The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-13
And Arrested at the Home Of
His Sweetheart.
FULL CONFESSION.
Says He Committed the Crime
to Get Money
To Pay Expenses of His APP
preaching Wedding.
Victim Was His Friend and Was
an Easy Mark.

Columbus, o., Aug. 13.-Charles r. II.
FerrelI. former employe of the Adams
Express company, was arrested yester-
day afternoon in this city and has con-
fessed to the killing of Messenger Chas.
Lane and the robbery of the way safe OF
the Adams Express company on the
Pennsylvania east bound train which ar
rived in this city at midnight Friday.
One thousand dollars of the money
which he had stolen was recovered.
Ferrell was to have been married
Thursday next to Miss Lillian Costlow,
daughter of Patrick Costlow, an engi-
neer 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 confessed
that the motive of the robbery was to Sc
cure money, of which he felt in great
need, on account of his approaching
marriage. The money recovered 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 % years of age, and has
a splendid physique, being six feet in
height, with drak hair and an attractive
custody he assumed a nOnchalant de-
meanor, but when he found that he
could no longer deceive the officers ne
made a full confession. After his state
ment had been taken by Chief of Police
Tyler and he was led to cell in the po-
lice station, he was in a state of nervous
collapse and orders were given that he
be watched closely to prevent his doing
himself bodily injury.
The confession of Ferren disclosed
premeditated and blood-curdling crime
%H1% IL hi Of
He said that he had become. desperate
because of his inability to secure em-
plOyment, and a realization of the fact
that he must have money to defray the
expenses of his approaching marriage.
The robbery had been carefully planned
and it included the murder of Express
Messenger Lane. He had no accomplices
and no cOnf1dantS.
He knew Lane we'll. In fact they were
friends, and he relied upon Lanes con-
f1dence to help him execute the crime.
He knew that considerable money was
always carried by the messenger on
Pennsylvania train No. between st.
Louis and Columbus, and that he was
certain to secure large sum if he
robbed the way safe on that train.
Having provided himself with a Smith
& Wesson six-shooter, 3S caliber he went
to Urbana Friday morning and waited
for No. 8. When the train arrived there
Ferren went at once to the EXPRESS car
and told Lane that he was out of money
and asked permission to ride to Colurn-
bus with him. Lane consented, never for
moment SuSpecting the treachery of
his pretended friend For a short tins
afterward the train left Urbana they
chatted pleasantly. Lane sat in chair
in the end of the car, with his back
slightly turned. When Ferrell had final
ly nerved himself for the crime he drew
his revolver and stepped up behind Lane
unObServed and fired three shots in rap
id succession into the messengers back.
Lane rolled off the chair on the floor on
his face and Ferrell quickly fired the re-
naming shots at the PROSTATE body.
Lane was unconscious, but Ferrell, fear
ing that the wounds already inflicted
would not cause death, took Lanes re-
volver and fired two more bullets from
it into the body.
FerrelI then took the key to the way
safe from the pocket of the dead mes
Senger 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. At
ter he had taken out all the sacks con-
tanning the money packages, money or
ders and way bills, he placed them in a
small satchel and waited until the train
arrived at Plain City, when he slipped
out of the car. He walked about for
few minutes to regain his composure and
then inquired for the hotel which he
found after a short time, belated citi-
zen directing him to the place. He Sc
cured a room and retired for the night
without registering, a. fact of which the
landlord took no notice at the time, as
Once in his room, F'erre1I 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. 1t was not so easy to dis
pose of the bundle of express sacks and
envelopes. After thinking the matter
over he concluded he could get rid of
the bundle best by expressing it to
fictitious address in some distant city,
knowing that it would remain there a
year at least before 1t would be opened,
| If it was not intercepted.
Ferre1l arose early the next morning
| and sauntered down to the railroad
station and sat there for time reading
| a book. Then he expressed the pack
| age, which he had addressed to c. w,
| Coylor, Lockport, N. Y, bought a ticket
| and took the train for Columbus at $50.
When he arrived in the city he went at
| once to his boarding house on the north
side of the city and changed his clothes.
Ferrell said he was very much disturb
ed by the talk about the murder and
| robbery, which he heard upon every
| hand, but he paid a number of bills that
| he owed out of the money which he had
| stolen, and bought come clothes ana
other things which he needed. saturday
| night he went to see Miss Costlow and
| arranged to call again Sunday after
| noon.
| 1t was at Plain City last Saturday
| night that City Detectives ONe1ll ana
| Dundon obtained the clue that led 10
| Ferrell's apprehension. They had been