Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-03
ED KILLED HIMSELF.
Autopsy Shows that He Shot Himsef
Through the Breast.

Butler Pa, Feb. 1.-The terrible fate of
the Biddles is the sole topic of convcrsa-
ito nhere, today, and curious throng of
people have been defying the storm. hang
tempt to get in to see the bodies of the
dead murderers. a great deal of sympa-
thy for the boys is expressed on all sides
and not a few of the female portion of
manner of a man Ed Biddle was that he
should exert such a wonderful influence
over men and particularly women.
Under the instructions of Coroner John
T. Jones, an autopsy was held on both
the Biddles, this morning. The evidence
secured by the autopsy bears out the
statements that the Biddles intended to
kill themselves rather than be taken alive
and that Ed succeeded in his attempt.
DR.. Bricker gave the following state
ment after the autopsy:
Jack Biddle was the worst shot of the
two men. although he was in better con-
dition than Ed when the men were
brought to JAIL Friday night. Jack had
two gunshot wounds ON the right side
in the region of the liver The balls pass
ing up and around the body did no DAM
age. They were removed, Saturday.
bullet wound was found in the roof of
the mouth but it was slight and would
not have caused death. This wound was
inflicted by himself with the evident in
tention of committing suicide.
His right arm was shattered by five
bullet wounds The wound that caused
his death was made by a IL alibre bull
let that passed through the crest of the
iilium on the right side and passed back
through the kidney, causing hemorrhage.
In all Jack was suffering from nine
wounds, but excepting the one that penc-
trated the kidney, none of them would
have been fatal.
Eds terrible sufferings were caused by
bullet wound that struck him in the left
breast about an inch and half to the
right of the nipple and passed down be-
\,
of the heart and through the lung. This
wound was made by Ed himself. the
powder marks being visible on the skin
Death was caused by hemorrhages anu
the man suffered untold agony to the last
breath. Another wound found on his
body was on the same side about an inch
from the left nipple, but the bullet struck
the fourth rib, passed under the skin and
did no damage. Both bullets found in Ed
were s2-calibre and in the opinion of the
doctors who held the autopsy there is no
doubt that he killed himself"
Since the officers concerned in the fight
and capture of the Biddles have had time
to cool off little. there appears to be a
disposition to be fair towards each other
in the matter of the distribution OF the
prize money and an agreement to divide
the $1,000 equally among the four officers
here. the driver. J. A. Snyder. and the
three Pttsburg detectives has been prac
tically consented to by all of the men
except Detective McGovern, who IS not
mere, tOudy
The testimony taken at the inquest was
voluminous making about 11.000 words.
and some parts of it quite sensational.
Testimony given by Deputy Sheriff
Rafney Hoon reflected severely on Nc
Govern. one of the Pittsburg detectives.
Deputy Hoon after describing the battle
said: Both the Biddles fell out of the
sled after 40 to so shots had been fired.
The woman fell forward She stayed Ia
the sleigh and the horse ran off with her
and passed into the field.
.'McGovern and 1 walked UP to tie
Biddle boys. They were both lying on
their faces. McGovcrn hit Jack on the
back of the head with the butt end of his
Winchester when he was on his face.
Then | turned Ed over on his back. Nc
govern stepped back and shot Jack again
after he was on the ground Ed said:
For Gods sake don't shoot again; let me
die. The slugs that entered the arms and
side of Jack Biddle were from the shot
fired by McGovern after he was lying
face down on the snow at close range.
Mrs. SoffeIs condition. tonight. is not
considered favorable by the physicians.