Evening star., 1902-02-01
ALL TRIED SUICIDE
Story of "Jack" Biddle, the Recap
tured Convict.
Did NOT RETURN OFFICERS FIRE
"Ed" Biddle is Expected to Die
at Any Moment.
NOT RETURN OFFICERS FIRE
WOMAN MAY RECOV YER

Kate Soffel, who were wounded in the
battle with the Pittsburg and Butler po-
lice last evening, has not changed since
midnight, except in the case of Ed Bid
die, who has grown noticeably weaker, and
1t is believed that his death is now only
matter of a few hours. His temperature is
102; pulse, 49, respiration, -. and there
is evidence of almost continual internal
hemorrhages. Unless peritonitis sets in
Jack" will be taken to the hospital, where
an operation will be performed in the hope
of saving his life. The doctors have just
secured evidence that his bladder was
reached by the bullet, but his general
dition seems to be good
Mrs. Soffel is resting easily. Her only
wound was made by a bullet, which pene
trated the left breast within an inch of the
nipple. 1t was from a 32-caliber revolver
and courSed around the fifth rib on the left
side, lodging under the shoulder blade.
About o'clock this morning DR.. G. X.
McAdoo performed an operation on her, re-
moving the bullet, and she is in such
condition that her recovery is believed to
be a matter of very short time. Mrs.
Soffel tells two different stories of the
shooting, one to the effect that she shot
herself during the fight and the other that
she was shot by Edward Biddle. The bull
let did not go through her outer garment
which indicates that the shot was fired by
herself or Bidde by placing the revolver
up under the coat. legal battle is ex-
rive today, and at the Jail it is said the
only way the Pittsburgers will be able to
secure the Biddles will be by writ of ha-
beas corpus. The Butler authorities are
determined to Sght against their being
taken away
Jack Biddie's Statement.
From the statement made this morning
by Jack Bidde, in his cell. it is evident
that the escaped convicts and their accom-
plice had arranged to commit suicide in
case capture became imminent. In addi-
ton Jack also told how they escaped.
Their manner of getting out of JAIL accord
ing to his statement, was as has already
been published. McGeary, he says, fell
over the range when he jerked loose from
the hold the prisoner had on him. He says
Mrs. Soffel helped them to escape, but
would not say she supplied the saws The
saving of the bars of the cells, he says,
was completed before January IA, and that
several times previous to the day on which
the escape was made their plans failed
through some little detail. Jack again
reiterated that he never killed any one and
that he never put bullet into any one ex-
cept Keeper Reynolds He said the first
crime he committed was assisting to
rob liquor store at Carnegie, but admit
ted that he had participated in number
of robberies after that. After they had
left the Jail they went TO house near
railroad in Ptttsburg.
They remained there all of Thursday.
The people in the house, Jack said, when
they read of the escape from the Jail,
recognized them and would only let them
remain after the Biddles gave them
bunch of money.
They remained at the house until Thurs
day night leaving it as soon as 1t grew
dark. Jack says he wanted to stay
there and that Ed" was also willing to
STAY but that the woman was nervous
and afraid they would be caught. II
wouldn't let them go alone, Jack said,
''snd as soon as II grew dark went
down the street and took Perryville ave-
nue. car. We rode to the end of the line
and from there walked until we reached the
farm where We stole the horse.
Might Have Escaped.
IF 1t had not been for the woman we
would not have been caught, for we could
easily have gotten another horse, and by
this time been more than 100 miles away.
It's lead-pipe cinch that would have
escaped, but We could not let that poor
woman go by herself. She did all she could
with us-betrayed her husband. deserted her
family, all to help US out, and We would
have been great deal worse than are
thought to be If we had thrown her down.
When We saw the officers coming toward
us on the road yesterday evening we knew
1t was all up. We did not fire shot at
the officers. but agreed to kill ourselves. /
shot myself in the mouth. Ed shot him.
self over the heart, and the woman shot
herself in the breast We knew We had no
chance to get away, and We knew We would
swing IL taken back, and that is why We
wanted to kill ourselves"
two bulletholes through his mouth, inst cad
OF one, as first thought One of his other
wounds is through his abdomen, and it is
thought into his bowels, and this may
cause his death, because peritonitis usually
results from wounds of this kind Bullets
from two of his other wounds about the
stomach were taken out this morning.
The Biddles when captured had on the
same clothes they wore when they es-
caped. Jack had. in addition, light
9sleltOn oyercoat. Mrs Soffel also had on
clothes which lef hnr hnr
Through Eds coat there is one bullet
pole, but through the dark blue velvet vest
he wore are two holes made by the bullets
that are lodged near his heart Jacks"
coat and vest are literally riddled There
are four holes in the side of the coat and
ten in the right sleeve. The latter appear
TO have been made by small bullets
Jacks pistol was cheap 32-caliber af-
fair.
Had Fired Three Shots.
Three of the six chambers of the gun hold
empty cartridges. Both of the Biddies
were talkative this morning. but both dis
claimed ever having killed any one.
The Kahney murder, Ed" alleged, was
committed by Walter Dorman, assisted by
man who had that day come from Chi
cago and the Seebers woman who put on a
mans suit. This. Ed said, she had often
done before when she had assisted them in
their robberies. He admitted having COM
mitted great many robberies but stoutly
maintained that he had never killed any
one.
Dr Bricker is in constant attendance at
the cells of the Biddes. He says that their
condition will not permit of their being
moved and feels certain that a journey to
P1ttsourg today would be sure death to
Ed Biddle. Notwithstanding this, how
ever, IL Is the intention of the Pittsburg
authorities to have them moved to Pitts
burg at once, regardless of consequences
superintendent of Police Demmel has
wired here to that effect and officers are
now on their way TO this place to bring
back the prisoners at any cost.
Doctors Greer and Bicker, who have been
attending the two Biddles, made report
this morning that apparently confirms
Jack Biddles story, that the fugitives had
tried to kill themselves. They had come
to this conclusion after a complete exam
ination and partial probing of the wounds
of both of the men. Ed Biddle who is
generally supposed to be the worst in
tured, has several powder marks on his
left breast, which would go to show that
he attempted to kill himself. In Jack 8