The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-01
DESPERATE FIGHT ON ROAD
FUGITIyEs AND PURSUERS WERE
BOTH IN sLEIGHS.
All Well Armed, but the Aim of the
Murderers Was POOr-Edward
BiddIe's Statement.

PJTTSBURG, Jan. 31.-Edward Biddle in
Jail dying. John Biddle. riddled with buck
shot and in a precarious condition, and
Mrs. Peter X. Soffel lying in the hospital
with a bullet wound in the breast is
the sequel of the sensational escape of the
Biddle brothers from the Allegheny county
Jail. aided by Mrs. Soffel, the wife of thu
Jail warden. on Thursday morning. 1t was
reported that Mrs. SoneI had shot herself
but in a statement tonight she said her
wound was inflicted by her captors.
The story of the close of the Biddle trag
edy which came at 5:45 o'clock this after
noon, as told in dispatches from Butler,
Pa, is a. thrilling one. The scene was a
snow-covered road two miles east of Pros
pect. Butler county. near Mount Chestnut.
and the exact place was at McClure's barn.
where two double-team sleighs. filled with
eight officers, three of them Pittsburg de-
tectives-John Roach, Albert Swinehart
and Charles McGovern-met the two Bid
dies in a one-horse sleigh stolen at Perrys-
Vile, and at once opened fire on the trio.
The Biddles returned the fire after jumping
out of the sleigh. Edward Biddle was
shot In the left arm. IN the breast and in
one leg. John Biddle was riddled with
buckshot in the breast and head.
The Pittsburg officers were met at Butler
this afternoon by Deputy Sheriffs Rainey
and Hoon and officers Frank Holiday and
Aaron Thompson, the latter under COM
nand of Chief OF Police Robert Ray, of
Butler. The officers were certain that they
were on the right trail. 1t was only ques-
ton OF time when they would catch up
to the escaping condemned murderers and
their guilty companion.
THE PURSUIT.
The Biddles and Mrs. Soffel ate dinner at
J. J. Stephens's at Mount Chestnut, five
miles east OF Butler. They had made a de-
tour OF the town of Butler. and after going
several miles east turned north and then
west. The Pittsburg officers. only a few
miles In the rear. took the wrong road for
about eight miles. but when they found
their mistake they made up for lost time
by teiephoning and telegraphing ahead for
fresh horses. They reached Mount Chest
nut not less than half an hour after the
Biddles and Mrs. sofel. At this point VIII
liam Watson. storekeeper had fresh horses
awaiting them, and the chase for life began
anew.
The two sIeighs with the eight officers
aboard started westward and met the Bid
dies and Mrs. Soffel at McCIure's barn, two
miles from Mount Chestnut, the Biddles
having learned that they were almost over
taken, and. taking what they considered
the only chance they had. drove eastward
and met their doom.
The Pittsburg and other officers were
armed with Winchester rifles and revoIvers
of large caliber. They shot to kill and their
aim was perfect. The Biddles tried to Kill
TO the last OF their string. but not one OF
the eight officers has wound as a result of
the fight.
OPENED FIRE.
When the detectives got within about six
~ yards of the fugitives they opened fire.
The Biddles promptly answered with shot
gun and revolvers. When Edward Bid
die fell and Mrs. Soffel realized she
vas about to be captured. II is alleged. she
aref bullet into her breast. but this. as
sdy stlied. she denies. An examination
- phvsfcili.s SHOWS that she will recover.
= the builet wcs dsi,ccted by her corset
ard the wound is comparatively slight
Edward Biaalc got q bullet fu he breast
vhich penetrated MS rieht lung ana will
probaals caG hls Hfe before morning John
Biddle m4. recover hi- wounds. thoush
numerous. faiiiDg a. ac' a Fltll spor
The escape of the officers is marvellous.
The Biddles have demonstrsted on ssvcfel
occasions that they are gooG morrison n.
and why they should have failed u 20
bring down their men is a mystery.
After the Biddles fell TO the snow-covered
ground the officers picked up the apparent
Iv Iifeless bodies OF Mrs. SofIel and the Bid
dies and came back TO Butler. bringing the
stolen sleigh. patehed-up harness srf
vorn-out horses that the 60. fsd tried 30
strenuously - go awsy Dlth .owsrd Cane