Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06
Escaped Pittsburg rlurder-
ers ReCaptured
Were Fleeing In Sleigh With
Mrs. SUffeI
Desperate Battle With De-
teCtiVeS Occurs

Butler Pa Feb edward Biddle and John Biddle, rid
died with bucksho and in precarious condition. and Mrs
feter r. SofeI lying in hospital with self-nfcted
IN her breast the sequel the sensational escape the Bdde
brothers from the Allegheny county JAIL aided by Mrs Soe
wife of the warden Thursday morning
lhe scene road miles IF Prospec
Butler county, Mount Chestnut ar - exact place at
McCures barn. where two double team seigh filed with eight
officers met the Biddes in onehorse sleigh stolen at Perry
VILE and at once opened fire. the Bddes returning the fire
after jumping of the sleigh The fugves ate dinner at
j. j. Stephens, at Mount Chestnut five miles east of Butler
They had made detour Butler and going several miles
east turned north and then The Pittsburg officers ony
few miles the rear took wrong road eight miles but made
up for lost time by telephoning and ephng ahead fresh
horses They reached Mount Chestnut half hour after the
uves Here they secured fresh horses and the chase for life
began The officers the Bddles and Mrs Soffel at
McClres barn, miles from Mt Prospect The Bddes
having learned that they almost overaen taking what
they considered their only chance drove eastward and
doom.
The officers armed winchester rifles and revoyers
Of large calbre They shot kill and their was perfect
The Blddes tried kill to the last of their string not an
officer wounded result of the battle When the detect
got within 60 yards of the fugves opened fire The
Biddes promptly answered with shotgun and revovers Mrs
Softer 1t was at first reported stood up the sleigh with
vover each hand and bazed away the pursuers
probably untrue
When Ed Bidde fell she saw she was about to be cap
ted she fired bullet into her breast She will as
bullet was detected by her corset and her wound compare
lively slight.
Ed Bidde got bullet the breast which penetrated his
right lung and he will probably die before morning John Bid
vital spot The escape of the officers miraculous The
Bddes had demonstrated several they
good marken and why they should have failed yesterday
bring down their men mystery After the Bdde fell the
officers picked the apparently eess bodies back
Butler bringing the stolen sleigh and the horse
trio had tried srenuouv get away with Canada
and liberty.
As Told By Detective.
The story of the fight told by detective The Biddles
sitting the right side of the Mrs Soel
left
Hod up your hands and surrender Detective McGov
el1 Ed Bddle jumped up raising shotgun and fired
McCovem. His aim bad and McGovern and Roach dis
charged their wincheers Ed Bdde Both shots took effect
Jack Bidde raised from his and discharged revolver
Detective Swnhart fired his As Colt revolver taking
effect in jacks The detectives opened fire in rapid
cession The shots knocked the Bddes of the sleigh Ed
dropped the and Jack fell top him. Their horse
becoming frightened away At this time Mrs Sofe
collapse in the slei Detectives approached the
wounded and Roach Ed dde reach his pocket
if for gun and the detective shot him again McGovern
then up within five feet and emped his winchester into
them. The Bdde then yielded They manacled hands
and feet and taken to Butler
Mrs Soe who had fallen from the sleigh when the horse
away picked up and placed with her companions and
taken the hospital Butler At the jail last night Ed Bid
die called for priest and made which he admit
ted many Crimes but denied that he his brother shot
i've Fitzgerald Thomas Kahney and said that Mrs Soe
assisted in their escape and that she shot herself He expressed
gratitude for the who listened his appeal got
of jail Seeing reporters near he turned upon them
denounced them as creating sentiment against him.
Roth lies ed