Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-13
7'HE MURDER MYSTERY
UP AT LITTLE WASHINGTON STILL IN
SOLVED.
The Search for the Missing Man Ksptup Yesterday
but Without Result-kneh
Popular Excitement

The latest information from Little
Washington throws no additional light
on the fate of Harry E. Lane, an &C.
count OF whose disappearance and prob
able murder was published exclusively
in the REGISTER, yesterday morning.
The excitement in Washington and
vicinity was intense. all day yesterday,
and, as on Sunday, scores Of people
continued the search for the missing
man.
r. J. Lane, father Of Harry, offered
500 reward for the discovery OF the
body OF his son, and $1,000 additional
for information leading to the discovery
and conviction of the murderers, and
this will bring hrst-class detective abil-
ity TO the case, and probably lead 10
something definite in day or two.
The searching parties continued their
work until late hour Sunday night,
and Yesterday morning at eight O'Clock
large numbers of citizens met at Bur
ningham's blacksmith shop,in Pancake,
and under the command Of Col. j. b. h.
Streator, who Is thoroughly familiar
with the country in the neighborhood
of the supposed crime, q search was
commenced which continued all day,
SQUADS of citizens securing the
country for miles around.
a hack made frequent trips
from Washingto to Pancake for the con-
venience of the searchers, and carried
large numbers. The search was with
out avail up to late hour last night.
The search was most thorough one,
even fish ponds being drained and
houses searched, but all to no purpose.
The theories as to the case are almost
without number. In the absence OF
proof prositive that the young man is
dead, they amount to little or nothing,
however. On the question of murder
nearly all agree, taking the
few known facts as they
are found, but respectable minority,
in the absence Of the body or any trace
Of 1t, hold that perhaps the young man
has left the county voluntarily, and
chose to do so fl a sensational manner.
This, however is contrary TO his hao-
its and whole manner OF life. he was
young man Of most exemplary con-
duct, never drank, was not in debt,
and had no trouble with any one.
When the handkerchiefs, spoken OF
in Yesterdays REGISTER, were found,
one of them had knot tied in one cor
ner which would naturally be expected
inasmuch as it is known they were used
by Lane for money bags. Whoever
took the 'kerchiefs from the missing
man ripped this one open and didn't
take the trouble 10 unite one OF the
knots. Sticking In the knot was
speckled feather not more than two
inches in length. This feather could
easily have been in Lanes pocket, and
in that way have become fastened in
the handkerchief; but theory, that is
not very probable, has been advanced,
having for its foundation this very
feather.
The theory is that Lane for some rea-
son or other wanted TO get away from
his home, and that in order to prevent
search for his person outside the
locality of his home, he killed chicken
and put the chickens blood in the hat.
OF course, according to the theory, the
chicken was thrown away, and all that
remained gives the appearance of foul
murder. The fact that Lane had money
gives credence to the story, for he would
not leave his home without the latter.
But there is no reason to think Lane
wanted TO run away, and the only rea-
son for thinking he would 90 through
the performance referred to, is that he
would want to throw searchers of the
track. One of the handkerchiefs was
found in a field, about fifteen feet from
the road fence, and the other in the same
field, about seventy feetfrom the fence,
under a small hickory tree. The hand
kerchiefs were bloody and there was
also blood on the letters and bills
scattered about.
The hat belonging to the missing man
affords the most convincing proof OF a
tragedy of any other single article. The
front rim, it being a stiff black pot, was
broken down and the rear part of the
crown crushed and muddy. Inside
were toe stains Of blood, it having the
appearance OF having contained posi-
half pint OF the life fluid. Yesterday
near where the hat was found, stone
was discovered with a dark stain
open it, supposed to be blood. The spot
where the tragedy must have occurred,
If it is tragedy at all, is particularly
suited to such foul attempt as that
which seems 10 have been made. The
road is not much travelled; there is a
bend in it just there; trees overriding it,
and below the field it slopes quickly to
a ravine and then TO timber land. There
is a depression in the pike just where
the Lane road leaves it, and at this
point il is said an attempt was made to
rob the late Sol. Matthews some two
years ago. The lonely place and the
! 1uckster business reminds one OF the
McCsssland murder, though the latter
was a cattle buyer.
As has besus said. many theories in
explanation OF all these facts have
been offered. The broken front to the
hat and the crushed ana Uuddy crown
might be caused by blow irk Ant and
fall from the horse, align the
back of his head. There arr 5
about the place Of any strugn. ~
thing in fact further than we have
stated above to carry out this theory.
Others think some significance attaches
to the feather found with the handker-
chief, the theory being that the man
wished to create the impression that
he had been murdered, and killed a
chicken and let the blood drip in his
hat.
Others suggest that the murder il
there is amurder, was committed back
on the pike toward Washington, and the
body left there, the hat and handker-
chief and horse being taken where
they were to con6ne the search to that
locality for q time.
81 tho Dofpt