Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-05
LYKILLED BYNEGRO
Mrs. Eurbush and Two Daughters
Shot in Their Home.
cALLED CHILD TO HER DEATH

William Lane Planned to Murder
Mother and Children, Rob the House
and Dlsappear-Confessed sime
When Arrested.
Philadelphia, April 2.-Fearing that
he would be arrested for theft. Wi
liam H. Lane, a colored butler. sho;
and killed his employer. Mrs. Ella ]
Furbush; her 12-year-old daughter.
Madeline. and probably MORALLY
wounded another daughter, Eloise
aged years. at their home, $50 North
Fifteenth street, shortly before noon
yesterday.
The murder was one Of the most
eold-blooded that has been committed
In this city for some time. Lane ha
been her butler since Christmas, anu
besides him she had another coiored
servant, a woman named Agnes. Re
Gently Mrs. Furbush had been missing
small amounts of money, and finally
she informed the police, who began
IN investigation, which was still in
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
aight 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, 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.
At IL o'clock he went 10 the third
Aoor 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 outkitchen, 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
eion 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
R ~.
the heart, killing her instantly.
Lane IN his confession says that he
khen proceeded TO rob the house He
quickly found $3.50, two watches and
N pocket book, and while he was
searching for the jewelry he was in
terrupted by the arrival of two spe
cial policemen, who had warrant
for his arrest on the charge OF lar
ceny They asked to see Mrs. Fur
bush, and Lane showed them to the
sitting room on the second floor and
said he would call his mistress
Recognizing one of the men as an OF
ncer, Lane hastily donned his over
coat and escaped by the rear of the
house, All was quiet in the house. and
the policemen hearing moan started
door of the hallway found little Eloise
To the policeman she said: William
shot my mother and my sister. AND
tried to kill me-"
Lane was traced to the Pennsyl
VRnia Railroad station at Camden
where he was recognized by one o
the policemen he had admitted to the
house. The officer hustled him onto
= q ferryboat and out of the Jurisdiction
or the state of New Jersey and tool
him to the City Hall.
Later Lane was taken to the hospi
tai, where Eloise identified him, say
ing: HE is William Lane, the mar
who killed my mother and sister, anC
tried to kill me. You know you did
William" In his presence her state
ment was taken. and Lane put tn,
seal of accuracy to 1t by saying
Everything the child has said il
true"
Lane is the son of a preacher, wht
lives in Bridgeton, and has served
term in the Mount Holly, N J., Jail
and has been confined in the Hunting
don (Pa-) Reformatory
There seems to be a mystery re
garding the domestic life of Mrs. Fur
bush. In the neighborhood where sh,
lived she was variously known a.
Mrs. Furbush and Mrs. Fisher. TIL,
woman, who was AZ years Of age, wa
well supplied with money, owned tn,
fine house she lived in, had her OWL
horses and carriages. and lived a lif,
OF ease. As a result OF an investiga
ton. Coroner Dugan Is endsavorini
TO secure the attendance at the in
quest of Charles A. Furbush, a wealth,
manufacturer of milling machinery, o
this city.
Monday. March 81.