The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-03
TWO SHOT TODEATH
TO CONCEAL THEFT
Mother and Daughter Killed
by Negro Butler.
ANOTHER CHILD MAY DIE
A Cold Bloodsd Plan of Murder and
Robbery.
ANOTHER CHILD MAY DIE
OFFICERS COME, He ADMITS THEM, FLIES
he is Captured and identified by the Child He
Shot But Failed 10 Kill. The
Child Speaks The Truth,
He Says.
(By the Associated Press.)

Philadelphia, Pa, April l. Fearing
that he would be arrested for theft, Will
liam FL. Lane, n colored butler, shot and
killed his employer, Mrs. Ella J. Fur
line, and probably mortally wounded
another daughter, Eloise, aged years,
at their home, number 652 North Fiji
teenth street, shortly before noon today
Lane, who is twenty-five years of age,
escaped from the house and four hours
later was captured by Philadelphia de-
tectives while waiting in Camden N. j.
to board train for Bridgeton, N. J. He
was Immediately brought to this city,
was identified by little Eloise and con-
fessed his crime.
The murder was one of the most cold
FLOODED that has been committed in this
city for some time. Mrs. Furbush lived
with her two daughters in fine four
story house. Lane had been her butler
since Christmas, and besides him she had
another colored servant, woman named
Agnes. Recently Mrs. Furbush had been
missing small amounts of money and
finally she informed the police, who be-
gan an investigation, which was still in
progress when todays tragedy was en-
acted. Suspicion fell on Lane and war
rant was sworn out for his arrest.
According to Lanes confession he saw
Mrs. Furbush on Monday night counting
a large roll of bills. Knowing where she
kept the money he bided his time and at
an opportune moment late in the even
ing, he stole $40 This morning Mrs.
Furbush missed the money and question
ed the colored man.. but he denied all
knowledge of having seen it.
Expecting that the theft would be
placed ON him and that Mrs. Furbush
would have him arrested, Lane planned
to murder her and her children, rob the
house and disappear. He went to the
third floor and found Mrs. Furbush in
one of the middle rooms. FIe instantly
shot her twice, once in the breast and
then through the heart. She died in
stantly
Eloise, who was in another room, hear
ing the noise, entered and Lane shot her
in the abdomen. She fell and he thought
he had also killed her.
Without even attracting the attention
of the other servant, who was ironing in
the out-kitchen, Lane went to the front
6cor and called Madeline, who was skat-
ing on roller skates on the sidewalk. He
told her that her mother wanted her on
the third floor, and without the slightest
suspicion of the tragedy that was being
enacted, and that she was going to her
death, Madeline climbed the stairs with
out removing her skates. She went into
room adjoining that in which her
mother lay dead. Lane followed her and
as she cheerily called her mother, the ne
gro shot her through the heart, killing
her instantly.
Lane says he then proceeded to rob the
house. He quickly found $3.50, two
watches and pocket book, and while
he was searching for the jewelry he was
interrupted by the arrival of two special
policemen, who had a warrant for his ar
rest on TIE charge of larceny. They ask
ed to see Mrs. Furbush and Lane, recog-
niz;hs them as officers, showed them to
the sitting room on the second floor and
said he would call his mistress. Lane
then hastily escaped by the rear of the
house. Meanwhile the policemen hearing
moan, started an investigation and on
the third floor hallway and found little
Eloise. To the policemen she said:
William shot my mother and my sis
ter and tried to kill me-
She was Immediately sent to the hos
pital. Lane was traced to the Pennsyl-
Vania Railroad station at Camden, where
he was recognized by one Of the police
men he had admitted to the house The
officers and hustled hi mon a ferry0oat
and out of the jurisdiction of the State
of New Jersey and took him to the city
hall.
At the police station Lane said he was
sorry for what he had done. He was sur
prised to hear that Eloise was alive and
said he always liked her and hesitated to
kill her but cit was necessary to do so. 4"
Now that l have been caught" he
added, 81 hope she will recover. l am
also sorry for Mrs. Furbush and Made
line, but poverty tempted me to do it, and
l must now suffer.
Later Lane was taken to the hospital
where Eloise identified him, saying, HE
is William Lane, the man who killed my
mother ana sister ana tried TO XIII me
You know you did, William"
In his presence her statement was ia
KEN and Lane put the seal of accuracy tc
it by saying, Right, the child has said
true
Lane is a son of a preacher who lives
in Bridgeton and has served a term il
the Mount Holly IN j. Jail for larceny
and has been confined in the Huntington
(Pa) reformatory.