Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-15
CAUGHT AND CONFESSES.
Mystery Of Columbus, O., Muir
der Cleared Up.
A DEED OF PERFIDY.
Express Messenger Gave Him a Ride
and is Cruelty Shot in
the Back.

Columbus, o., Aug. 13.-In the pres.
ence of his promised bride, to whom he
was to be married Thursday, Charles r.
II. Terrell, the slayer of Express Mes
senger Lane and the perpetrator of the
daring robbery of the express car on the
Pennsylvania train on Saturday night,
was taken into custody yesterday after
noon.
When confronted with absolute proof
of his guilt the prisoner confessed the
crime. The confession clears up the
mystery Of how the robber gained en-
trance to the car and ESCAPED with the
booty after numbering the messenger, I'M
noticed 10y the trainmen. 1t was a deed
of treachery, the rObber and slayer using
Lanes friendship for him to carry out his
plan to kill. Given permission to ride III
the car by the sympathetic messenger.
Terrell awaited an opportune moment
and shot his friend in the back. The
motive for the crime was the securing of
money to furnish home for the woman
he was to marry.
Crime Carefully Prearraneed.
Before FerreiFs arrest at the home Of
his hancee in this city detectives had
woven a chain of evidence about him that
was convincing. His confession shows
the crime was planned carefully and car
rIed out as prearranged to the slightest
detail.
OF tie booty Terrell secured $1,000 was
recovered, the share he had given his
sweetheart for safekeeping, telling her he
had saved it from his earnings.
Ferrell had been in the employ of the
Adams Express company up to three
months ago when he was discharged.
Since that time he had been unable to
secure work. and his approaching mar
rage found him practically pennlless.
Had Ma Aid ia His Crime
Terrell said he had become desperate
because OF his inability to secure employ
meHt and his realization of the fact that
he must have money to defray the ex-
penses of his approaching marriage. The
robbery had been carefully planned and
it included the murder Of Express Mes
Senger Lane. He had no accompliceS
and no confdants. He knew Lane we'll.
In fact, they were friends. and he relied
upon Lanes confidence to help him exc
cute the crime.
Having provided himself with re-
volver, Terrell proceeded to Urbana on
Friday morning and waited for No. 8.
When the train arrived he went at once
to the express car and told Lane he was
cut of money and asked permission to
ride to Columbus with him. Lane con-
scented.
Skeots His Friend in the Back.
When Terrell finally had nerved him
self for the crime. he drew his revolver
and stepped up behind Lane unobserved
and fred three shots in rapid success
sion into the messengers back. Lane
rolled off the chair on to the floor on his
face, and Terrell fired the remaining
shots at the PROSTATE body. Lane was
unconscious, but Terrell, fearing the
wounds already inflicted would not cause
death. took Lanes revolver and fired two
more bullets from it into the body.
Il, oil t1,n l-ox- To r
safe from the pocket of the dead mes
senger and opened the iron box 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 containing
the money packages, money orders, and
way bills he placed them in small
satchel and waited until the car arrived
at Plain City. when he slipped off the
train. He walked about for few min
utes to regain his composure and then in
quired for the hotel, which he found
recting 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.
The detectives learning of the mysteri-
Gus guest at the Plain City hotel visited
that place and found clues pointing to
Farrell, SO they followed him to this
city.
The detectives first visited his board
ing place, and were Informed that he
was probably at the home of his sweet
heart. Miss CostloW, $50 Twenty-frst
street, on the east side. There they were
ushered into the room where Terrell sat
conversing with his fancee. Ferrell ap-
peared annoyed at the intrusion. The de-
tectives did not breach the subject OF the
train robbery. but told him he was sus-
pected of burglary, and they wished
him to accompany them to the po-
lice station, where the chief Of po-
lice wanted to interview him
Thinking perhaps the detectives
were on the wrong scent, Terrell
nerved himself and said, with apparent
composure: Il guess there must be
seme mistake" He excused himself to
Miss Costlow, and accompanied the de-
tectives to the city prison. On the way
the detectives told him what he was
wanted for and what they knew, and he
reluctantly admitted he had committed
the crime. At the police station a writ
ten confession was taken by the chief Of
police.