The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-02
Declared that He Was Not Guilty of
Killing Grocer kahney or De-
tective Fitzgerald.
JOHN BIDDLE ALSO INNOCENT
SAID HIS BROTHER AND HIMSELF
WE'RE wRONGFULLY CONVICTED.
All Shot Themselves Rather Than he
CnptureG--Letter to Mrs. SoffeI
That Revealed the Conspiracy.

PITTSBURG, Feb. 1-There will be no
work for the hangman in the case of the
condemned murderers who escaped from
the jail here last Thursday morning, and
who were shot on a Butler county highway
on Friday evening. John Biddle died of
his wounds at 7:S5 o'clock tonight, and Ed
ward Biddle succumbed at IL D. m. Mrs
soffel, the wardens wife. who assisted the
nurderers to escape. and who was wounded
in the fight that resulted in the capture of
the Biddles. is in a critical condition, bat
may recover.
Mrs. soffel developed symptoms OF pneu-
monia this afternoon, after having come
safely through an operation this morning
for the extraction of the bullet that lodged
IN her breast. The death Of John Biddle
was caused by the bullet wounds in his
abdomen and bladder. Early in the day
the physicians at Butler thought peritonitis
was the principal danger in his case. but
tonight internal hemorrhage set in and the
man bled to death in a short while.
Edward Biddle had been unconscious the
better part OF the day, and it was evident
to all that his lease of life was short. In
ternal hemorrhages OF the lungs kept him
almost continually choked A sister of the
Biddles arrived at Butler this evening and
was admitted to the jail, but Edward was
unable to recognize her. He fingered until
IL o'clock when he like his brother. sue
cumbed TO his wounds.
REPENTANT AT THE CLOSE.
AS long as he was able John was ex-
tremely talkative and was at times boast
full But as soon as the shadow of death
began to fall upon him and he recognized
It. he became repentant. '.I know" said
he, that my time here is short, and you
can say for me that am Christian and
will die a sincere believer in God and hope
I will have strength enough TO say so at
the last. I know 1 have taken part In many
wrong deeds. but 1 have never killed any
man and was never implicated with any one
who did wish I could see Mrs Kahney.
I would tell her the truth about the killing
Of her husband. This life has been pretty
tough to me and the end cannot come too
quick and I don't care how
the streets at Butler to-day has been
whether the Butler county authorities
would permit the removal of the Riddles to
Allegheny county in the event of either or
both surviving their injuries. The conten-
tiOn was raised that, since the Biddles were
under arrest at Butler for felonious shoot
ing they could not be removed. District
Attorney John r. Henninger dispelled any
doubts on that point this evening by stating
that il was the intention to turn Edward
Biddle over TO the Allegheny authorities as
soon as he was in condition 10 be moved
with safety If he survived, and the same
action would be taken with reference to
Mrs Soffel. District Attorney John c.
Havmaker. Assistant District Attorney
John : Robb and County Detective Robert
G. Robinson, of Allegheny county, arrived
at Butler at noon to-day and at o'clock
were in conference with District Attorney
Henninger. County Solicitor T. W. Lawry'
former District Attorney A NJ. Christler
and J. NJ Painter and w. z. Murrin' wh'n
an understanding was reached with re1er-
ence 10 the disposition of the prisoners
FEAR TO REMOVE MRS. SOFFEL-
After a consultation at the hospital In
the case OF Mrs. SOffel this evening, DIS
trict Attorney HaynIaker decided to allow
dition is such that a trip to Pittsburg to-
night might be attended with fatal results.
Mrs SoffeI is suffering considerably from
her wound, and the attending physicians
fear her removal now would cause gan
creme 10 set in.
Attorney Haymaker said there would be
no decision made of the prize money un-
I'll the claims of the Butler people had
haeo hoard and the latter will take steps
T. notify the commissioners of Allegheny
county Of their claim.
The excitement at Butler was unabated
to-day and a dense crowd Of people hung
about the Jail doors all day trying to get
in To see the two criminals. The most per-
sistent Of the crowd were women, many
OF whom expressed the deepest concern and
sympathy for Edward Biddle and declared
their belief in his innocence. This belief
seemed to deepen when it became known
that Edward Riddle made deathbed con-
fession TO the Rev. Father Walsh of this
place. last night. declaring his innocence OF
the crime Of shooting Groeeryman hahheS
and Detective Fitzgerald.
one OF the sensational developments OF
the day. which the authorities have tried
u keep secret. was the finding OF long
letter from Edward Biddle to Mrs. soneL
setting forth in detail the plan for the es-
cape OF the brothers from the Jali' haiii"e
their destination afterward, etc
MRS. SOFFEL'S STORIES.
Mrs SoneFs only wound was made oy
bullet which penetrated the left breast
II was from a .32-caIbre revolver. ana
coursed around the rib TO the left sioe.
lodging in the shoulder blade. ABOUT