Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-17
NO. 248.
MYSTERIOUS ASSASSINATION.

About 9 o'clock Sunday night as MIR.
Charles Lane, sole partner in the firm OF
Charles Lane e. Co., commission mer-
chants at l 10 Federal street, Boston, was
sitting in the parlor of his residence on
Hancock street, the rest OF the family hav-
ing retired, he was not little surprised
to hear loud ring at the door-bell. He
stepped to the foot Of the hall stairs and
a>ked his wife if she rang the chamber
bell. She gave negative answer, and
he then went 10 the front door, opened it.
and had hardly time to see that man
was standing there when the assassin
! drew an open umbrella before his face,
discharged pistol full at Mr. Lane, who
was hardly four feet distant, and ran.
Mr.. Lane screamed and stepped back,
locked the door, walked up stairs to his
room and lay down on the bed, saying to
his wife, 81 am shot" Mrs. Lane imme-
diately gave the alarm, reused the hired
man. Patrick Monohan, and sent for the
Hon. Micah Dyer, who lives in the next
house. Patrick went to the station-house,
which was only three houses distant, and
told them of what had occurred. DR..
Steadman was summoned. who, on find
ing Mr. Lane in so critical condition
and in great agony, Immediately called
Dir. Fifield, and together they placed him
under the influence of morphine.
Mrs. Lane says that she heard the bell
ring and the subsequent shot, aHdthat Mr..
Lane. after lying on the bed, said, IL am
shot there must be some mistake don't
see who could have done it.. She called
Patrick and aroused the households; sent
for MIR. Dyer; then went to the door and
sprang u large watchnlan's rattle which
a.. h..N. huC
been about twenty five minutes Of nine
O'Clock when the shot was fired. she said,
for when she went to the door she saw the
quarter OF nine Mount Bowdoin horse-car
going into the city proper. She could not
imagine who could have done the deed, as
Mr.. Lane was a remarkably quiet and
peaceable man, and not of "a nature 10
make enemies. She thinks that the man
must have intended to kill some one in the
vicinity, and had mistaken the house.
| The house of Mr.. Lane, where he has
lived for the past twenty-five years, is
large and rather old-lashioned looking
mansion. set we'll back from the street,
with extensive grounds around it. Both
the interior and exterior of the mansion
give evidence of wealth and refinement.
a driveway curves up to the front door,
which is high and is reached by a long
flight OF steps. 1t is situated on Hancock
street, ust three doors from Station IL.
The only clew to the assassin is what
Mr.. Lane said as he lay on the bed. "He
was Il large and stout man, and was we'll
dressed" AS he placed the umbrella in
front Of his face just as Mr.. Lane opened
the door, no other description can be
given. All SORTS of speculation as to the
reasons of the assassination are afiOat.
The one most frequently made is that the
man was mistaken in the house; but the
curtains OF the side windows of the parlor
| were up, and the man could easily have
seen who was within before he rang the
bell. The night was dark and very stormy
and the circumstances most favorable to
the escape of the assailant. There are
three doors between the hall and the open
air: the storm, or outer door. then one OF
wire netting aud II vestibule between that
and the hail door. Mr.. Lane opened all
| thrce. and after he was shot he shut them
all aud locked the inside one. MIR. Lane
is engaged i'll the wool business at ll5
Federal street and is a director in the Ma
tionaI Bank of North America. He is said
10 he worth about three hundred thousand
dollars. He is a rather large and portly
gentleman of siXty-seven years, but does
not look to be over fifty eight. He has
always enjoyed excellent health. He is
OF genial and kindly nature and has hosts
of friends He is said to be very be-
uevoIent man, and though he has been en-
gagged in several lawsuits. he Is not
know to have an enemy
Mr. Lanes wound is one inch to the
| right of the naval and was evidently
caused by bullet from a small revolver.
At last accounts he was unconscious and
his condition was extremely critical. Not
the slightest clue has been obtained as to
who the would-be murderer is. Mr.. Lane
died on Monday.