The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-13
FerrcII Boarded the Train ut Urbana,
with the Details Of His Plan
Carefully Mapped Out.
NEEDED THE MONEY TO MARRY
TOOK 1T TO HIS SWEETHEART,
AFTER DIsPOsING OF WRAPPERS.
Was Arrested at Her Home and Con-
fesscd His Crime-Was nm Ex-Em-
pIoye of the Adams Company.

COLUMBUS, o., Aug. 12.-Charles r. III.
Ferrell a former employe of the Adams
Express Company, was arrested this after
noon in this city and has confessed to the
killing of Messenger Charles Lane and the
robbery of the way safe of the Adams Ex-
press Company on the Pennsylvania east
bound train which arrived in this city at
midnight Friday One thousand dollars of
the money which he had stolen were recov
ered
Ferrell was to have been married Thurs
day next to Miss Lillian Costlow, the beau
tiful young daughter of Patrick Costlow,
an engineer on the Pennsylvania lines. He
had been discharged from the employ of
the Adams Express Company about three
months ago, and had not been able TO secure
employment. He confessed that the motive
of the robbery was to secure money, of
which he felt in great need on account of
his approaching marriage. The money Sc
cured he had given to Miss Costlow to
keep for him, saying it was money he had
saved from his earnings. He was at the
home of his affianced and in her company
when placed under arrest
Ferrell is but twenty-five years of age
and has a splendid physique being six feet
in height. He has dark hair and an at
tractive face and was finely dressed. When
the officers took him into custody he as
sumed nonchalant demeanor, but when
he found that he could no longer deceive
the officers he made full confession After
his statement had been taken by Chief of
Police Tyler and he was led to a cell in the
police station he was in a state of nervous
collapse, and orders We're given that he
Was TO be watched closely to keep him
from doing himself bodily injury
The confession of PerrelI disclosed a
premeditated and bIoodcurdling crime that
seemed almost impossible of belief to those
who looked on the man, of gentlemanly
and refined appearance, who reluctantly
told the story of the murder and the rob-
berry. He said he had become desperate be-
cause of his inability to secure employment
and a realization of the fact that he must
have money TO defray the expenses of his
approaching marriage.
WOULD KILL HIS FRIEND.
The robbery had been carefully planned
and it included the murder of Express Mes
senger Lane. He had no accomplices and
no confidants. He knew Lane we'll In fact
they were friends. and he relied on Lanes s
confidence to help him execute the crime
He knew that considerable money was al
ways carried by the messenger on Pennsyl-
vania train No. 8, between ST. Louis and
Columbus, and that he was certain to Sc
cure large sum If he robbed the way safe
on that train. Having provided himself
with Smith and Wesson six-shooter
thirty-eight caliber, he went to Urbana.
Friday morning, and waited for No. 8.
When the train arrived there Ferrell went
at once to the express car and told Lane
| that he was out of money and asked per-
mission to ride to Columbus with him
Lane consented never for a moment sus-
| pecting the treachery of his pretended
left Urbana they chatted pleasantly. Lane
sat IN a chair in the end of the car with
his back slightly turned.
When Ferrell had finally nerved himself
for the crime he drew his revolver and
stepped behind Lane unobserved, and fired
| three shots in rapid succession into the
| messengers back. Lane rolled off the
| chair on the floor on his face, and Ferrell
quickly fired the remaining shots at the
PROSTATE body. Lane was unconscious. but
Ferrell, fearing that the wounds already
inflicted would not cause death, took Lanes
revolver and fired two more bullets from
1t into the body. Ferrell then took the KEY
to the way safe from the pocket of the
dead messenger, and opened the safe and
| laid Lanes revolver inside, where he could
| reach it easily in case he was detected and
| needed it to defend himself.
After he had taken out all the sacks con-
tanning the money packages, money orders
and waybills he placed them in a small
satchel and waited until the car arrived at
Plain City. when he slipped off the train.
He walked about for few minutes to re-.
gain his composure and then inquired for
the hotel. which he found after a short
time, belated citizen directing him to the
place. He secured room and retired for
the night without registering. a fact Of
which the landlord took no notice at the
time, as he was half asleep and did not an
pear to be inquisitive. Once in his room.
Ferrell proceeded 10 go through the Lack
ages and take out all the cash. The re-
mainder he tied up in a bundle The oues
tion Of how TO get rid of the debris of his
| plunder and his revolver then confronted
him. It was an easy matter to dispose of
| the latter. Lifting UP the mattress of the
bed, he placed the revolver in secure
place in the springs. II was not so easy
TO dispose of the bundle of express sacks
and envelopes. After thinking the matter
| over carefully. however, he concluded he
could get rid OF the bundle best by express
ing IL TO q fictitious address in some distant
city. knowing that IL would remain there
Tor a year at least before It was opened
| If IL was not intercepted
EXPRESSED THE WRAPPERS.
When Ferreli arose early the next morn
ing he sauntered down TO the railroad sta