The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-13
CHARLES FERRELL, ARRESTED AT
COLUMBUS, CONFEssEs TO MUIR
DER OF MESSENGER
LANE WAS A FRIEND II NEED
TOOK A FORMER EMPLOYE OF THE
COMPANY INTO HIS CAR
TO RIDE
TO BE SLAIN FOR HIS MERCY
Ferreu Was About to Be Married
and Needed the Money for
the Wedding Arrange
ments.

| ments.
COLUMBUS. O.. Aug. 12.-Charles r.
H. Ferrell, a former employe of the
Adams Express company. was arrested
| this afternoon in this city, and has con-
fessed to the killing of Messenger Charles
Lane and the robbery of the safe Of the
| Adams Express company, on the Penn
| sylvania east-bound train which arrived in
this city at midnight Friday. One thou
sand dollars of the money which he had
| stolen was recovered.
NEEDED MONEY TO MARRY.
Ferrell was to have been married Thurs
| day next to Miss Lillian Costelow, the
beautiful young daughter of Patrick Co.'S
fellow, 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 since
been able to secure employment He con-
fessed that the motive Of the robbery
was to secure money of which he felt
in great need on account of his approach
ing marriage. The money recovered he
had given to Miss Costelow to keep for
him, saying it was money he had saved
! from his earnings
| He was at the home of his af1anced and
in her company when placed under arrest.
IS YOUNG AND HANDSOME.
| Ferren Is but twenty-five years of age
and has a splendid physique, being six
feet in height. He has dark hair and
an attractive face, and was finely dressed.
When the officers took him into custody
! he assumed a nonchalant demeanor, but
when he found that he could no longer
deceive the officers he made a full con-
fession. After his statement had been
taken, he was taken to the police station
| and went into state of nervous collapse,
and orders were given to watch him close
| ly to prevent him doing himself bodily
harm.
CONFESSION WAS STARTLING.
{ The confession Of Ferren disclosed
premeditated and blood-curding crime
! that seemed almost impossible of belief
| to those who looked upon the man Of gem
tiemanly and refined appearance, who re-
luctantly told the story of the murder
and the robbery. He said that he had
became desperate because Of his liability
to secure employment and realization
| Of the fact that he must have money to
defray the expenses of his approaching
marriage The robbery had been careful
ly planned, and 1t included the murder of
! Express Messenger Lane. He had no ac-
completes and no confidants. He knew
Lane well. In fact they were friends,
and he relied on Lanes confidence to
help him execute the crime He knew
| that considerable money was always car
ried by the messenger on Pennsylvania
Train No. between St. Louis and Co
lumbus, and that he was certain to Sc
! cure large sum If he robbed the way
| safe on that train. Having provided HIM
/ self with a Smith & Wesson six-shooter,
| thirty-eight caliber, he went to Urbana
Friday morning and waited Tor No. s.
| 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 DID NOT SUSPECT.
Lane consented, never for moment
| suspecting the treachery of his pretended
friend. For a short time after the train
| 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 him
self for the crime he drew his revolver
and stepped up 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 hred 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 it into the body. Fer
rell then took the key to the way safe
! from the pocket Of the dead messenger
and opened the safe and laid Lanes re-
| volVer inside, where he could reach 1t
! easily in case he was detected and need
ed it to defend himself. After he had
taken out all the sacks containing the
| money packages, money orders and way
! bills, he placed them in q small satchel
and waited until the car arrived at Plain
City, when he slipped off the train. He
walked about for few mintes to regain
his composure, and then inquired for the
| hotel, which he found after a short time,
| a belated citizen directing him to the
| place. He secured a room and retired for
the night without registering, fact Of
which the landlord took no notice at the
time, as he was half asleep and did not
appear to be inquisitive
LEFT REVOLVER IN THE BED
Once in his room Ferrell proceeded to
go through the packages and take out all
| the cash. The remainder he tied up in
bundle. The question of how to get
rid of the debris of his plunder and his
revolver then confronted him. 1t was
an easy matter to dispose Of the latter.
Lifting up the mattress of the bed he
! placed the revolver in. a secure place in
the springs. It was not so easy to dis
pose of the bundle of express sacks and
envelopes. After thinking the matter
over carefully he concluded he could get
rid of the bundle best by expressing 1t
to a fictitious address in some distant
city, knowing that it would remain there
for a year at least before 1t would be
opened if 1t was not intercepted. Ferrell
arose early the next morning and saun-
! tered down to the railway station and sat
there for time reading small book.
Then he expressed the package which he
had addressed to c. w. Coyler, Lockport,
| N. Y, bought ticket and took the train
for Columbus at $780, When he arrived in
the city he went at once to his board
ing place on the North side of the city
and changed his clothing.
TALK ANNOYED HIM.
Ferrell said he was much disturbed by
The talk about the murder and robbery
which he heard upon every hand, brt he
kept up his nerve. During the day Sc