The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-13
HORRIBLE MU RIDER
ASSASSIN OF EXPRESS AGENT LANE
HAS CONFESSED.
FERREL WAS TO BE MARRIED
AND NEEDED MONEY PREPARA-
TORY TO THAT EVENT.

Asked Lane to Let Him Ride in the
Express Car-ShOt His Friend In
the Back, Then Robbed the Safe.
Took the Money to His Sweetheart
and Told Her He Had Earned 1t.
Was a Discharged Express EN-
ploye.
Columbus, o., Aug. 12.-Charles r. II.
Ferrel, former employe of the Adams
Express Company. arrested this aft
ernoon in this city. and has confessed to
the killing of Messenger Charles Lane
and the robbery of the way safe of the
Adams Express Company on the Penn
syivania eastbound train, which arrived
in this city at midnight Friday.
One thousand dollars of the money
which he had stolen was recovered
Ferrel was to have been married Thurs
day next to Lillian Costlow daughter of
Patrick Costlow. an engineer on the
Pennsylvania lines. He had been dis
charged from the employ of the Adams
Express Company about three months
ago. and had not since been able to Sc
cure employment.
He confessed that the motive of the
robbery was to secure money of which
ne felt in great need on account of his
approaching marriage.
The money recovered he had given 10
Miss Costlow to keep for him, saying
1t was money saved from his earnings.
He was at the home of his affianced. and
in her company when placed under ar
rest.
Ferrel is but twenty-five years of age
His confession showed the robbery had
been carefully planned and it included
the murder of Express Messenger Lane
He had no accomplices and no conhdants.
He knew Lane we'll In fact, they were
friends, and he relied upon Lanes con-
fidence to help him execute the crime
Having provided himself with a Smith &
Wesson six shooter, 3S calibre, he went
to Urbana Friday morning and waited
for train No. g.
When the train arrived there Ferrel
went at once to the express car and told
Lane that he was out of money and asked
permission to ride to Columbus with him
Lane consented, never for a moment sus-
pecting the treachery of his pretended
friend.
Nerved Himself to Murder.
For short time after the train left
Urbana they chatted pleasantly. Lane
sat in chair in the end of the car with
his back slightly turned. When Ferrel
had finally nerved himself for the crime,
he drew his revolver and stepped up be-
hind Lane unobserved and fired three
shots in rapid succession in the messen-
gers back. Lane rolled off the chair on
the floor on his face and Ferrel quickly
fired the remaining shots at the pros
trate body.
Lane was unconscious, but Ferrel, fear
ing that the wounds already inflicted
would not cause death, took Lanes re-
volver and fired two more bullets from
1t into the body. Ferrel then took the
key to the way safe from the pocket of
che dead messenger. opened the safe and
laid Lanes revolver inside, where he
could rach 1t easily in case he was de-
tected and needed 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
a small sachel and waited until the car
arrived at Plain City, where he slipped
off the train.
He walked about for a few minutes to
regain his composure and then inquired
for the hotel which he found after a
short time a citizen directing him to the
place. He secured a 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.
Disposed of the Packages.
Once in his room, Ferrel 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 re-
volver then confronted him. 1t was an
easy matter to dispose of the latter Lift
ing up the mattress Of the bed. he placed
the revolver in a secure place In the
springs.
1t was not so easy to dispose of the
bundle of express sacks and envelopes.
After thinking the matter over, he con-
cluded he could get rid of the bundle best
by expressing 1t TO fictitious address In
some distant city, knowing that 1t would
remain there for year at least before
it would be opened If 1t was not inter-
cepted
Ferrel arose early and sauntered down
to the railroad station the next morning
and sat there for a time reading a book
Then he expressed the package, which he
had addressed to C. w. Coylor Lock-
port N. Y. bought a ticket and took a
train for Columbus at 630 When he ar
rived IN the city he went at once 10 mis-
boarding place on the north side of the
city and changed his clothes.
Ferrel said he was much disturbed by
the talk about the murder and robbery,
which he heard upon every hand but he
kept up his nerve. During the day he
paid a number of bills that he owed
out of the money which he had stolen.
and bought some clothes and other things
which he needed. Saturday night he went
to see Miss Costiow and arranged to call
again Sunday afternoon.
After his arrest at the house OF his
affianced he was taken TO the police sta
ton. where a written confession was