The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-01-29
MURDERER 5 HAND
Gentleman Now In Canton Examines
Hand Of ROsslyn fenell.
RECALLS The STORY OF The crime
Confession of Condemned Man
Heard BY Tiffin GiImore...pris.
Oner Said lie Needed Money.

Oner Said lie Needed Money.
The fact that the state board of par
dons has just reported adversely in the
case of the murderer, Rosslyn II. Fer
rell, and the consequent certainty of
his electrocution on March 1, is calling
| forth a resume of the case from papers
in all Parts Of the state.
Mr. Tiffin Gilmore, member of the
traffic department of the United States
| Telephone company, who has been in
Canton for the past month assisting in
the Office of the Stark County Telephone
company, is well acquainted with the
condemned man and had the experience
of listening to a full confession of his
crime two weeks after was committed.
Happening at that time to be in Marys-
vile, Mr.. Gilmore called at the Jail and
was admitted to Ferrell's cell In re-
latng the story to the News Democrat
| reporter Monday morning Mr.. Gilmore
sad:
"Ferrell seemed glad enough to see
me and showed a willingness to talk
abJus the killing of Express Messenger
Lane. He tegan at the beginning and
related all of the circumstances which
led up to the crime. He told me how
much he loved Miss Costello, of Col
umbus, and said that it was through
this passion that he was induced to do
the deed. Miss Costello told Ferrel
very plainly that she would never mar
ry him unless he could show her $4,000
which belonged to him. In order to pro-
long the courtship he told her that he
had sum of this size in q building and
loan company and could procure it on
short notice. She believed him and pro-
ceeded to arrange for the wedding.
The date was set for the first week in
September. Miss Costello is q Catholic
and at her solicitation Ferrell was
baptised and received into that church.
The time set for the wedding was draw
ing near and Terrell saw that he would
have to make good the bluff about hav-
ing the required sum. 1t was in this ex-
tremity that he deliberately planned one
of the most heartless and cold blooded
murders in the annals of crime.
For some months before this Ferrell
had been employed as express messen-
ger on the Pennsylvania out of Column
bus. He was discharged on well ground
ed suspicious of dishonesty. He was ac-
quainted with Lane, who was also EN-.
ployed by the Adams company on the
same run. Terrell knew about how
much money was usually in the car and
also that Lane would not refuse him ad-
mission at any point on the road. He
saw in these circumstances the chances
for a successful consummation of the |
work which he contemplated. Then he |
col ItR,I,r Inl
execution.
"Ferrell left Columbus on the day pre-
ceeding the night of the crime and went |
to small station, a short distance west
of Marysville, where the train upon
which Lane was employed stopped.
Lane greeted Ferrell cordially and i'm
mediately invited him into the car. AS
the train continued on the way to the
capital the two men chattted in a
friendly manner, the one little suspect
ing that murder was in the heart of the
other. AS the train was nearing Plain
City one of Lanes shoe-strings became
united and he stopped to tie it, AS he
did so he turned his back to Ferrell
who at once drew revolver from his
pocket and began firing on his victim.
At the first shot Lane turned quickly
and cried why Ross what are you
doing?" Ferrell said, 81 am doing
nothing" following with a fusilade of
bullets. When he had exhausted his re-
volver Lane lay on the floor of the car
dead. But Ferrell wanted 10 remove all
doubt He opened the safe and procur-
ing Lanes revolver. fired two more
shots into his body. Ferrell then took
money from the safe amounting to
about $1,000 and, at the first opportunity
jumped from the car. That night he
spent in a hotel in Plain City where in
his bed he hid some papers which he had
taken with the money and which would
have proved convicting If found on his
person.
"The morning following. FerreIl went
to Columbus and called on his prospec-
tive bride. He told her that he had
drawn his money out of the bank and
that they start out to lay in a
supply of household goods. She readily
acquiesced and they made a round of
the stores. buying lavishly everywhere.
This shopping trip was Ferrel's undoing.
He was known to have no money and
the recklessness Of his expenditures at
length excited suspicion. On the next
day he was arrested and taken to
Jail. At first he stoutly de-
clared he was innocent. but little BY
little he divulged the story of the mur-
der. On the day called ne shook my
hand warmly and afterwards repeated
the story to me-"
Mr.. Gilmore has been quite student
Of palmistry and firmly believes that
each human hand contains an index to
The destiny and character of the indi-
Vidual. Before leaving the prison after
his visit with Ferrell he examined his
hand. The prisoner submitted willingly
and asked Mr.. Gilmore, with laugh, If
ne noticed anything wrong with his
lifeline"
The lines present nothing remarkable.
Mr.. Gilmore asserts They show some