Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-17
THE QUEST FOR LANE.
ANOTHER RUMOR THAT THE BODY HAD
BEEN FOUND.
More Blood Marks Discovered = 4 General Be-
lief in the Nurdsr-Ths Excitement Almost
as Great as Ever.

tinues undated at Little Washington,
and the strange disappearance OF the
young huckster is the universal subject
of conversation in the neighborhood
where he lived and IN Washington. as
well. Everyone who knew Lane scouts
the theory that he went away volun-
tarially. Those who have been &C
ouainted with him from his youth up,
say that he would not be guilty
OF such an act. This confidence in the
integrity, honor and manliness Of Harry
Lane is one OF the strongest proofs that
he has been foully dealt with. His
neighbors argue that If he had been
disposed 10 run away he had an excsl-
lent opportunity TO do so while In
Pittsburg each week. He was In Wash
ington on the previous Thursday, and
disposed of his load of huckstering. II
he had wished to desert his family
he could have sold his team and
wagon as well as his produce
and departed easily and comfort
ably on the cars and have been hundreds
OF miles away before his people would
have suspected that he had ran away.
But he went home in good spirits at his
success in disposing Of his weeks pro-
duce, and Immediately started out on
his tshort route" and spent part OF
the money which he had brought from
Washington, In gathering up his load
for the next week. This, 1t is argued,
he would not have done had he intended
to leave home. 1t is believed in the
neighborhood that young Lane was
murdered by some one who was thor
oughly familiar with his habits and had
made all arrangements beforehand to
dispose OF the body.
Yesterday afternoon the town and
surrounding country was thrown into
turmoil OF excitement by rumor that
a body had been found. This was in
correct, but development has come to
light that may lead to the discovery OF
Lanes remains. Nine blood spots,
covering a distance OF mile, have
been found. The theory that Lane ran
away is being given up, and the
suspicion that a man living in the neigh
borhood committed the murder Is In
creasing. Although interest in the case
seemed to lag for short time, the
the country is again becoming excited,
and searchers and detectives are going
over the ground by inches for the dis
covery of evidence. Hundreds OF people
were again on the scene yesterday, and
it Is thought that something will soon
turn up TO explain the mystery. Mrs.
Lane, il is thought, has become dement,
ed by the suspense and doubt as to her
husbands fate.
The last man who is known 10 have
seen him alive was James Il. Ferguson,
who met him upon the National pike
near the residence Of Robert NJ. Car
rons. Mr.. Ferguson says that as near
as he could Tx the time this was about 9
o'clock. The third mile post east Of
Washington, is within couple OF hum
dred yards Of Carrons' house. At 9
o'clock, sharp, John Heron, Jr., came
up the clay road past Lanes house and
turned east. He was on his way to the
festival and looked at his watch when
he struck the pike to see what sort OF
time he was making. 1t was exactly 9,
and twelve minutes later he reached
Myers barn, where the festival was be-
INK U6lu. AS hbIIOl OlONO uRf WV Va
the persons from Pan Cake, who had
been attending the festival, start
ed for home. They saw nothing OF
Lane or Of any suspicious parties on
their way home. Harry Houston, son
OF J. D. Houston, the well known Lone
Pine merchant, was on his way TO the
festival on bicycle, and reached the
watering trough on the pike near the
four mile post at five minutes after
nine. He got off, got drink. and
stopped to rest for five minutes before
proceeding on his trip. If it was nine
o'clock when Mr.. Ferguson met Lane
at Carrons', he would have had just
about time to reach the fourth mile
post, as Houston was leaving, but
Houston neither saw him nor heard any
one approaching. Neither did the Pan
Cake people who had left the festival
about the same time aud who passed
the fourth mile post some fifteen or
twenty minutes later. II Lane was
murdered the deed must have been done
between ten minutes after nine, when
young Houston left the watering
trough, going east at half-past nine,
and when the Pan Cake party passed 1t
going west. This was ample time, how
ever, for the commission OF such a
crime, and If Lane was struck with a
FIVE pound stone, as it is supposed, 1t is
probable that he died without even q
groan.
Detective w. B. Mcbride made dis
covery yesterday, which, though slight,
confirmed many in the belief that Lane
had not only been murdered, but that
his body had been concealed somewhere
in the immediate neiEhborhood. On a
log lying about forty feet below where
Lanes handkerchiefs were found and in
the direction Of the thicket, Mcbride
found stains which he believed to
be blood. He cut off por-
ton of the log, brought it to