Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-30
DARING JAIL DELIVERY
Two Prisoners Awaiting Execu.
ton OF Death Sentence
Make Their Escape.
Guards at Prison In Pittsburg
Seized and Thrust Into
a Dungeon.
Crime for Which They We're
Awaiting Execution Was
Most Brutal.

| Pittsburg. Jan. 30.-Edward and John
Fiddle, awaiting execution in the coun-
ts Jail for the murder of Grover Thom-
as d. Kahney, of Mount Washington,
overpowered the guards this morning
| and escaped. Both prisoners had been
cut the bars in their cells and were
ready at any moment to make an open
| ing sufficiently large to pass thru. They
had evidently been preparing for escape
for some time, and had assistance from
the outside, as both We're armed with
revolyers. Shortly before o'clock one
of the Biddles called to James McGeary,
who had charge of the outside gates.
and asked for some cramp medicine in
hurry, saying his brother was dam
gerously sick. McGeary FASTENED to the
cell with the medicine. when John Bid
die sprang thru the opening In the cell
and seizing the guard around the waist
hurled him over the railing to the stone
/ floor beneath, a distance of sixteen feet
Edward joined his brother Immediate
" and both, with drawn revolvers, hur-
ried to the first floor, where they met
Guard Reynolds and shot him. The
third guard on one of the upper ranges
was ordered down at the point of re-
yolvers and the three guards We're put
! in a dungeon. The keys We're taken
from Keeper McGeary and the two des-
perate prisoners had clear field. The
only persons who witnessed the escape
were prisoners who could not interfere
or give an alarm. The Biddles went to
the wardrobe, where the guards kept
their clothing. and each put on a new
suit. They then unlocked the outside
gates and passed out into the street.
The night guards were not released
| from the dungeon until the day force
arrived. when the alarm was given and
| the whole detective force of the city
was put to work on the case.
on the morning of April II last Mrs.
Kahney was awakened by burglars and
called to her husband, n cripple. who
was sleeping in an adjoining room. AS
! he entered the door of his wife's room
he was shot dead. The burglars then
| fed A few hours later Detectives Pat
| lick Fitzgerald and two officers sur
| prised the Biddle brothers at their
home. but before they We're captured
Fitzgerald was killed and Edward Bid
die, who shot him. was dangerously
wounded. Walter Dorman, another of
the gang, and two women We're also
arrested. Dorman turned states evil
dence and the two Biddles were con-
yicted of Kahneys murder, and SEN
| fenced to be hanged this month. but
were respited until Feb. 25 and az by
Governor Stone, so that their cases
could go before the pardon board at its
coming meeting.
The escape of the Biddles is ex-
planned. Warden Soffett has authorized
Its publication. 1t is alleged that his
wife is responsible for furnishing the
revolver and saws to the Biddles which
enabled them to escape. In her infat-
uation of the handsome desperado, Ed
ward Biddle. 1t is alleged she left her
husband and four children and 1T is
supposed is to meet the escaped con-
victs at place agreed upon
The story of the matter is brief Mrs.
Soffett was the only person admitted to
the Jail since last Monday. Yesterday
afternoon she visited the prisoner dur
ing she retired early, telling her hus-
band she was going to visit a sister to-
day and wanted to get an early start.
The warden was about the Jail until
midnight and then retired to a room ad-
jacent to the one occupied by his wife.
When he awoke this morning and
asked for Mrs. Soffett he was informed
that she was absent. Later when the
details of the escape became known he
telephoned his wifes sister and was in
formed that his wife was not there The
warden Immediately made confession
Of his suspicious. The ruse of the Bid
dies was clever one. and was carried
out with great success. They sawed out
the bars of their cells, John cutting
three In his and Edward four. They
evidently sawed the bars during the
right, using soap to deaden the noise
and reduce friction. The police all over
the city are searching for the fugitives.
Guard Reynolds, who was shot, will
probably recover. Guard McGeary, who
was thrown over the railing to the floor
sixteen feet below, sustained badly
confused head, but is not seriously hurt.
CALEB MITCHELL SUICIDES.