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' "" "; '" ' lA.-nT j(wVk ".J.h n 12 paces-. AKRON DAILY DEMOCRAT.'""" VOLUME 1 0 N UMKftB 2-10. AKHOST. OHIO, SATURDAY fiVJKNlNa. FEBRUARY 1, H)02. PRICE ONE CENT. DYING IN JAIL "We Could Have Escaped But For the Woman." They Tried to End Their Lives When Capture Was Certain. Erring Wife of Warden Soffel Gave Her Husband Chloroform. Bullotln.-Butler, Pa., Fob. 1. 1:20 J p. m. The Biddies arc believed to be dying, and,- contrary to expectations, Jnek may pass away first. lnllaniatlon lias set In, In bis bowels, which were torn to pieces, with bullet wounds, and It Is said he cannot live long. Ed Biddle is in a dying condition. He is in convulsions and tlio death rattle has been detected In his throat. Mrs. Soffel has" developed pneumonia and her condition Is more serious than ever. Butler, Pa., Feb. 1. Corneiefl on a snow-covered highway, seven- miles from here, the two fleeing Biddies, with their accomplice, Mrs. Kate Sof fel, gave battlo j'esterday afternoon, just at dusk to. three Pittsburg detec tives. The fugitives were all -wounded, vanquished and captured. .The olllcors of the law did not receive a scratch.' Mrs. Soffel was wounded at the lirst shot, according to her own statement. The battle raged along a roadside, and Winchesters, shotguns and revolvers were used. The Biddies were defiant to the last, and only succumbed from "Ipss of blopd after the officers shot In to them at close range. The capture was uiado at about 5 o'clock at a point seven miles northwest of hcie,vpu lie Now Castle road, between Mt. Chest nut and Prospect. Previous to that time the Pittsburg officers, had sever al times secured a trace of the fu gitives and had parsed them at Mt. Chestnut. The detectives made In- uulrles at n point within 2W yards of where the trio was slopping to gel din ner. The detectives -went on to Pros pect after scouring every road in the vicinity, ajul theie they telephoned to eveiy surrounding town. Tl.ey ,clo phoiic'd to Mt. Chestnut and secured the Information that the suspects had taken dinner there and were Just about leaving. .lumping Into the hlelgh with which they had come from Butler, and lor which a fiesh team had previous ly been engaged, the party started back ut full speed lor Mt. Chestnut. The Biddies and the party of detectives jnw each other about the same time. The light which followed was" fun of sensational Incidents. ( After being almost killed the two men and the woman were taken to Butler, the men placed in jail and Mrs. Soffel in a hospital. Mrs Soffel is resting easy. Her only wound was Mnadc by a bullet which penetrated the left breast within an Inch of the nipple. It was from a calibre revolver and coursed around the fifth rib on the left side, lodging under the shoulder blade. About it o'clock doctor G. K. MeAdoo operated on her, removing the, bullet. l Mrs. Soffel tells two different' htor. les of the shooting, one to the effect that she shot herself during the light and the other that sho was shot by Edward Biddle. Thu bullet did not go through her outer garment, which Indicates that the shot vns Hied by herself or by Biddle by putting his hand under her coat. A legal battlo is expected when the Pittsburg author ities arrive today. It Is said the only way the I'lttsburgers will be able to beeure tho Biddies will bo by a writ of habeas corpus. Tho Butler author ities will light against their being tuk- Declined to Pay Fire Insurance, Claiming That Liquor Was Kept In the House. Tlio caso of Mr. Llsszlo Veon vs. thu British Merchant Insurance Co., which has been pending in Common Pleas Court for somu time, .was on Friday marked settled at plaintiff's cost.wlth out record. The contention was over n tiro lusurtiuco policy. Mrs. Veon conducted a hotel, known as tho "Kid ney ITouse," In Stow township. The building was Insured, It Is said, upon condition that uq liquor bo kept In It. en away From tho statement made last night by Biddle, dying In his cell, It is evi dent the escaped convicts nnd their ac complice had aranged to commit sui cide lu case capture became imminent. In addition ".lack" also told how they escaped. Thu manner of getting out of jail, aec6rdlng to his statement was 'as has already been published, lie Bays