Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1902 — MRS. SOFFEL PLEADS GUILTY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MRS. SOFFEL PLEADS GUILTY.

Woman Who Aided Biddle Brothers Appears in Court. Mrs. Kate Soffel, wife of Warden Soffel of the Allegheny County jail, who figured in the sensational escape and re-

capture of the Biddle brothers list January, was called into court at Pittsburg Monday morning and entered a plea of guilty to the charge of aiding and abetting the escape of prisoners. The maximum penalty is two years in the penitentiary. The crime of Mrs.

Soffel was one of the most startling ever committed in Pennsylvania. She was the wife of Warden Peter K. Soffel of the county jail at Pittsburg, and apparently a happy mother of an interesting family. Two murderers, Edward and John Biddle, were confined in the prison. They were under sentence of death, and Mrs. Soffel took compassion upon them. She soon became infatuated with Edward Biddle, and, giving her husband a sleeping potion, assisted the two outlaws to escape. Mrs. Soffel flew with the murderers, who, under cover of darkness, started for the Canadian border in a sleigh. They were overtaken in Prospect road, near Butler, Pa., by detectives from Pittsburg. Several shots were exchanged and both Biddles were wounded by bullets from the rifles of their pursuers. Mrs. Soffel had a weapon and fought with the murderers with whom she had cast her lot. When they saw that the fight was hopeless the Biddles and Mrs. Soffel shot themselves. Mrs. Soffel recovered. Her husband resigned his position and retired from the scene of his wife’s crime.

MRS. SOFFEL.