The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-02-06
MRS. SOFFEL TALKS.
Tells Of Plans Of Escape
Made BY BiddIe Boys
and Herself.
SHE WAS ALSO SHOT IN ESCAPING

The only matter now of anything like
absorbing interest in connection with the
BiddIes is the fate Of Mrs Soiiel, and any
thing she may say concerning the escape
and subsequent capture Of the trio. She
has made statement to some news
paper men in the presence of DR.. Bricker.
in which she said
u had not intended going with the
Riddle boys on the night Of their escape.
but Eds entreaties won me over.
She told of how she remained in the
library on Thursday morning awaiting
the signal for the outbreak. Ii was her
intention to let the boys go and she
would meet them later While sitting in
The library she was almost paralyzed
when the two brothers came crashing IN
the door In their excitement they had
lost the key to this door and had to
break it down.
Ed asked me to come with them.
Come with us, he said TO me. resisted
and told them to go.
They told me they had not an instant
to lose. and If the officers were To get
away would b. discovered.
Il tried to persuade them to go Then
felt myself giving away to Eds per
suasions and yielded. We all dashed out
ON Ross street. We passed along the
cour,.house to the alley. Ed and Jack
went out Grant street, and, crossing the
river. met in Allegheny at their friend
house. Well. we could not remain there,
and we were soon out on the road
again.
"The night in the school-hOuse was
perishing cold. The exposure affected
me greatly. Now, ! want to say the
statements that | was intoxicated are
untrue. Ed and Jack bought hall pint
of whiskey and | drank some oil It, IL
seemed to stimulate me. Now that was
the only time drank anything on the
trip.
"Ed and Jack took several drinks, and
| told them to go sparingly on it as they
would not be able TO get any more with
out enhancing detection. We secured a
sleigh and drove through the country all
night The night was bitter cold. There
was no robe in the sleigh and | suffered
terribly. When daylight came | was
nearly perished by the cold.
We'll the next day brought us to the
terrible scene. We drove through Butler
and knew that we had been suspected.
"Then we soon reached Mount Chest
nut. and, getting something to eat
started ont again. | was feeling Ill ana
was frightened. The boys learned that
the detectives were after US, and they
consulted about defending themselves
Ed said TO Jack: It's a life for life; let's
shoot them down.
1.-THE boys drove on. They were De-
wildered about the whereabouts OF the
detectives. They thought the Pittsburg
detectives were behind them. When they
saw them appear Ed told Jack to get
ready. He recognized Detective Roach.
detective McGovern got out OF the
sleigh and was followed by the other
two. | saw Detective McGovern fire.
The shots were returned by Ed and Jack
Then there was fusillade of bullets. |
saw Ed and Jack fall out OF the sleigh.
IL was shot. The horse took fright
and ran away. Detective McGovern said,
XIII all the d-d rascals, and pointed
his gun at me. Detective Swinehart call
ed to him to have mercy on me, that it
was only a woman, and not to shoot
me. The horse turned into the field and
made circle into the road again.
IL did not fall out of the sleigh. !
Jumped out. now remember setting
my foot on the step and then in jumping
| fell. That was all remember. Detec-
tive Swinehart ran to me, and calling to
me he asked me il was hurt, and | said
| was shot. He raised me up and held
nv head on his knees. Then | felt my