The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-18
POSTSCRIPT.
SMELLS MURDERER.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE RIGHT MAN Is
FOUND.
He furns Out To Be the Son of
Wealthy Chicago Manufacturer by
the Name OF Tascott = The Latest
News.

CHICAGO, Feb. l7.-Startling positive
statements were in circulation this
evening that the murderer of Million
aire A. j. Smell would be arrested in
forty-eight hours, and that the assassin
was not common burglar, but the son Of
wealthy parents residing in the immediate
vicinity OF the dead mans home. Equally
strong declarations were heard that the
police had evidence that would hang the
murderer. Some went so far as TO men
ton the name of the person to be ar
rested, and seemed to have good reason
for saying II was not any one heard Of
publicly in this city up to tonight. All
evening the reporters were on the alert,
and cabs were dashing about the city
from the newspaper Offices and the CEN
trail station, but the rumors, notwith-
standing their Enthusiastically, could ap.
parently he traced TO any definite source.
The estate OF Mr.. Smell was administered
in the probate court this afternoon. Mr..
Smell left no will The total value Of his
estate is estimated at $4,000, 900, but OF
this S3, 900, 900 was conveyed by Mr.. Smell
70 his vile four years ago, which left only
u, DOT, 900 to be adjndicated. Mrs. Smell
and daughter Mrs. Coffin, both heavily
yelled, appeared in court in person with
petition TO have letters OF administration
issued to Mrs. Smell and A. j. Stone, her
son-in-aw. The petition was promptly
granted. All of the estate Is in realty, ex-
cept $50, 900, nearly all OF household eff
A IF tl.n ,n.l
are the widow, a son, Albert J. Smell, and
Mrs. Grace Coffin, Mrs. Mary Stone and
Alice Crea, daughters. BY law one-third
OF the s., $50, 900 Fgoes TO the widow and
the remainder falls equally to the four
children, share and share alike.
Inspector Bontield, at nearly midnight,
stated, somewhat to the surprise Of those
who had been most positive among the
names OF the criminals, that the suspect
was w. b. Tascott, and that he was the in
dividual who had been the mysterious
lodger at Mrs. Wicke's establishment.
Tascott is the son Of wealthy paint NOR
chant, and according 10 Inspector Bon6eld
Is gentlemanly- Cooking fellow, well edu-
Gated, and has had the influence Of good
homo training. The inspector intimated
that II would be useless 10 look for the
parents OF the young man, rs they had
broken up their home and gone he would
not say where. He refused TO give any
further information than is contained in
the following, which has been sent out
broadcast:
5000 REWARD.
DErAErxEsr or PoIlcK, cur or cHicAeo,l
Feb. 10, 1855.
Look out for and arrest A. j. SHELLS al
legged murderer, VIM. Il. Tascott alias T.
A. Gatright, alias Moore, aims Scott, alias
Clark, twenty-five or twenty-three years
Of age, five feet eight or nine inches high,
l65 pounds weight, slim build, very erect,
full round face, heavy eyebrows, very fair
complexion, dark brown hair thin on top
Of head) cut short largo blue eyes, small
thin dark mustache, may DO
dyed. Wore when last seen brown
and gray striped pants, stripe
ono-half inch wide, dark coat, vest and
overcoat, black silk hat, square top ring
set with garnets and pearls, one pearl
missing. May carry cane with a round
gold head, engraved with w. ID. I. In
monogram; also q russell covered valise,
eighteen inches long and eight inches
deep, hung by strap over his shoulder.
Tho above reward will be paid. for his
capture and detention until officer with
papers can arrive for him. Send ell in
formation 10 GEORGE w. IIUnBARD,
Superintendent Of Police.
The father OF young 1Ascott is Col. James
II. Tascott, the head OF the J. ID. Tascott
Manufacturing company. Col. Tasco,t has
boon In business In Chicago for many
yeas and Is highly respected. When VIII
was seven yoans OF age the colonel, who
was a widower, married his second wife, n
loyeable lady, and the boy was given every
advantage that his fathers wealth entitled
HIM 10. But he was seemingly bound TO
he n scapegrace. lie would not attend
school, aud associated with the worst class
OF boys When no was sixteen years old
he ran away from home and was not heard
from for several ycars. lie landed in tho
Kentucky penitentiary, a confirmed thief,
and served term OF two years for burg
larry.
A few months ago he returned and was
treated ~ a prodigl, not only by his
father, but by Mrs. Henrietta Owsloy and
other wealthy friends Of the family, who
hoped 10 reform him. Mrs. Owsley, phil
anthropically invited him 20 her handsome
Ashland avenue home and sought TO in
fiucnce him for good through her sons.
One morning Mrs. Owslcy discovered that
her house had been burglarized Of many
small articles OF jewelry and clothing, en-
trance having been effected through tho
rar door. The goods were afterward
partly recovered from pawn shops by
the police, and description OF the
thief Tailed with young Tascott Mr.
Owsley refused 10 pros cute. Burglaries
in the wealthy residence district on the
West Side continued. and young Tascott,
who all this time had been rooming nj