The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-02
Killed Mrs. Furbdsh, Her Daughter
Madeline and Possibly MOrtaIly
Wounded Another Daughter.
CHARGED WITH STEALING
AND WAS EXPECTING ARREST WHEN
HE COMMITTED THE CRIME.
Captured i'm Camden, Having Fled
from Philadelphia While the
Officers Were in the House.

PHILADELPHIA, April Fearing that
he would be arrested for theft. William II.
Lane, colored butler, shot and killed his
employer, Mrs Ella J. Furbush. her twelve
year-old daughter Madeline and probably
mortally wounded another daughter Elose.
aged seven years, at their home, No. 652
North Fifteenth street, shortly before noon
to-day. Lane. who is twenty-five years of
age escaped from the house, and four
hours later was captured by Philadelphia
detectives while waiting in Camden, n. J..
to board a train for Brdgeton. n. ]. He
was Immediately brought to this city, was
identified by little Eloise and confessed his
crime.
The murder was one of the most cold
booded that has been committed in this
city for some time. Mrs. Furbush lived
with her two daughters in fine four
story house which was furnished with ali
the comfort that an ample purse could
provide. Lane had been her butler since
Christmas, and besides him she had an
other colored servant a woman named
Agnes. Recently Mrs. Furbush had been
missing small amounts of money. and final
ly she informed the police, who began
investigation. which was still in progress
picion fell on Lane and a warrant 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 evening
ne stole $40 This morning Mrs. Furbush
missed the money and questioned the col
ored man. but he denied all knowledge of
having seen ii. 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 disappear.
SHOT MRS. FURBUSH FIRST.
At II o'clock he went 10 the third floor
and found Mrs. Furbush in of the mid
die rooms. He shot her twice, once in the
breast and then through the heart. She
died instantly. Eloise, who was in another
room, hearing the noise, ran in 10 see what
was the matter, and she entered 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 kitten
en-, Lane went to the front door and called
in Madeline. 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 suspicion OF the
tragedy that was being enacted and that
she was going TO her death, Madeline
climbed the stairs without 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 negro shot her through the
heart. killing her instantly.
Lane, in his confession. says he then pro-
ceeded 10 rob the house. He only found
$l3O two watches and pocketbook and
while he was searching for the jewelry he
was interrupted by the arrival of two spe-
cial policemen, who had a warrant for his
arrest on the charge OF larceny. They
asked 10 Mrs. Furbush. and Lane
showed them TO the receiving room on the
second floor and said he would call his
mistress. Recognizing one of the men as
an officer. Lane hastily donned his over
coat and escaped by the rear of the house.
All was quiet in the house. and the police
men. hearing a moan. started an investiga-
ton. and on the third-fiOOr hallway found
little ElOse. To the policemen she said.
William shot my mother and my sister
and tried 10 AId me.
THE BUTLER'S ARREST
She was Immediately sent 10 a hospital
and the police drag net was put in motion
Lane was traced TO the Pennsylvania Rail-