The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-01
WIFE OF A WARDEN TRIES
TO Die WITH GUILTY LOVER
Infatuated Woman Stands Up in the Sleigh and
Shoots at the Officers
When the Desperate Battle Was Over She and Her Companions
Were Wounded


1t is the intention Of The authorities
to prosecute Mrs. Soffel when she re-
covers. although there are many per-
sons who contend she was either hyp-
Noticed or insane.
Story Of the Detectives.
The story of the fight as told by one
Of the detectives follows:
1he Biddles were sitting on the right
side of the cutter. Mrs. Soffel was
on the left side. When Detective Nc
Govern called to them 10 hold up their
hands and surrender Ed Biddle jumped
UP and, raising a shotgun, fired at
McGoyern. He aimed badly and the
shot scattered alongside the road.
Almost simultaneously Detectives
McG0yern and Roach discharged their
WinChesters at Ed Biddle. Both shots
took effect. Jack Biddle raised from
the seat and discharged his revolver at
the three officers. Detective Swine
I heart steadied himself and fired his
45-Calibre Colt revolver at Jack. The
ball took effect in Jacks arm. Then
] The detectives opened a rapid fire on
the escapes. The shots Knocked them
out Of the sleig =. Ed fell SPRAYING
on the snow and Jack fell on top of
him their firearms falling from their
/ hands
The Woman Collapses.
The Bddles horse then became
frightened and ran away across a field.
IT was at this time that Mrs. SoffeI
was seen to collapse in the sleigh. The
detectives approached the wounded
men. and Detective Swineheart was
rushing in on them, when Detective
MeGOvern called TO him to stay back,
| that the Biddles were only feigning.
Detective Roach saw Ed Biddle
reach in his coat pocket as if for a
gun, and the detective shot him again.
Then Detective McGovern ran up
within five feet of the boys and emp
| tied his Winchester into them. The
Biddles then yielded. and Roach and
( McGovern handcuffed their hands and
/ feet, and they were taken to Butler.
Mrs. Soffel, Who had fallen from the
sleigh when the horse ran away. was
picked UP and placed in the detectives
large sleigh with her companions and
! taken to the hospital at Butler.
Edward Biddle's Statement.
At the Jail tonight Ed Biddle called
for a priest and made the following
statements
II have been accused of a great many
serious crimes. i admit that I could
lave conmitted nanr as the opaoT-
tunities for them presented themselves
/ l want TO say now that / did not kill
/ Detective Fitzgerald, nor did 1 shoot
/ Thomas Kahney, nor was my brother
implicated in the latter affair Mrs.
! Soffei aided us in getting out OF the
/ county Jail, and had it not been for
her we would have made our escape
today She gave up everything for us.
and | was bound to back her. 1 did
/ not shoot her. Sc shot herself Oh
/ rather bless me nd tell me that nv
! sings are forgiven"
Although 1 have been pictured to
| you as desperate man. I still have
some heart and gratitude for the wo-
man who helped us to escape. She
merely did it out of good sympathy
/ for US. l persuaded her to do it. i
! told her / was guiltless of the crime
for which ! was about to be executed.
/ and she was impressed and yielded TO
my suggestion. 1 planned it all
Woman's Sympathy For Prisoners.
Father Walsh administered the last
rites OF the dying, and Biddle rolled
! over on his face and sighed. He was
! asked II he wanted any word taken TO
his brother and he shook his head.
Inc entire party, officers and prison.
/ ers are expected to arrive in this CITY
/ toIllSHl on q special train. Mrs. SOffel
made a statement after her capture, in
] which she said she became involved in
/ the affair through her sympathy for
/ I'd Biddle. She said she now realized
her mistake and wished she was dead.
: She said she did not shoot herself. but
was the first one shot by the detec-
/ tives. The officers say the woman was
armed but don't think she fred any
/ shots
! DR.. J. +. Ayres. who examined the
/ Biddles and Mrs. SOffeI as soon as the
/ prisoners were taken into the county
1 Jail, made the following statement to
/ night; The wounds of all three
prisoners are exceedingly grave and
may result fatally before another TWEEN
! ty-fOur hours
THE bullet which struck Mrs. SoffeI.
and which appears to be self-innicted.
| entered her left breast, going through
| the nipple and passing back about six
( inches through her chest. 1t lodged
under the skin of the back. almost op-
posite its point of entrance. From nv
I examination of Mrs SOffel's wound I
I think she may live. but her exposure to
/ the cold and the excitement and nerv-
ous shock Of this affair may so com
piicate matters that her wound may
prove fatal.