Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-02-18
a MYSTERIOUS MumDrs.
@"so' y. sHeH, Chicago Mguienairs. ss,
20 Death fa HI ft,r,, 49,. -

amos ~ sHet, Chicago Millionaire. Ssa,
70 Death 10 His Dun House.
lineage dispatch: Amos ]. Smell.
millionaire and owner Of the Toll road
running through Jefferson, was found
murdered in bed this morning AZ bis
residence, No. 425 Washington boule.
ward. About 2 o'clock this MORNING the
servant girl heard noise like a pistol
shot coming from Smells room, but paid
no attention TO il. Later he was found
with a bullet hole ia the left breast and
one behind the left ear Entrance was
effected by the murderers through the
back door, they having taken out
panel and sawed out the lock. Chief Of
Detectives HenshGw and four detectives
from the central station are working up
the case. ~
Smell was one OF the largest real estate
owners IN the city and all his business
was transacted in the basement of his
own house, IN which were several safes.
The theory IN regard TO the murder is
that carefully planned robbery had
Deen arranged. IL was known that dur
ing the first part Of each month large
sums OF money--the proceeds of the
rents OF SMELLS houses were kept in the
house. 1t is believed that the burglars
ehected an entrance 10 the house and
were at work at safe when Smell
went down and surprised the thieves
a. their work. His body was found in
the hall Just at the entrance 10 his Office
door. The burglars who entered SMELLS
residence made a rade during the night
on several houses in the neighborhood.
their tracks in the snow showing that
they went from one back yard 10 an
other. Upon reaching SMELLS they
bored sixteen or eighteen auger holes
through the kitchen door, and finally
effected an entrance. From the kitchen
they proceeded TO the Office, which is in
the front of the house. Here il appears
there was nothing OF value 10 them 10 be
found. The safe and desk were filed
with papers, and after ransacking these
they proceeded upstairs 10 the parlor
ioor. The door at the head of the base
ment was skillfully forced, and the men
were in the front parlor, when il is sup
posed Smell, who sleeps above this
room, heard them. He left his bed
room aud, taking a revolver, went down
NtAN AANAAA nAtAAos AHE hOufn INTO
the paFlor were shut. but il is supposed
that he heard the noise in the room, for
he fired shot through the doors The
burglars opened the doors and returned
the fire, bullet striking the woodwork,
and rebOlnding, hit Smell in the breast,
who ran back toward the rear Of the
hall. The burglars must have followed
him and shot again, for the murdered
man Was found az the head of the base
ment stairs with a bullet hole Just be-
hind the ear. SMELLS house is large
three story and basement struc-
ture, solidly built Of brick and
stone, and the most imposing
residence in the neighborhood, aud is
noted for its fine architecture. The
buildings only occupants last night
were the owner, man aged 81, two
servant girls and two little girls, grand
children Of Smell, who we're spending a
few days there. There is as yet no clue
whatever to the burglars. All during
the winter Chicago has been overrun
with crooks and thieves Of every de-
bcription. and many daring burglaries
have been committed, the police being
unable 20 stop them or discover the
criminals. Smell leaves a. wife, two
married daughters, and son.
Mrs Smell and one Of the daughters,
Mrs Frank Coffin, are on visit in Mil
waukee. Mrs Smell is very i'll and the
news of her husbands death is kept
from her for the present. Smell was
one of the wealthiest and best known
citizens % the West Side and has been
connected with Chicago's history for a
great many years. He was born in
Little Falls, \. y, and came west in
1874. stopping for few months in Gin
cinnati and then coming 10 this city. A
little later he went 10 Milwaukee, re-
turning here in about year and open
Ing hotel al Schaumburg, After a
residence Of six years there he moved to
jefferson, and there laid the founda-
tons Of the fortune which nj his death
amounted 10 S3.0O0.00