Mrs. Soffel helped them to escape, but would not say that she supplied the saws. The sawing of thu bars of tho cells, he says, was completed -Ian uary 14, and that several times pre vlous to the day on which the escape was made their plans failed through some little detail. "Jack" again, le iteratcd that he never killed anyone and that he never put a bullet into any one except Keeper Reynolds. He said the lirst crime he over eommlttifV .was assisting, to" rob a liquor store at ... -..., .......tii-.i 11...1 i .i Carnegie, win. uuiiiuifu inm "v "" participated in number, of robberies after that. After they had left tho jail they went to a house near a railroad In Pittsburg. They remained there all of Thuisday. The peoplo in the house, "Jack" said, when they read of the es cape frgni the Jail roeoguizcd'theni uud would only let them 'remain after the Biddies gave Uioimu JijlVueh of ihouey." They remained: - uUlhe house until. Thursday night. ' ' ' , Leaving it us soon as it grew dark. Jack says he wanted to stay there, and that Ed was also wlllhig to stay, but that "the womnu! was nervous uud afraid they Would 'bo caught. "1 wouldn't let them -go alone," Jack said, "and as soon as it grow dark, we went down the street, and toqk a Perrysvllle live, ear, Wo rode to tho end of the line and from theie walked until we reached tho farm whore wo stole tho horse. If 'it had not been tor the woman we we-uld not have been caught, for we could easily have got ten another horse, aud by this time been more than 100 miles away. It's a lead pipe cneh that we could have escaped Hut wo 'could nut let that poor woman' go by lierself. Sim did all' she could for us betiaycd her husabnd, deserted her family all to help us out, and wo would lmvo been a great deal worse than we,arc thought to be, it we had thrown her down. " "Vhen we saw the officers coming to ward us ontjic road, wo knew it was all up. We did not fire a. shot at tho officers but agreed to kill ourselves. 1 shot myself in the mouth." "Ed shot himself over the heart and Uio woman shot herM'jf lu the breast We knew we luul'iio chance to get away and we knew we would swing if taken back and that Is why we .vanted to kill ourselves." Pittsburg, Feb. 1. District Attorney John C. Haymaker, left for Butler at J0:15 this morning. Ho stated that ho did not think he would havo any dim eulty in straightening out the tangle at Butler in connection with tho ar rest of the Biddies aud also said that If Jt was at all feasible the Biddies would bo removed to this city at the earliest posslblo moment. The declaration by Edward Biddle that hn did not shoot Detective Fitz gerald and was not Implicated In the Kahney murder is given no credence .by Superintendent of Police Deinmel Not long after the policy was obtained tho building burned down, but the In surance company declined to pay tho pulley, claiming that It had been dis covered that liquor had been kept lu the house. Mrs. Veon denied this ami brought suit to obtain payment of tho policy. In the Hettlonient she re ceived nluiort tho full amount of tlio policy, but wiia cbllged to pay the costs. and Detective Kelly. Former Warden Soffel has mado the btartllng revelation fthat he had been under the Influence of chloroform dur ing the night when tho Biddies broko Jnll. lie believed the anaesthetic, was admlnlstred by his wife ' The Butler officers demand half the reward of $.", 000 and in order to, hold the prisoners warrants were sworn out for the Bid dies, charging them with felonious shooting, In attempting to kill Mis. Soffel. District Attorney Haymaker says the position taken by tho Butler officials is wholly untenable. As there is nothing to hold Mrs. Soffel as ii prisoner Mr. Haymaker will prefer charges upilnst her of felonlops assault and battery and assisting pris oners to escape from a' place of con fntemcnt. Kubelik's Luck. Chicago, Feb. 1. When .Ian Kubo llk, draws his bow across his violin this afternoon lit' will ,be richer by nearly .?22,0Q0 for his four concerts In Chicago 'and records of the Auditorium theater will bo broken. Pouring; Through Can&I Valley, Sweeping Away Lives and Property. i 'it Picture Painted by an . Akronian. Mr. Buchtel Not Alarmed by the Prospect. Tlio valley of .the canal flooded, the rubber shops