Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-09

CHtCA0O, FeOfu1fy y. - ne vile muf003
Monday was followed yesterday by the
millionaire, by burglars. He was found
murdered in his bed 1T his residence as
Washington Boulevard. About two o clock
. servexnt girl heard = noise like Q pistol
shot coming from Mr.. SHELLS rom, but
paid no attention to it. Late he was found
with bullet hole in the left breast and one
behind the left ear Entrance WAS effected
by the murderers through . back door.
they having taken out the panel and sawed
out the lock Chief Of Detectives Henshaw
aud TOUR detectives from the Central Sta
ton are working up the case.
Mr. Smell was one Of the largest real estate
owners in Chicago owning = great number
of houses, which he rented. and all his
business was transacted in the basement Of
his OWL house, which was fitted up as an
Office. The windows and doors were heavily
barricaded, and there were several large
safes in the rooms in which the millionairss
business WAS done. The theory in regard
70 the murder is that = carefully planned
robbery had been arranged. 1t was known
that during the first part Of eacl Month
large sums Of money-the proceeds from
Mr.. SHELLS houses-were kept in the bayo-
ment 1t is believed that the burglars ef-
fected an entrance in the house and were
at work at the safe. when Mr.. Smell. hear
ing the noise went down to the basement
and surprised the thieves at their work. His
body was found in the hail. Just At the en-
trance of his Office door.
The burglars who entered Mr.. SHELLS
house made raid during the night on sew
eral houses in the neighborhOod, the tracks
In the snow showing that they went from
one back yard to another. Upon reaching
Mr.. SHELLS they bored sixteen or seventeen
holna sh.An-b tt,o kitrhas, ~nA
finally effected an entrance. From the
kitchen they proceeded to the Office, which
Vas in the front part Of the house. Hero
it appears there was nothing Of any value
70 them to be found. The safe and desks
were filled with papers and after ranssck-
ing these, they proceeded up the stairs to
the parior hOOr. The door at the head of
the basement stairs was skillfully 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 bed room and taking .
revolver went down the front stairs. The
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 re-
turned the fire. the bullet striking the
woodwork. and rebounding hit Mr.. Smell
in the breast, who then ran back toward
the rear of the hall, The burglar, must
have followed him and shot again. for the
murdered man vas found at the head of
the basement stairs with bullet hole lust
behind the ear.
The Smell house il a large three-storv
basement structure, solidly built of brick
and stone. and one of the most imposing
residences In A neirhborhood noted Tor is
fine architecture. But its only occupapts
last nipht we're its owner, a man GA wears
old. two servant girls. and two little girls
grandchildren OF Mr. Suell, who were
spending few days there. There is - yet
no clue 10 the burglars.
All during the winter. Chicago has been
overrun with crooks and thieves Of every
and many daring burclariea
have been committed. the police beinyap-
parently unable 70 stop them or discover
The criminals.
Mr.. Shell leaves q wife, two married
dausi,ters and q son. Mrs Smell and one OF
the dsuyhters Ms. Frank Coffin, are st
present on . visit in Milwaukee. Ma
Smell is very i'll and the news of
her husbands death will be kept
from her for the present Mr.. Smell
vas one Of the wealthiest and best known
residents of the West Side, and had been
with Chicayo's history for Q
great many years. He was born in Little
fall. X V aud came Gcst in lHxl atom.