Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-17
SOMETHING NEW IN CRIME
= Citizen is Credited with a Unique
) 4 Murder Plot,
EES THE wReCXlNG OF A TRAIN
H.. Lee is Accused of InsurinH "a
Friends Life and Then Arrange
Ing To Procure his Death and
Collect the Premium.

YORK, Neb., Oct 16.-(Specal)-To
ditch the Burlington night flyer from tho
east last night. in order to accomplish the
death of A. Bissell, a passenger on that
train, and to eventually collect $4,000 acct
dent insurance carried in Bissells name are
tho outlines OF plot in which w. l.. Lee,
prominent photographer of York, is
charged whit being the principal.
Details OF the affGr were divulged by
Frank Mesplay, and the accused is now in
Jail. Last night, before the train arrived,
Mesplay, who was In the scheme. appeared
before Agent Davis and briefly told him that
on attempt was to be made to wreck the
train between Waco and York. The train
dispatcher was wired, and the crew OF tho
train put on the lookout. The train arrived
at York safely. with the intended victim
unframed and unaware of his narrow
cape.
Mesplay gave himself up to the police as
a witness In the case, and also for protec-
tion.
p Lee was arrested at his home this morn
ing about | o'clock. IL Is evident that, II
the attempt was to have been made. Lee
became suspicious of something and aban-
doned the affair for the time being The
case promises TO be productive OF sensa-
tional developments, and excitement here
is running high.
MeSplay was released from JAN TINS morn
ing and In an interview with The Bee rep
resentative told this story; 81 was to get as
my share OF the booty $4,000. for helping to
ditch the westbound passenger train-the
one that gets here at 7:45 in the evening
between York and Waco, the first town east
STORY OF THE PLOT.
In answer to the question II he would give
the exact spot. he said mo, the exact place
had not been decided upon by us II things
had gone as had been intended, the wreck
would probably have happened a few miles,
or perhaps less east of the city. left the
Times Office, where | worked yesterday. at
$40. ate supper and then went to the home
of the section boss Of the b. & NJ. and told
him that he had better take his red lamps
and run over the track between Waco and
York for there might he q bad wreck. l
went to the station agent and told him about
it, also. He wired the train dispatcher.
81 was placed under arrest as witness.
and | wanted TO be protected, too"
What was the object of ditching the
train?"
at was to put an individual will
not tell his name--out OF the way, In other
words kill him" When he was questioned
further. he said he would not speak about
it more, until on the witness stand.
Lee was arrested on the charge of assault
with intent to kill A. Bissell. Ii developed
that few weeks ago Lee persuaded Bissell
to consent to allowing an accident insurance
policy in a company OF New York for the
sum Of $40 900 to be issued In his name, and
In case OF Bissell's death, the amount to BIO
paid to w. l.. Lee. who agreed TO pay tho
premium on the insurance.
W. l.. Lee denies all charges positively.
The charge upon which his arrest has been
brought is for assault with intent to kill
A. Bssell on the 18th OF last month. On
that night Bissell was waylaid and narrowly
missed serious injury from large rock
thrown from ambush. The affair OF last
night accelerated Lees arrest.