inundated, houses swept away, ami many people oiowucu hj- ii flood lining the valley from Water st. to Main st. this Is the picture painted by an Akron man In writing to BepresentatlvcWin. Buchtel asking that he use his Influence to see that tho reservoirs south of the city shall not be converted Into public parks and the like. He contends that some far mer or other person for splto, or some' such reason, might cut the reservoir embankments and iet loose a flood of water from the reservoirs and Long lake which would sweep, all before It. "Fiddlesticks," said Mr. Buellel. "There would be no such danger, but for that matter the hill introduced does not apply to any of our local lakes or public laifds." Mi Buchtel re'tuined from Colum bus, Friday evening. Speaklngof the bill to abandon the canal, he said ho did not believe It would pabs, much as many peoplo desire It. 'lie has In view a measure providing for a com mission to appraise and sell hi parcels tho canals and State lauds, If the bill goes through, u member of thu pio posed body to bo the State Engineer, Mr. Chin-leu 13. Perkins. Mr. Buchtel says the canal waters are necessary to Akron and her factories and must be secured to this elty whenever the canals bliall bo abandoned. FLOO I H&.ve Absolute Faith In , Future, S&.ys J. Plcrpont Morprnn utands on record as a staunch believer lu a contluunnuo of the country's prosperity. When ask ed If he thought tho turn had been reached, hL Mild: "Such a question scarcely neqds an answer, for the facts speak for them, selves. The phenomenal prosperity of tho country Is so self-evident that you j have tho answer to your very liand. More: not only Is the prosperity bfre, but all thu signs, all the piomlses, nil tho indications are that It Is hero fQr t u long UuJe' to come. I have absolute USED GASOLINE IN A LAMP. A Mistake, But Fortunately, the Damage Was Small, Thp mistake of using gutolliio In a lamp, under the impression that It. was oil, very nearly, resulted lu a serious lire aL PJ08 South Broadway, Friday evening, at (1:1-. One explosion oc curred, and tho tlreineli averted anoth er by pitching a lamp from the house. The explosion vwis' lnthe lesidence of Mr. Aaron Hubler, and lire depart ments 4 and 0 responded to the ahum. The life was soon put'out, and dam age done "amounted to bcaively more than .flu. AKRON TOm HAVE LARGEST Delegation at "Municipal League Meeting. (Special Correspondence.) Colulnbus, O., Feb. lMt Is expected that at least thirty cities and towns of the Stale will be represented at tho annual meeting' of .the Ohio League of Municipalities, which is to be held here next Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday. Despite tin: fact that Cleve land, Clnelnuatl, Tok'do and Dayton will all send delegates, the largest delegation Is looked for from Akron, Secretary Griffin saying thatdic expec!. ed there would bo at lejist -" delegates present from the metropolis of Sum mltt'county. 'tj, Xeniu lias given notice that the next meeting Is wanted there, and .Mayor I.lnklmrt of that city, will bo a can didate for president of tho League. LARGEST Attendance thelligh School Mas Ever, Had. Professor Koney, of Chicago, who trains tho "Honey,, hoys" and several large bo$- choirs iil7CiiTeaRoV'ltddressod the pupils of the High school Wed nesday afternoon. Ills talk was par ticularly .directed b (he training of boys' voices, Both High schoJ societies have started lu With uuutuully bright pros pects for thorterm. The Academic so ciety Initiated '22 lew member's and the Pllllonia'thean Jli. This Is tho largest number of new members that has been received Into tho boeletles for several years. Tho High sehooi this term is crowded to its utmost .capacity. The number of pupils actually attending Is greater than It out has been. The chapel has been reseated, so as to bccuro the best results In music. Each pupil Is assigned a definite seat which lie Is to retain throughout the term. GATES HAS MADE A MILLION By Getting Hold of Links Wanted by the Pool Now York, Feb. 1. John W. Gates has made another coup and is said In cidentally to have made n million dol lars, perhaps more, by the sale of n group, of ro.ids to the big railroad pool Tho Morgan-Hill group. lie In dheetly has become the medium through whom