New-York tribune., 1900-08-13
HE MURDERED TO MARRY
CAPTURE OF MAN WHO SHOT EXPRESS
MESSENGER NEAR CLEVELAND.

Columbus. Ohio Aug. 12.-Charles r. H. Fer
rell former empleye of the Adams Express
Company, arrested this afternoon in this
city and has confessed to the killing of the
messenger, Charles Lane. and the robbery Of the
way safe of the Adams Express Company. on
the Pennsylvania eastbound 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 on Thursday
next to Miss Lillian Costlow, daughter of Pat
rick Costlow, an engineer 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 Sc
cure employment. He confessed that the motive
OF the robbery was to secure money. of which he
felt in great need account Of his approach
ing marriage. The money recovered he had
given to Miss Costlow to keep for him. saying
that II money he had saved from his earn
irgs He was at the home of his affanced bride
and in her company when placed under arrest.
Ferrell is only twenty-one years of age and has
a fine physique being six feet in height, with
dark hair and attractive face When the Of
icers took him into custody ne assumed a nom
chalant 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.
HOW THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED
The confession of Ferreu disclosed a premedi-
tated and bloodcurdling crime that seemed al
most impossible of belief He said that he had
become desperate because of his inability to Sc
cure employment and realization of the fact
hot bA
of his approaching marriage. The robbery had
been carefully planned. and 1T included the mur-
der OF the express messenger Lane. He had no
aocomplices and no conidants. He knew Lane
well; in fact, they were friends. and he de-
pended upon Lanes confidence to help him exc
cute 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
a large sum If he robbed the way safe on that
train.
Having provided himself with Smith & Wes-
son sixshooter, .3S calibre, he went to Urbana
Friday morning and waited for No s. When
the train arrived there Farrell went at once 10
the express car and told Lane that he was out
OF money and asked permission TO ride to Co
lumbus with him. Lane consented, never for
moment suspecting the treachery of his pre-
tended friend. For short time after the train
left Urbana they chatted pleasantly. Lane sat
in a chair in the end of the car with his back
slightly turned.
When Ferren had finally nerved himself for
the crime. he drew his revolver and stepped
up behind Lane unobserved and fired three
shots in rapid 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 FerreH fearing that the
wounds already inflicted would not cause death.
took Lanes revolver and fired two more bull
lets 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 put Lanes
revolver inside, where he could reach it easily
in case he was detected and needed 1t to de-
fend 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 arrived at
Plain City when he slipped off the train.
WHAT THE MURDERER DID.
He walked about for few minutes to regain
his composure and then inquired for the hotel
which he found after a short time. a belated
citizen directing him TO the place. He secured
a room and retired for the night without regis
terng-a fact of which the landlord took
notice at the time, he was half asleep Once
in his room, Ferrell proceeded to go through the
packages and take out all the cash. The re-
mainder he tied up in a bundle. The question
of how to get rid of the debris of his plumber
and his revolver then confronted him. II was
easy matter to dispose of the latter. Lifting
up the mattress of the bed he placed the re-
vclver in a. secure place in the springs 1t was
not easy to dispose of the bundle of express
sacks and envelopes. After thinking the mat
ter over he concluded he could get rid Of the
bundle best by expressing it to a fictitious ad-
dress in some distant city, knowing that it would
remain there for year at least before 1t would
be opened, If it was not intercepted. Ferren
arose early the next morning and sauntered
down to the railroad station and sat there for
package which he had addressed to c. w
Coyler. Lockport. N. Y. bought ticket and took
the train for Columbus at $50 o'clock When
he arrived In the city he went at once to his
boarding place, the north side OF the city
and changed his clothes. Terrell 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 number of bills that he owed out of the
money which he had stolen, and bought some
clothes and other things which he needed. On
Saturday night he went to see Miss Costlow. and
arranged to call again on Sunday afternoon.
1t was at Plain City Saturday night that
two city detectives. O'Nen and Dundon oh
tanned the clew that led to FerreIrs apprehen-
sion. They had been at the hotel at daylight
while Ferrel was sleeping in an upper room. and
asked the proprietor If any strangers had regis
tered or had been about the hotel The
poprietor said that he did not remember having
seen any stranger. Later in the afternoon the
detectives again asked the proprietor If he had
seen any strangers about and he rennenbsroj .r1,
. Than hat mn urkC hal e.