Evening journal., 1902-04-02
SHOT MOTHER
And CHILDREN
FiendiSh Crime Of COlOred
Butler in Philadelphia
CALLED GELD TO her DEATH
LaHe Planned to Murder the Family,
to Rob the House and Then
Disappear

Philadelphia, April 2.-Fearing that
he would be arrested for theft. Will
liam H. Lane, colored butler, shot
and killed his employer, Mrs. Ella ].
Furbush; her 12-year-old daughter,
Madeline, and probably mortally
wounded another daughter Eloise,
aged years. at their home. 652 North
Fifteenth street, shortly before noon
yesterday.
The murder was one of the most
cold-blooded that has been committed
in this city for some time. Lane had
been her butler since Christmas, and
besides him she had another colored
servant, woman named Agnes. Re
Gently Mrs. Furbush had been missing
small amounts of money, and finally
she informed the police, who began
an investigation, which was still inI
progress when yesterdays tragedy
was enacted. Suspicion fell on Lane,
and a warrant was sworn out for his
arrest. According to Lanes confes
sion. he saw Mrs. Furbush on Monday
night counting a large roll of bills.
Knowing where she kept the money,
he hided his time and at an Opportune
moment late in the evening, he stole
$40. Expecting that the theft would
be placed on him and that Mrs. Fur
bush would have him arrested, Lane
planned to murder the mother and
her children, rob the house and dis
appear.
1T II o'clock he went to the third
floor and found Mrs. Furbush in one
of the middle rooms. He instantly
shot her, once in the breast and then
through the heart. She died instantly.
Eloise who was in another room, on
hearing the noise, ran in to see what
was the matter and as she entered
Lane shot her in the obdomen She
fell. and he thought he had also killed
her. Without even attracting the at
tention of the other servant, who was
ironing in the outSitchen, Lane went
to the front door and called in Made
line. who was skating on roller skates
on the sidewalk He told her that
her mother wanted her on the third
floor. and without the slightest suspi'
cion of the tragedy that was being
enacted. and that she was going to her
death. Madeline climbed the stairs
without first removing her skates. She
went into room adjoining that in
which her mother lay dead. Lane fol
lowed her, and as she cheerily called
her mother, the negro shot her through
the heart. killing her instantly.
Lane in his confession says that he
then proceeded TO rob the house. He
quickly found $3.50, two watches anC
a pocket book. and while he was
searching for the jewelry he was in
terrupted by the arrival Of two spe
cial policemen, who had a warran
for his arrest on the charge of lar
cenv. They asked to sec Mrs. Fur
bush, and Lane showed them to th'
sitting room on the second floor an
said he would call his mistress
Recognizing one of the men as an OF
fcer. Lane hastily donned his over
coat and escaped by the rear of tn
house. All was quiet in the house an
the policemen hearing moan starte
an investigation. and on the thir
floor of the hallway found little Elois6
To the policeman she said: "Williar
bllOl lily lAOlANA anu ny eANNcAf $50
tried to kill me-"
Lane was traced to the Pennsy
vania Railroad station at Camdel
where he was recognized by one
the policemen he had admitted to tn
house The officer hustled him ont
a ferryboat and out of the jurisdictio
of the state of New Jersey and too
him to the City Hall.
Later Lane was taken to the hosp
tai, where Eloise identified him, sa
ing: "He is William Lane, the ma
who killed my mother and sister, an
tried to kill me. You know you di
William" In his presence her stat
ment was taken and Lane put Il
seal of accuracy to it by saying
Everything the child has said
true"
Lane is the son of a pracher. WI
lives in Bridgeton, and has served
term in the Mount Holly N. j.. ia
and has been confined in the Huntin
don pa Reformatory.
There seems to be a mystery 7
garding the domestic life of Mrs. FL
bush. In the neighborhood where 81
lived she was variOusly known
Mrs. Furbush and Mrs. Fisher. III
woman. who was AZ years Of age, w
we'll supplied with money, owned q
fine house she lived in. had her oy
horses and carriages. and lived Il
of ease As a result of an investie
ton. Coroner Dugan is endeavoril
10 secure the attendance at the
quest OF Charles A. Furbush, wealt
manufacturer of milling machinery.
this city.