unilrol of certain "Link" railroad., of tho Mississippi and Missouri A'nllcys has been obtain ed for the Buillngtoii, The dral is said to Involve SIO.OOO.OOO In money and more In railroad securities. J, P. MORGAN. "MY CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN ABUSED ORGANIZED. Barberton and Norton Democrats Arranging Primaries, Democrats of Barbcitou and Norton township organized Friday night to make arrangements for holding the spring prlmailes. W. A. Mm ton was elected president; James McNumara, secretary, nnd A. J. husk, treasurer. An Executive committee composed of two members from each ward In the village and four from the township was also elected, as follows, with W. A. Morton, as chairman: Ward A, Manuel Wcrntz, John It. Davis; B, Win. Mitchell, Moses Hastings; C, John Paul, Wm. 1). I'rtitziiuin; D, A. A. Alt, Ceo. Weyrick; .from the township, Dr. S. S, Wagner, Fred J. 'Hies, Jr., John Wiser, John Mencer. A meeting will be held Wednesday evening, Feb. 12, to bet u date for holding the primaries. Pathfinder's New President. Succeeded the Late N. R. Stelner. He Has Long Been jnterested In the Order. Mr. U. F. Hourlct was 'chosen Su prcrue president by' the trustees of the Pathfinder at their 'meeting Saturday, to fill tho vacancy caused by tho death of the late N. 11. Stelner. T. Harvey Smith, of Mussillou, treasurer of Stark county, was chosen to 1111 the place vacated by the promotion of Mr. Hourlct, "who was formerly Su preme outside guide. Mr. Hourlct Is ope of Akron's most prominent younger business men, be ing connected witli the Akron Iteulty Co. He was an intimate friend of Mr. Stelner and will proyo u worthy suc cessor. The new trustees of the Pathfinder are: C. C. Berry, Fred E. Smith, Dr. W. C. Jacobs, C. A. Stebblns and U. F. Doiulet. PRIMARIES Will be Arranged For In Two Weeks. The Republican County Executive Committee will meet In Walsh block Fob IB,' at 1 p. in. to arrange for the primary election in April. NEW CHOIR Will be Led by Mrs. Marvin. Frances A new choir was organized at the West Congregational church Friday evening to be led by Mrs. Frances Mar vin, who will also ho the soloist at this church the coming year. Mrs, Marvin and the choir will have charge of the music at the church tomorrow. the J. P. fnlth lu the future," "As to recessions, as to sct-baeks, wheie is there sign of anything ills cotiraglngV There Is enough business already hi hand to keep the country busy for a year to come.'' W. C, T. U. Meeting. The regular meeting of the Woman's Christian Temperaiice Union will be held at the rooms .Monday afternoon at !J o'clock. Mrs, A. B. Coats will havo charge of the devotional services and .Mrs. Kelly Hays will read a paper descriptive of the wolk of tho W. 0. T. U. - -" HOURiET A General Shaking Department The Result of Charges Against Operator Russell Will be the Beginning. "If my charges against Patrol Oper ator Edward J. Itussell arc proven true," said Chief of Police Durkln, Satuiday morning, "the result will be merely an Incident in n general cru sade I am about to make for better police service. Heretofore, I have had little worry over the conduct of the olllcers, owing to the fact that I had abundant confidence In them. It is now plain that my confidence has been abii'-ed, and It Is only with a view to the proper discharge of my duties that I have begun a crusade. "Mr. Itussell is accused of neglect of duty and falsifying records of re ports of men on beats. It has been complained that some of the officers on beats havo not been serving full time, that they have occnslonally knoeked off earlier than nsnal, and that the .records showed that they had rung up regularly. This is wjmt Is aimed at In the charge of falsifying recoids. Xow, If my charges against Mr. Iflissell rfre Sustained, It w.lll also be self-evident that other officers arc guilty of misconduct." It is known that some vigorous com plaints have been mnqe by letter to the Board of City Commissioners against certain officers, but all such letters have been promptly turned over to the Chief of Police. In some Instances the attention of such officers WILL MEET Summit and Mahoning County Representatives to Get Together. Bepresentatives Wm. Buchtel and C. F. Seese plan to meet the lteprcsentn tives