The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-12
Revolver Which May Have Been Used
in killing Lane Found Hid
den i'm n Bed.
STORY OF THE BAGGAGE MASTER
WHO SAW LANE ALIVE AT RICH
MOND, IND, AND GREENvILLE, o.,
And Who Noticed Several Strange Men
at Capell and Later at Marble
Cliff, Near Columbus.

COLUMBUS. O., Aug. 1.-THE whole
country along the Pennsylvania Railroad
between this city and Urbana is being
secured by officers in pursuit of the men
who murdered Express Messenger Lane
and robbed the way safe in his car last
night. Dozens Of stories and rumors
have been sifted down and the officers are
apparently no nearer TO solution OF the
mystery than when they started If any
promising clews have been secured they are
being very closely guarded. All of the per-
sons placed under surveillance to-day have
been released. The old man who tagged
the train at Marble Cliff was found and
gave satisfactory account of his move
ments. ]. F. Hamilton. a farmer who
lives at Raymond, O., called at police head
beating his way on the train from Milford
Center to Columbus. He claims he got on
the front end of the first car and found
two men on the platform. They got off at
Plain City Hamilton thinks he heard shots
fired in the express car after the train
passed Marble Cliff, but his story is not
given any credence because the car which
he designated was not the one in which the
murder and robbery occurred. 1t was re-
ported that trail of blood had been found
along the track near Plain City. indicating
that one of the robbers might have been
wounded. but the report has not yet been
confirmed. Efforts are now being made to
get trace of a mysterious stranger who
and who disappeared the day of the rob-
berry. Two men, one of whom answers the
description of Dayton crook. arrived at
Springfield at S:45 this morning and their
peculiar actions excited suspicion They
took an interurban car to Dayton.
1t was reported Iate tonight that the CO.
lumbus detectives working at Plain City
had secured an important clew. The land
lord of the hotel there reported that a
stranger who had got off the train on
which the murder and robbery took place
came to the hotel and secured a room. The
stranger was uneasy. and frequently
glanced furtively about him. Early Satur-
Cay morning he got his breakfast and left
for Columbus. He did not register, and
his name is unknown. Detective Foster
went to the room with the landlord, and a
close examination was made of it. Moth
ing in the shape of papers or letters was
found, out in the bed, under the mattress
and hidden between the springs and bed
Stats, was found large bulldog revolver.
| This is believed to be the revolver that
| fired the first shot into Messenger Lane S
| back, the murder being finished later by it
and Lanes own weapon. A description OF
the stranger was obtained. The police now
| believe that Lane was shot before the train
reached Milford Center. A farmer residing
near that place claims he heard five shots
| fired as the train neared that place. Con-
ductor Taylor IS now positive that he was
mistaken about talking with Lane at Mil
| ford Center. He thinks it was probably at
| Urbana or st. Paris.