Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-18
SMELLS MURDERER.
TIE ASSASSIN SAID TO BB A wELL-KNoWN
CROOK.
The Ofscsrs Of Justice Hot OIL His Trail-How the
Clue Was 0btained-Ths Smart Dlsgaisss
and Clever Work Of Burglar
Gshright.

one of the burglars who threw the town
into a fervor of excitement by numbering
Amos J. Smell, the West End millionaire,
about two o'clock Wednesday morning,
February 8, has been discovered, but the
burglar himself is still enjoying all bis
freedom. Daring the latter part of JaL-
uary a blonde young man of about nineteen
or twenty years rented room of Mrs.
Wicks, who keeps boarding house in
West Madison street. He was slight Of
build and about Ass feet eight inches tall
His complexion was light, eyes blue or
gray and quite large and round. he had a
small brown mustache. The Young man
said his name was Scott.
''The day after bis arrival" said Mrs
Wick yesterday, Scott got up and went
out, wearing silk hat and a dark sack
overcoat. Before goirg he told me that be
did not wish to make anybody's acquaint-
auce in the house; that his business re-
quired him to be out all night, and he
could not be social. / took notice after
ward that he tried to avoid meeting any of
the rest of my dodgers. He usually rose
late in the afternoon, sat in his room play
ing mandolin, and about 10 o'clock, or
sometimes as late as II, when he was sure
evers body had retired for the night, he
would go down stairs cautiously and out.
n6ticed that many times he was
dressed in different clothes when he
went out. His hour for coming in
during the three weeks he was
here was anywhere between and a m.
He usually slept till or 3 p. m. When
be went out he invariably locked his door
and gave me the key. Often when he went
out, saw him carrying mysterious pack
ages, but never could End any Of them
in his room when | went to clean it up.
The closet he always kept lock, carrying
the key in his pocket. On the morning OF
the Smell murder, between 3 and 4 o'clock
Mrs. Wick heard her lodger come up the
stairs and 20 TO his room. She thought
she heard another man with him. The
lodger turned the light out in the hall.
Between and 9 O'Clock he came out of
his room, dressed as if for a journey. An
other man, whom the woman describes as
being older and genteel in dress, was with
him. This man kept his face turned so
she could not see it. Scott had a SLOUGH
hat, which she had never seen him wear
before, pulled down over his face He said
to her: We'll, l am going out on the road
to-day"
"Are you going today" Eyes; this is
my emy loyer here with me-" will you
be back again" she asked. eyes: may
come back in two weeks, and it may be
two months. While am gone l want
you 10 take care Of my things. ! will want
the room when come back" Then he
picked up the satChel and the two men
went down stairs as if afraid Of meeting
somebody and disappeared.
Mrs. Wick saw them no more. As soon
as they were gone Mrs. Wick's curiosity
was aroused to such pitch that she began
an examination Of the room just vacated.
She found the closet door locked and the
key gone. She picked the lock with
piece of wire. Inside strange sight met
her eyes. The closet was filled with the
evidences of the mysterious Mr.. Scott's
occupation. She found a quantity of sill
yerware, two coils of fuse of the thick
ness OF pencil, brown broad
cloth oyeTcOat which she had
never seen him wer, several old
chisels and handles of chisels end bits, q
book on machinists tools, a lot of silver
knives and forks and spoons, mandolin,
a pair ofladies kid gloves, pair of wooden
mittens and pair of low cut shoes. Mrs.
Wick also discovered in small drawer a
pair of burglar felt slippers and three
sperm candles, one of which was half
burned.
Now come some of the links that will
probably convict "Mr. Scott" whose real
name is said to be VIM. Gehripht, one of
the most dangerous and accomplished
cracksmen in the country. Jennie Cliff
ford, the proprietress Of disreputable re-
sort on the West Side, has given the police
valuable information regarding Billy"
Gehright, who on the night before the
murder called at her house and staid a
short time. On that occasion it was snow
ing, and be wore seal cap; otherwise he
was dressed just as Mrs. Wick describes
him.
Miss Clifford expected him back Wednes-
day night, but he came not. She has not
seen him since. Friday or Saturday after
the murder she began to think over the
queer remarks he made when at her house,
and remembered that he carried with him
when there a mahogany case Just like the
one found at SMELLS house filled with his
tools. She notified the police, and said
she was willing TO aid them as far "a nos-
si6le. Afterward she identified the ma
hogany case as the same she had seen in
Gehright's possession. The police have
discovered that Gehnght is the son of
family living on the North
Side. They have found two or three ac.
lusintances of his who have agreed to as.
,ist in the search for him.
WILL BUILD TIE ROAD.