The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-17
A DESPERATE LOVER
Murder to Get Money for His
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Killing of Mes
senxer Lane In an Express Car Ex-
planned by the Murderer's Confession

Columbus, Ohio, August 1e-Charles
r. H. Terrell, a former employe OF the
Adams Express Company, was arrested
this afternoon in this city and has con-
fessed to the killing OF Messenger
| Charles Lane and the robbery Of the
way safe Of the Adams Express Com
pany on the Pennsylvania eastbound
train which arrived in this city al mid
night Friday. One thousand dollars %
the money which he had stolen was
recovered.
The crime was not discovered until
the train pulled into Union station
here Friday night. When Extra Mes
senger Sheldon, OF the Adams transfer
office at the station. went to the al
he was surprised to find the side door.
which is usually opened by the messen-
ger as the train pulls into the station,
closed. Pushing the door back Sheldon
was startled by the sight OF Lanes
body lying in a pool OF blood. The rob
Der had taken the key OF the safe from
the messengers pocket, opened the safe
and looted it. Great mystery surround
ed the crime, and il caused a sensation
here.
Terrell was 10 have been married
next Thursday TO Miss Lillian Costlow,
daughter OF Patrick Costlow. an en-
gineer on the Pennsylvania lines. He
had been discharged from the employ
Of the Adams Express Company about
three months ago and had not been
able to secure employment since.
Terrell confessed that the motive OF
the robbery was to secure money OF
which he felt in great need on account
of his approaching marriage. The
money recovered he a given TO Miss
Costlow TO keep for him, saying that
1t was money he a saved from his
earnings.
He was Il the home of his fiancee
and in her company when placed under
arrest.
Ferrell is but 81 years OF age, and
has a splendid physique, being six feet
in height with dark hair and an at
%tractive face. When he found that he
could no longer deceive the officers he
made a full confession. After he was
led to a cell he was in a state of nerv-
Gus collapse and was closely watched.
The confession disclosed a premedi-
tated and b~lood-curdling crime that
seemed almost impossible of belief.
Terrell said he had become desperate
because of his inability to secure en-
ployment and a realization of the fact
that he must have money to defray
the expenses of his approaching mar
riage. The robbery had been carefully
planned, n it included the murder OF
Express Messenger Lane. He and
Lane were friends. He knew that con-
siderable money vas always carried by
the messenger on Pennsylvania train
No. s beweeen st. Louis and Columbus
and that he was certain to secure a
!, large sum if he robbed the way safe on
that train.
Having provided himself with a
!, Smith & WeSSon s~iX-shooter, SO calibre,
Terrell went to Urbana Friday morning
and waited for No. s. When the train
arrived Terrell went at once to the ex-
press car and told Lane that HI was
out of money and asked permission TO
ride to Columbus with him. Lane con-
scented. For a short time after the
train left Urbana they chatted pleas
antlv. Lane sat in a chair in the end
of the car with his back slightly turn
ed.
When Terrell could finally nerve him
self for the crime he drew his revolver
n stepped UP behind Lane un-
observed and fired three shots in rapid
succession into the messengers back
Lane rolled off the chair on the floor
on his face and Terrell quickly fired
the remaining shots at the PROSTATE
body. Lane was unconscious, but Fer
rell, fearing that the wounds already
inflicted would not cause death. took
Lanes revolver and fired two more bull
lets from II INTO the body. Terrell then
took the key to the way safe from the
pocket # the dead messenger. opened
the safe, took out all the sacks contain
ing the money packages, money orders
and way bills, placed them in a small
satchel and waited until the car ar
rived at Plain City, when he slipped
off the train. He went to a hotel and
secured a room.
Once in his room Terrell went
through the packages and took out all
the cash. The remainder he tied up in
a h11ndIn Z - ~
the bed he placed the revolver in a Sc
cure place in the springs. 1t was not
so easy to dispose Of the bundle Of ex-
press sacks and envelopes, but he con-
cluded he could get rid of the bundle
best by expressing 1t to a fictitious ad-
dress in some distant ". knowing
that it would remain there for a year
at least before it you'd be opened, If
it was not intercepted. He arose early
the ext morning, expressed the pack
age, which he addressed to G.. w. Coy
lor. Lockport, N. Y, bought a ticket
and took the train for Columbus at
$50. When he arrived in the city he
went at m to his boarding place and
changed his clothes. Ferrell 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
money which he had stolen and
bought some clothes and other things.
Saturday night lie went to see Miss
Costlow and arranged to a again
Sunday afternoon.
Detectives O'Neil and Dundon OBJ
tanned the clue that led to FerrelPs
apprehension at the Plain City hotel.
As soon as il was learned that Fer
re1l had given the honey to his sweet
heart Inspector Barron went to the
house and secured it. The young lady
was utterly Frustrated by the disclos-
ure- She had not suspected Terrell
OF w~rongdoing and the news was a ter
r1ble shock to her and her parents. who
i had REGARDED Eerrell az a model rnune