The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-17
SHE ALSO LOVED BIDDLE.
Infatuation of a Mysterious Woman
For the Noted Desperate.
IEllLadeInhil Inluirer.l

4nIatuation OF Mysterious Woman
For the Noted Desperate.
philadelphia Inquirer.l
PittsbUrg, Pa.-Mrs. Kate SOfel VIII
probably be tried by her God before
she can be brought before a court of
human beings. Dr. H. g. Briggs is
working hard to save her, but the w0m-
an has collapsed at the home of her
sister, Mrs. Miller.
Mrs. SOffel received a letter at the
Butler hospital from a woman signing
herself Julie This woman. i is said,
visited Governor Stone to secuqe a res
pite for the BiddleS Richard Sean
drett. Mrs. SoffeTs attorney, refused To
give up the name of the woman. but
says she is rich and prominent in So
eiety. The letter reads in part.
Pittsburg, Pa, Feb. e.-Mrs. +. X.
SOTel: Dear Madam have contem-
plated writing you letter ever since
you were hurt, but the uncertainty OF
your condition and the reports emanafS
ing from the Butler hospital held me
back for fear my letter you'd never
reach your hands. You tried to help
Edward Biddle, and any help or as
sistance lent him, from whatever
source, must find deep Judgment in my
heart and forever hold my sincerest
gratitude.
Yours is not the only life Ed Biddle
wrecked and ruined yet yours is no
doubt the completest wreck. for your
secrets are now everybodys. while
mine are still my own and will ever be
You sought to help him in his dark
est hour and need and Tisked every
thing. Whether your motive was wom-
anly sympathy or deeper passion YOU
yourself can only know. but be that as
it may. you tried-and-failed. For the
first 1 viii be ever grateful. for the last,
ever sorrowfuI. You released him. vet
the cause OF his freedom was the mill
stone around his neck that dragged
him TO his most ignominious death
Why, in Gods name. did you 60 with
him? They must have known-you
must have known-there was not one
chance in a thousand of ultimate sue
cess in the course pursued,
It was Eds 0vermastering sense Of
honor that took you with him. even
when he felt it was 10 his deSpIcable
death. He could not desert one who
had done SO much for him.
Oh, those cannibaIistic ours called Of
ficers. Where is mans humanity for
man when money is a consideration
Five thousand dollars and not the Bid
dies was the incentive that overshad-
owed and outweighed all human in
stincts in their capture.
q. q @
I am Il years Of age and have seen
much of the society side of life Ny
mirror tells me that nature was almost
lavish in her endowments to me. and
many men have sought my favor.
am so well favored by fortune that L
have never had q wish or desire to go
unsatished. No man ever occupied the
remOtest corner in my heart until at a
church social about the middle of
March last, met and sought an intro
duction to Edward Wilcox.
With me it was love at first sight
He paid me marked attention during
the evening and. on parting, I asked
him to call. On the first evening l went
out he called. He left his card. on
which he penciled a few words of re-
gret not to find me in chat card is the
only souvenir, except a broken heart,
that I have 10 remind me that I ever
met Ed Biddle)
He called Sunday. I felt a wonderful
relief when he went. Had he stayed
longer he must have guessed my secret.
He. TO me. was my ideal of manhood.
There was nothing sentimental about
him. l could not call him brilliant.
yet ne was joyful, and his face lit up
in the discussion of such subjects as
were introduced dn the most Captivat-
ing manner 1 had ever seen, and. oh,
his eyes, those eyes which swan in d
food of their own natural moisture.
He seemed to like me. but I brought
all the wiles of a woman's insidiOus ART
to bear upon him and used all the
statagem of which a pretty girl is
capable. yet no word of affection or
love could 7 buy from that dear boy.
Oh had he only known how COM
pIetely I was his, he would not now be
the occupant of an obscure grave on
hill
The last night he came to see me
was, ] think. April 19. He was unus-
lally gay that night and I resolved to
grain from him one word of compliment /
Dr. one little caress. which I found other
men only too willing 10 offer.
When he arose to go I went to the /
hall and got his cane and hat and /
took the brim of his bat between my
teeth, put my head through the cur /
.ains and. assuming a most cOquettish I
and saucy pose, / said:
You're my prisoner.
As it seemed to me afterWard. he /
suddenly turned pale and terribly |
frightened look came into his eyes, for I
lust one instant. He quickly recovered /
himself, seized me in his arms, press /
ng me tightly to mis- breast, just long /
enough to say. NO, I'm not your pris- 4
1ner. but you're mine, and the sweetest F.!
)ne ever captured
He never offered 10 kiss me. but al +
most roughly pushed me aside, grabbed |
his hat. which had fallen to the floor, 1
'ushed from the house, without even I
saying goodnight.
The next time I saw Ed Wilcox he /
vas in a prisoners dock, on trial for /
murder. How my idol was shattered. /
Ny handsome Ed was a murderer.
If Ed had ever made me any protes- I
ations of love he would never have 4
been in need Of funds for his defense. /
Once when I lifted my veil during the 4
rial he recognized me. for he blushed +
'uTiOusly That blush almost made me I
,one to his aid. I went TO his lawyers
lfFice twice, but both times turned .
away without going in
/ was on my way 10 spend $500 for a 4
wrap when I read an interview with
3idd'e's attorney to the effect that it
'ecuired $500 to get a writ for the Bid 4
lies. l intended 10 spend the money !
or writ and called at the Jail. was
-efused admission TO the Biddles. but
allied on yeu, Mrs. Soffel- I went to
he jail and wrote a note TO Ed Biddle.
Helosing $500. Il was never answered