The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-22
A MILLIONAIRE SHOT.
A Wealthy ChicagOan Killed in
His Home BY Burglars.
The Thieves, Disturbed By Their
Victim, Shoot Him Down.

Amos ]. Snell millionaire, owner OF the
toll road running through jefferson, ILL.,, was
found murdered in his bed the other morn
ing at his residence, No. 425 Washington
Boulevard, Chicago.
A. NJ. q servant girl heard noise like
pistol shot coming from Mr.. SHELLS room'
but paid no attention to it Later he was
found with a bullet hole in the left breast,
and one behind the left ear. Entrance was
effected by the murderers through back
door. They had taken out the panel ana
sawed out the lock.
Mr.. Smell was one of the largest real estate
owners in Chicago, owning great number
of houses, which he rented, and all TINS oqsi-
ness was transacted in the basement or ms
own house, which was fitted up as an ofhce.
Tie windows and doors were heavily barrl-
caded, and there were several large safes In
the rooms in which the nillionaire's business
was done.
The theory of the murder is that careful.
ly planned robbery had been arranged. IL
was known that during the first part OF eacn
month large sums Of money-the rents from
Mr.. Snell,s houses-were kept in the base
ment 1t is believed that the burglars were
at work at the safe, when Mr.. Smell, hearing
the noise, went down to the basement and
surprised the thieves at their work. His
body was found in the hall, just at the en-
trance of his Office door. -,
The burglars who entered Mr.. Snells
house made raid during the night on
several houses in the neighborhood, the tracks
in the snow showing that they went from
one back yard to another. On reaching MIR.
SHELLS they bored sixteen or seventeen
auger holes through the kitchen door ana
finally effected an entrance. From the kitchen
they proceeded to the office, which was in the
front Of the house. Here it appears there was
nothing of any value to be found. The safe
and desks were filled with papers, and after
ransacking these, they proceeded up the stairs
to the parlor floor:
The door at the head Of the basement stairs
was skilfully forced, and the men were IN
the front parlor, when it is supposed that
Mr.. Smell, who sleeps directly above this
room, heard them. He left his bedroom,
and, taking revolver, went down the front
stairs. Fhe folding doors leading into the
.parlor were shut, but it is supposed that he
heard the noise in the room, for he fired
shot through the door. The burglars opened
the door and returned the fire. the bullet
striking the wood work and, rebounding,
hit Mr. Smell in the breast, who then ran
back toward the rear Of the hall. The
burglars must have followed him and shot
again, for the murdered man was found at
the head of the basement stairs with bullet
The Smell house is large three-story base.
ment structure, solidly built of brick and
stone, and one Of the most imposing resi-
dences in a neighborhood noted for its fine
architecture. But its only occupants at the
time Of the murder were its owner, man
sixty-four years old, two servant girls, and
two little girls, grandchildren Of MIR. Smell,
who were spending few days there.
Mr.. Smell leaves wife, two married daugh-
ters and a son. Mrs. Smell and one of the
daughters, Mrs. Frank Coffin, were on visit
in Milwaukee.
Mr.. Smell was one of the wealthiest and
best known residents of the west side, and had
been connected with Chicagos history for a
great many years He was born in
I1at Little Falls, New t,s York an and came anne
months M " in Cincinnati, and then com
ing to this city. A little later he went to
Milwaukee, returning here in about year
and opeuing hotel at Schaumberg. After
a residence of six years there he removed to
Jefferson and there laid the foundation Of
the fortune. which amounts to about S3,OO0,-
OOO
The police began at night an indiscriminate
bundle was arrested on Clark street. The
bundle was found to contain complete set
of burglars tools, jimmy, augers, bits,
drills, dark-lantern, giant-powder and dy-
Mantle. The auger was exactly the size
Of that used to bore through the kitchen
door at Mr.. SHELLS house. In the prisoners
pocket was a revolver with empty shells that
had recently been fired. 1t was Of the same
size as the bullets that killed Mr. Smell. The
prisoner said his name was Charles w. Bene-
dict and he was nineteen years old.
A Sergeant Of the Lake Street Station ar
rested two men with burglars tools whom
he found prowling about Ada street,
minutes before the shooting took place.
They gave their names as Thomas Walton
and Joseph Burke. The police say they are
notorious crooks and were undoubtedly.
watching the outside Of the house while 9TH
ers Of their gang were at work within.