The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-01-04
EXPECTS PARDON
Statement Of the Convicted Slayer Of
Charles Lane.
SHIELDS A FORMER sweetheart.
Before His Downfall, RossIyn
FerreII Was a Model Young
Man, He Says.

Rosslyn Ferrell, who is in the annex
at the penitentiary at Columbus under
sentence to be electrocuted March 1
for the murder of Charles Lane, and
whose case comes up before q special
session of the state board of pardons
the 10th of January, has made state
ment for publication. In it he embodied
a defense of Miss Costlow, his former
fiancee.
Ferrell spoke particularly of the years
during which he was employed by the
Adams Express company and of the ad-
vancement he had made in that busi-
ness. He said:
"On many occasion I was compli-
mented by my employers on the man.
ner in which ] performed my work and
soon saw that l was
REGARDED WITH ENVY
by some of my fellow workmens
never drank or swore, neither did l
smoke cigarettes, although 1 have been
reported as cigarette fiend. l always
bore good reputation, and no one can
tell me / was in my right mind when
l committed that-when l got into trou-
BILE.
40 not DeIleNe lne pdIupIl DOdiu
can do other than grant me commuta-
ton of sentence, and somehow / feel
that am going to get out of this trou-
BILE No man is proof against adversely
and any man is liable to fall under mis-
fortune. If / had not lost my position
with the express company l would have
been the happiest man in the country
today, but as it is I put the best pos
sible face on the matter, believing that
the board will deal justly with me.
AT the time of my discharge, which
was not for failure to do the work and
do it properly, for I was invariably
given some of the hardest runs on the
road.
IHAD ACCUMULATED $3.50,
which intended to use when got mar
ried- But 1 had to live, and to live
needed money, and the $3.50 soon van
ished. AS far as Miss Costlow is con-
cerned / can truthfully say that not one
word was ever said by her as to an
amount of money / should have before
getting married. The statement that
she insisted on me having $1,000 is en-
tirely false.
MY whole trouble started with the
loss of my position, and that followed
about five months after a man, whose
name will not mention, was promoted
to a position of trust. When he re-
ceived his promotion / said to myself
1t will soon be over with you,' and 1t
was. What reason he had for not likr
ing me d not k now. I never did him
an INJURY in any way but he
Sun\UED IIIs EN,tIrv
to me even before he received the posi-
tion which he now holds. / always tried
to be friendly with every one, and on
one particular occasion / shielded an
agent of the company who was taking
things right along-clothes, shoes, jew
elry and anything he wanted. did not
report the matter, but let him alone
but soon after l was changed to an
other run he was reported and lost his
position. While / worked for the COM
pany l never took a pin from it and
| am informed it is working against me.
l cannot understand that.
But, as / said before, the whole
trouble hinges on my discharge from
the employ of the company and J. who
know best, know it was not for cause
but on account of the jealousy and Ill
feeling of one man, and as a result Of
the officers of the company listened to
his report of me without substanti-
ating them"