Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-02-24
A MILLION ARE SHOT.
a Wealthy ChicagOan Killed in His
Home BY Burglars.

Amos j. Smell, 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
At 2 A. NJ. a servant girl heard a noise like
a pistol shot coming from Mr.. SHELLS room
but paid 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 and
sawed out the lock.
Mr.. Smell was one of the largest real estate
owners in Chicago, owning a great number
of houses, which he rented, and all this bust
ness was transacted in the basement of his
own house, which was fitted up as an office.
The windows and doors were heavily barr1-
caded, and there were several large safes IN
the rooms in which the millionalre's business
was done.
The burglars who entered Mr.. SnelFs
house made a raid during the night on
several houses in the neighborhood, the tracks
Ill the snow showing that they went from
one back yard to another. On reaching MIR.
Smells they bored sixteen or seventeen
anger holes through the kitchen door and
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 We're 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 III
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. The folding doors leading into the
parlor were shut but it is supposed that he
heard the noise IN the room, for he fired a
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
hole just behind the ear.
The Smell house is large three-story base
rnent structure, solidly built of brick ana
stone, and one of the most imposing resi-
denceS in a neighborhood noted for It's tine
architecture. But its only occupants at the
time of the murder were its owner, man
sixty four years old, two servant girls, ana
two little girls, grandchildren of Mr.. Smell,
who were spending a few days there.
Mr.. Smell leaves wife, two married daugh-
ters and 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
West in 1874, stopping for few
months in Cincinnati, and then COM
ing to this city A little later he went to
Milwaukee. returning here in about year
and opening hotel at Schaumberg. AFTER
a residence of six years there he removed 10
The fortune, which amounts to about $5,oOo,
40