Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-02-01


Biddles' sleigh, McGoyern saw Ed
Biddle reach around to his side.
Riddles ecognizcd the Officers.
At that moment both Biddles rec
ognized the Pittsburg officers.
Then the battle began.
Now" said McGCvern to his fell
low officers.
Scarcely had he uttered these
words when Ed Biddie stood up in tho
sleigh, and, rising shot gun which
had been stolen from farmer, fre1
at the officers.
His aim was poor.
Nobody was hit.
Then McGoyern, Roach and Swine |
hart jumped out of the sleigh and, as
they did so, each began firing at the
Biddles.
McGoyern and Roach were on one
side and Sweinhart on the other, and
in this way they covered each side
OF the Biddles' sleigh.
Ed Biddle loaded and reloaded his
shotgun several times and kept firing
continually.
Jack Biddle was armed with re.
yolvers and fired several rounds at
the officers.
Mrs. Soffel had a revolver, but the
detectives say she did not shoot at
them.
Detectives McGovern and Roach
each aimed at Ed Biddle.
| ntv af Jao
Ed Pitched Forward Onto Ground.
During the first exchange of shots
!. Ed Biddle threw up his arms, his
shotgun fell from his hands and he
pitched headlong from the sleigh into
the snow on the road.
There was no letup in the firing,
however, and in another minute JACK
Biddle fell almost on top of his
brother.
Mrs. Soffel had been leaning be-
hind Jack Biddle as though he were
trying to shield her from the terrific
fusilade of the officers, all of whom
were firing as fast as they could work
the triggers of their weapons.
When Jack Biddle fell from the
sleigh upon his brother, the horse Of
the Biddles took fright and dashed
forward toward Detective Swinehart,
who was straight ahead.
The horse made a circle of about
800 or 400 yards and came back on
the road again almost at the same
place where it had first stopped.
Then Mrs Soffel fell over on one
side of the sleigh, her arm hanging
, over the edge,
Il guess Mrs. Soffel is shot, said
Detective Roach.
Get the woman, but look out for
, the men" said MeGoYern.
The Biddles were lying, bleeding,
in the snow, but because of then
desperate character the officers would
not risk any opportunity of their
trickery and fired again at them.
Mrs. Soffel Jumped or Fell Out.
Mrs. Soffel jumped or fell out OF
the sleigh and the entire party 81
officers closed in on the gang.
Ed Biddle made a move as though
to reach for a pistol, but was COY
cred with Winchester and told te
i, surrender.
Then the officers, aided by Deputy
Sheriff's Hoon's party, who came VI
later, picked up the wounded men and
woman and placing them in sledges
started back to Butler.
Upon arrived there medical atten
ton was at once given the Biddle
brothers and Mrs. Sofel
AS soon as Ed Biddle realized
where he was he requested the pres
, ence of a priest, and the officers sem
for ey Daniel Walsh, pastor of th(
Catholic church here. to whom Ed
BiddIe made the following comics
sion:
Il have been accused of a grea;
many serious crimes.
Il admit that | could have com
mitted many. Opportunity often pre-
scented itself.
/, Il want TO say now that / did moi
kill Detective Fitzgerald, nor dit
| kill Thomas Kahney, nor was ms
brother implicated in the latter af
fair
Mrs Soffel aided us in getting ou
of the county Jail.
! Had it not been for her we woule
have made our escape today.
She gave up everything for us, anC
| was bound to stick to her.
Said Mrs. soffeI Shot Herself.
f Il did not shoot her; she shot her
self.
!. 'Oh, father, bless me, and tell ms
p that my sins are forgiven.
e Although | have been pictured t,
k you as desperate man, l still hav,
{ some heart and gratitude for tn,
woman who helped us to escape. Sh,
. merely did it out of good sympathiz
Il ing feeling for us.
Il persuaded her to do it.
9 Il told her | was guiltless of tn,
crime for which | was about to b.
S executed, and she was impressed am
/ 10