The Portland daily press., 1872-10-15
MYsTERIOUs ASSASSINATION.
A Boston Merchant shot i'm his own
Doorway.

About o'clock Saturday night Mr.. Charles
Lane, parter in the firm of Charles Lane & Co,
commission merchants, at 115 Federal St..
Boston, was sitting in the parlor of his residence
on Hancock street, the rest of the family hay
ing retired. The night was more than unus-
ually dark on account of the wind and rain and
he was not a little surprised to hear a loud ring
at the door-bell at about twenty-five minutes
of nine o clock. He stepped to the foot of the
hall stairs and asked his wife if she rang the
chamber bell. She gave negative answer
and he went to the front door, opened it, and
had hardly time to see that man was stand
ing there when the assassin drew an open UNI
brella before his face. discharged pistol full
at Mr.. Lane, who was hardly four feet distant,
and ran. Mr., Lane screamed aid stepped
back, locked the door anu walked up stairs to
his room and laid down on the bed, saying to
his wife, 81 am shot," Mrs. Lane Immediate
ly gave the alarm, reused the hired man, Pat
rick 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 finding Mr.. Lane in so critical condi-
ton and in great agony, Immediately called
Dr. Fifield, and together they placed him I'M
der the influence of morphine.
Mrs. Lane says that she heard the bell ring
and the subsequent shot, and that Mr. Lane,
after lying on the bed, said, 81 am shot; there
must be some mistake; don't see who could
have done it." She called Patrick and aroused
the household; sent for Mr.. Dyer; then went to
the door and sprang large watchman's rattle
which they had in the house. 1t must have
been about twenty-five minutes to nine o'clock
when the shot was fired she said, for when she
went to the door she saw the quarter-of-n 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 nature
to make enemies. She thinks that the man
must have intended to kill some one in the vi
cinity, and had mistaken the house. .
The only clew to the assassin is what Mr..
Lane said as he lay on his bed. "He was large
and stout man, and was well-dressed." AS he
placed the umbrella in front of his face, Just as
MIR. Lane opened the door, no other description
can be given. ALI sorts of speculation as to
the reasons of the assassination are adoat. The
| one most frequently MADE is that the man was
| mistaken in the house; but the curtains of the
| side-winlows of the parlor were up, and the
man could easily have seen who was within be-
| fore he rang the bell. The night was dark and
| very stormy and the circumstances most favora-
BILE 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 net
| ting and vestibule between that and the hall
doar. Mr.. Lane opened all three and after he
was shot he shut them all and locked the inside
one Mr.. Lane was engaged in the wool bust
ness at lis Federal street. and is director in
| the National Bank of North America. He is
| said to be worth about three hundred thousand
| dollars. He was rather large and portly gen.
| teman of 81 years, but does not look to be over
| SO. He has always enjoyed excellent health.
| Heis of genial and kindly nature and has
| hosts of friends. 'f
Mr.. Lane died Monday. No clue has yet
been obtained of the murderer.