Detective Patrick Edward Fitzgerald, aged 45, was a dedicated officer with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. On April 12, 1901, he was shot and killed while investigating a robbery and murder at a grocery store in the Mount Washington section of Pittsburgh. Fitzgerald and his fellow detectives had identified multiple suspects and went to their boarding house at 32 Fulton Street, Allegheny City .
As they entered the room, a shootout ensued, and Detective Fitzgerald was fatally shot.
The suspects involved in the grocery store robbery and murder were brothers Ed and Jack Biddle, along with their accomplice Walter Dorman. During the investigation, Dorman agreed to testify against the Biddle brothers in exchange for immunity from the death penalty. In June 1901, all three suspects were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. However, Dorman's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his cooperation during the trial.
In January 1902, shortly before their execution date, Ed and Jack Biddle escaped from the Allegheny County Jail with the help of the warden's wife, Kate Soffel, who smuggled them hacksaws and guns. The escapees were located by a posse near Butler, Pennsylvania, and a shootout ensued. Both Biddle brothers were killed during the shootout, and Kate Soffel attempted suicide but survived. She was later charged in connection with the escape.
Detective Fitzgerald had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for 24 years and was survived by his wife and six children. His death was a significant loss to the community, and he is remembered for his dedication and sacrifice in the line of duty.
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