of ilahonlng county In Colum bus, Monday night, and discuss with them a new form of government for Akron and Youngstown., In case the Pugh-Klbler bill, giving a new form of governinent to all cities, does not become a law, which is considered un likely. "Our general Idea Is," said Mr. Buchtel, Saturday, "to frame for Ak- I" Fountain Pens Add To the Cost of the Gefneral Assembly of Ohio. (Special Correspondence.) Columbus, O., Feb. 1. Legislatures come high, mighty high, but we must have 'em, at least the people seem to think so. The present General Assein. hly has been In session just four weeks and ?5(!,000 has already been appropriated for "contingent expen ses," that Is for the payment of tho members' salaries and mileage and tho And a Normal Supply to Local Hut It is thought the sec-saw play of the natural gas Is at an end, "with the victory on our side." After answering about 11,000 questions, in n non-com-mittal way, the clerks at the East Ohio lias Co.'s ofllco weie able to an swer at u:ao Friday morning; 'It's on again." And Manager Terry said: "The break In the main seven miles oil the other side of tho Ohio river, has been permanently lepalved. Tlo gas was turned on ut half-past nine lu (ho morning and by night the supply will be normal. 1 trust that all our pat rons will uno great cine to avoid ac- Idents, mid I think that within n few days tho service will lui nil rigui again." Many caM suppers were cen Frl- -CHIEF OF POLICE DURKIN. Up of the Police Promised. have been called to the complaints against them, and if circumstances wilt-routed It, they have been, repri manded. In most Instances, the let ters have been signed, but the signers when requested to do so, would not ap pear to stand by their charges. There is a disposition ameng some of the older officers to accuse that a number of Uie latest additions to thu force believe themselves to have ac quired their lKisitlons wholly through political "pulls," and to Imagine them selves guarded against punishment for any minor offense they might com mit. In view of this, an effort will be made to show that although polities may figure In getting a man on tho force, It will not bo suffered to In tel fere with Ids service. Mayor W. B. Doyle, when spoken to with reference to these matters, de clined to give mi expression of opin ion. "I have been watching the Itussell case," he said, "and as It may be nec essary for me to make-a recommenda tion later, It would be impolitic for mo to express, nn opinion now." Hearing of charges against Operator Itussell, to have been held Saturday, nt 1:.'!0 p.m., has licen postponed to Monday. Mr. Kussell sent a certificate from his physician, stating that he1 was physically unable to attend a trial Saturday. He was taken sick sudden ly In the morning. TO ron and Young-town a bill changing the form of government for the two cities so as to have the City Commis sioners elected Instead of appointed, reducing their number to two or three and making the Mayor an ex-ofilclo member of the Board. I believe that some such law can be enaeted and, should the Pugh-Klbler bill pass, it will supplant anything else that may have been done and no Injury can re sult and no cxpeuse will have been incurred." solarles of the small army of em ployes. Even this amount does not cover near all tlio expenses, for there Is still some money due the members. Then there is n bill of abont ?.ri00 for fountain pens, with which every one of the members has been supplied. These pens cost $.'1.30 each, and it Is the lirst time In the history of tho State that they have been supplied to all the Legislators. E Is Promised This Evening, Consumers. day evening, and breakfasts were lit tlo better. In many Instances peoplo had to go to bed earlier than usual to keep warm. Many people have gone back to coal, and tlio Akron (ia.s Co. has been receiving orders almost by the hundreds. . Funeral of Edwin McCauley. The funeral services of Edwlii Mc Cauley, a prominent citizen of Hud son, who died of Blight's disease Wed nesday evening, were held Saturday afternoon. Mr. McCauley was CO years old. The Weather: OEXEHALLY AND SUNDAY, FAin TONIGHT HXOErX SNOW NEAR LAKES, A v 1 Sf -J I i m 4 ratfn MkA tin. i i'.i' !&T,r' ....i-iik.- -L.t. ii. -t-i', utvASi iUim- Mti .i.