The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-18
SMELLS MURDERERS.
A VERY SUSPICIOUS AND TONY
YOUNG MAN TRAILED.
He Turns Out. As Far As Can Be
Learned, To Be Member OF a Very
Respectable Family What He Did to
Disguise Himself.

Disguise Himself
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Feb. 1.-THE identity OF
one OF the burglars who threw the town
into a fever Of excitement by numbering
Amos J. Smell, the West Side millionaire,
about o'clock Wednesday morning, Feb
ruary 8, has been discovered. But the
burglar himself is still enjoying all his
freedom. During the latter part OF Janu-
airy blonde young man, Of about nineteen
or twenty years, rented room OF Mrs.
Wicks, who keeps clearinghouse in
West Madison street. He was slight OF
build and about five feet eight inches tall.
His complexion was light, eyes blue or
gray and quite large and round. He had
a small brown mustache, and wore seal
skin cap, brown plaid cape overcoat,
wide-cut striped trousers OF grayish color,
and was altogether of stylish appearance.
The young man said his name was Scott.
''The day after his arrival" said Mrs.
Wicks yesterday, "Scott got up and went
out, wearing silk hat and dark sack
overcoat Before going he told me that
he did not wish 10 make anybody's nc
quaintancc in the house; that his business
required him 10 be out all night, and that
he could not be social. took notice after
ward that hc tried TO avoid meeting any OF
the dodgers He usually arose late in the
afternoon and sat In his room playing
the mandolin and about 10 o'clock,
or ...tt LAT. ~.
when he was sure that every
body had retired for the night he would
go down stairs cautiously and ont.
noticed many times nc was dressed In diff
ierent clothes when he went out His
hour for coming In during tho three weeks
he was here was any where between . and
. o'clock am. lie usually slept until 2 or
. o'clock. When he went out he invaria-
bly, locked his door and gave me the key.
Often when lac went out saw him carry
ing mysterious packages, but never could
lind any OF them In his room when ] went
10 clean IL up. The closet he always kept
locked, carrying the key In his pocket.
The morning OF the Smell murder, between
, and 4 O'Clock, Mrs. Wicks heard her
lodger come up the stairs and 90 10 his
room. She thought she heard another
man with him The lodger turned the
light out in the hall. Between and o
o'clock he came out OF his room, dressed
~ II for n journey. Another man, whom
the woman describes rs being older and
gcnteel IL dress, was with him. This man
kept his face turned 30 she could not see
II. Scott had SLOUGH hat. which she had
never seen him wear before, pulled down
over his iacc lie said to her: swell, I
am going out on the road today"
"Are you going todayP'
Yes; this is my employer here with
me-"
Twill you be back again2" she nsked.
"Ies; | may como back in two weeks,
and II may be two months. While | nm
gone ! want you 10 take caro- Of my things.
! will want the room when | como back"
Then he picked up his sachcl. and the
two men went down stairs as ii afraid OF
meeting somebody, and disappeared. Mrs
Wicks saw them no mor.
As soon M they were gone Mrs Wicks'
curiosity was aroused Ia such pitch that
she made an examination OF the room Just
vacated. She found the closet door locked
and key missing. She picked the lock
with n piece OF wire. inside strange
sight met her eyes The closet WIS filed
with evidences Of SCOTS mysterious opc.
craiions. She found n quantity OF silver.
ware, two cuils oi fuse the thickness Of q
lcadpcncil, q bUadloth overcoat, which
she had never seen him wear, several old
chiscls and handles Of chisels and bits, a
book on machinst's tools, lot OF silver
knives and forks aud spoons, mandolin,
a pair Of ladies' Kid gloves, pair Of wool.
en- mittens and pair OF low-cut shoes.
Mrs Wicks also discovered IN n small
drawer pair Of burglars felt slippers and
thrco sperm candles, one oil which was
half burned.
Now comes some Of the links In the
chain that will probably convict "Mr
Scott" whose real name IL said 10 bc
William Gchright. one OF the most dan
gcrous and accomplished cmcksmcn In
the country. Jennie Clifford, the pro-
preircss Of discputablo resort Of the
West Side, has given the police valuable
information regarding "Billy' Gchright,
who on the night before the murder,
called nt her home aud staid a short time.
On that occasion u was showing aud he
woo a seal cap. otherwise he was dressed
Just n Mrs. Wicks described him.
Miss Clifford expected him back
| "Wednesday night, but he came not. She
has not seen him since. Friday or Saiur-
day after the murder, she began 10 think
over the queer remarks he made ut 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 20.
lice and said she was willing 10 aid the
police M far M possible. Aitcrward shc
identified the mohogany case ~ the same
she had seen In Gchrights possession.
The rolico have discovered that Gchrighl
Is the sou Of n respectable family living on
tho North Side. They have found two OF
three acquainianccs OF his who have
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