The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-08-16
Kills His Friend
To Get Money for Marriage. Charles
II. Ferreli Confess es to the Murder
or Messenger Lane on Pennsyl.
vania Train Friday.


Adams Express Co., was arrested
this afternoon and has confessed to
the killing of Messenger Charles
Lane and the robbery Of the way
safe of the Adams Express Co. on
the Pennsylvania eastbound train
which arrived in this city at mid
night Friday. One thousand dol
lars of the money which he had
stolen was recovered.
Ferrel was to have been married
Thursday next to Miss Lillian
Costlow, daughter of Patrick Cost
low, an engineer on the Pensyl-
vania lines. He had been dis.
charged from the employe of the
Adams Express Co. about three
months ago and had not since 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 ac-
count his approaching marriage.
The money recovered he had given
to Miss Costlow TO keep for him,
saying that it was money he had
saved from his earnings.
He was at the home of his affi-
anced and in her company when
placed under arrest. Ferrell Is but
twenty-five years old and has
splendid physique, being six feet in
hight, with dark hair and an at
tractive face. 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
confession. After his statement
had been taken by Chief of Police
Tyler and he was led to cell in
the police station he was in a state
of nervous collapse and orders
were given that he be watched
closely to prevent him doing him.
self bodily injury.
The confession of Ferrell disclOs.
cd a premeditated and blood curd-
ling crime that seemed almost i'm.
possible of belief. lie said that he
had become desperate because of
his inability to secure mployment
and a realization of the fact that
he must have money to defray the
expenses of his approaching mar
riage. The robbery had been care
fully planned and it included the
murder OF Express Messenger
Lane. He had no accomplices and
no confidants.
He knew Lane well. In fact, they
were friends, and he relied upon
Lanes confidence to help him exc
cute the crime. He knew that
considerable money was always
carried by the messenger on Penn.
sylvania train No. s between st.
Louis and Columbus, and that he
was certain to secure large sum
II he robbed the way safe on that
train. Having provided himself
with Smith & Wess0n six shoot
er, 3s :caliber, he went to Urbana
Friday morning and waited for No.
Z. When the train arrived there
Ferrell 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 moment sus-
pecting the treachery OF his pre-.
tended friend.
For short time after the train
left Urbana they chatted pleasant
Iy. Lane sat In 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 up
behind Lane unobserved and fred
three shots In rapid succession In.
to the messengers back. Lane
rolled Off the chair on the floor on
his face and Ferreil quickly fired
the remaining shots at the pros.
trate body. Lane was unconsciou us,
but Ferrell, fearing that the wounds
already inflicted would not cause
death, took Lanes revolver and
fred two more bullets from 1t into
the body.
Ferrell then took the key to the
way safe from the pocket OF the
dead messenger, opened the safe
and laid Lanes revolver inside
where he could reach it easily In
Gaze he was detected and needed II
TO defend himself. After he had
taken out all the sacks containing
the money packages, money orders