The Washington weekly post., 1900-08-14

Columbus. Ohio. Aug. 12.-Charles r. II. /
Ferrell. a former emp.oye Of the Adams
Express Company vas arrested this aft
arnoon In this city. and has confessed 10
the killing OF Messenger Charles Lane and
the robbery Of the way safe OF the Adams
Express Company on the Pennsylvania
aast-bound train which arrived n this
city at midnight Friday. One thousand
dollars Of the money which he had stolen
Vas recovered
Ferrel was 10 have been married Thurs
day next - Miss Lillian CostlOw, daugh-
Ter % Patrick CostIow, 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 10 se-
cure employment He confessed that the
motive of the robbery vas 20 secure
money, Of which be felt In great need on
account Of his approaching marriage. The
money recovered he had given 10 Miss
C0stlOW TO keep for him, saying IT was
money saved from his earnings. He was
at the home OF his afliaRced and IN her
company when placed under arrest.
Ferreil is but twenty-five years Of age,
ana has a splendid physique, being six
-ect in height, with dark hair and an at
rracti.e face. When the officers took him
INTO custody ne assumed a nonchalant de-
mcsnor. but when he found that he could
no longer deceive the officers he made a
'iIl confession. After his statement had
5eea taken by Chief OF Police Tyler, and
ne WAS led to a 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 himself in
jury.
FerreIPs Confession.
The confession Of FerreI disclosed a
premeditated and blood-cUrdling crime
that seemed almost impossible OF belief.
He said that he had become desperate be-
cause az his inability TO secure employ
ment and realization of the fact that
he must have money 10 defray the eX-
penses Of his approaching marriage. The
robbery had been carefully planned, and
Il included the murder Of Express Mes
senger Lane. He had no accomplces and
no corfidants He knew Lane well In
fact they were friends, and he relied
upon Lanes confidence 10 help him exc
cute the crime. He knew that considera-
bic money was always carried by the
messenger on Pennsylvania train No. 8
between ST. Louis and Columbus, and
hat he was certain to secure a large sum
II he robbed the way safe on that train
Having provided himself with a Smith
& Wesson six-shooter. .SS caliber, he
went TO Urbana Friday morning and
waited for No. s.
When the train arrived there FerreIl
went at once to the express car and told
lane that he was out OF money and ask
ed permission TO ride 10 Columbus with
him. Lane consented, never for a mo,
ment suspecting the treacheTy of his pre-
tended friend. For a short time after the
train left UTbana they chatted pleasantly.
lane sat in a 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, stepped UP
behind Lane unobserved, and fired three
shots in rapid succession in the messen-
ser's back. Lane rolled off the chair on
The floor on his face and FerTell quickly
fired the remaining shots at the PROSTATE
body. Lane was unconscious, but Ferrell
fearing that the wounds already inflicted
would not cause death, took Lanes re-
vOlver and fired two more bullets from it
into the body.
RiHing the safe,
FerreU then took the key 10 the way
safe from the pocket of the dead messen-
ger. opened the safe, and laid Lanes re-
vOver inside, where he could reach 1t
easily in case he was detected and needed
IL 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 satchel and waited
until the car arrived at Plain City, when
he slipped off the train. He walked about
hi
and then inquired for the hotel, which he
found after a short time, belatei citizen
directing him 10 the place. He secured
room and retired for the night without
registering, a fact Of which the landlord
took no notice al the time, as he was half
asleep.
once in his room Ferrell proceeded to 20
through the packages and take out all the
cash The remainder he tied up In a bun
die The question Of how TO get rid of the
debris Of his plunder and his revolver
lhen confronted him. II was an easy mat
ter TO dispose Of the latter Lifting up the
mattress Of the bed, he placed the revolver
in secure place in the springs. II was
NOT so easy 10 dispose OF the bundle Of eN-
rr--S sacks and envelopes. After thinking
iha matter over he concluded he could get
Tid Of The bundle best BY expressing IL 10
60 fictitious address In some distant city,
knowing that 4 would remain there for a
wear az least before IL would be opened, II
10 was not intercepted.
His Return To Columbus.
FerreN arose carly the next morning and
eauuterel down 10 the railroad station
and sat there for time, reading a book.
Then he expressed the package which he
had addressed 10 G ". CoyIor. LockPort,
NY.. bought "a ticket and took the train
for Columbus AZ go. When ne arrived in
he city he went ~ once % his boarding
Dlace. on the north side 81 the city and
changed his clothes FcrTell 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 ne paid number Of bills
that he owed out OF the money which he
had stolen, and bought some clothes ana
0rb.r things which he needed Saturday
ninht he went 70 sec Miss COstloW and ar
ranged 20 call again Sunday afternoon.
II was n Plain city last Saturday night
that city Detectives ONeil and DunduI
obtained the cIew that led 20 ErfrrlT- au-
f.rarension. They had been at the hOtsl
rt daylight while Fefre!l was sleeping M
an upper room, and asked the proprietor
n any strangers had registered or had
naer seen about the hotel. The proprietor
salI that ne did not rcmSmbcr having
seen any strangers. Later IN the after
..oor the detectives again asked the pro-
rrletar n hr had seen any strangers abGl.
and he rememb, red then that man VII,
had forgotten 10 register had stayed al
me house over night and had gone away
on the early morning train % Columbus
Detectives az once searched the room, ana
-,ere rewarded by finding the revolver
-.Iere II had been seCreted. They ais,
,ound several way bills that had beer
overlooked by FeTrell in his harry and ex
element while making Up the expires.
package.
Nachias' Crew Transferred to bancroft.
The little cruiser Bancroft whicn has
been out of commission for bout year