Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-23
$4,000 REWARD.
The Murderer of Millionaire Smell
Discovered to be w. B.
Tascott,
The Scapegrace Son of Well-to-Do
Parents Reward For His
Capture.
His Wild Life-Out of the Penitentiary
and Into Society-Even Reports
For Paper.

CHICAGO, Feb. 1S.-Startling positive
statements were in circulation last evening
that the murderer of Millionaire A. j. Smell
would be arrested within forty-six hours,
and that the assassin was not a common
burglar but the son OF wealthy parents re-
siding in the immediate vicinity of the dead
millionaire. Apparently strong deciara-
lions were heard that the police had evil
dence that would hang the murderer. Some
went so far as to mention the name or the
person to be arrested asd seemed to have
good reason for saying it was not that OF
4 any one heard of publicly in this connec-
ton up to last night. All the evening re-
porters were on the alert, and cabs were
dashing about the city from the newspa-
per offices and the central station, but the
rumors Notwithstanding their circumstan-
TALLY, could not apparently be traced TO
any definite source.
Inspector Bonfield, at nearly midnight,
stated, somewhat to the surprise OF those
who had been most positive OF the name OF
the or i'm inal, that the suspect was w. b.
Tascott, and that he was the individual
who had been the mysterious ledger at
Mrs. WIckes' establishment. Tascott is
the son of wealthy paint merchant, and,
according to Inspector Bonfield, is gen.
tlemanly looking young fellow, well edu-
Gated and has had the influence of good
home training. The inspector stated that
it would be useless to look for the parents
of the young man, as they had broken up
their home and gone, he would not say
where. He refused to give any further in
formation than this, contained in the fol.
lowing, which has been sent broadcast:
S21.OOO REWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, !
CITY OF CHICAGO, Feb. II, 1888.
Look out for and arrest A. J. SHELLS alleged
murderer, William b. Tascott, alias II. A.
Tight, alias Moore, alias Scott, alias Clark,
twenty-five or twenty three years of age, five
feet eight nine inches high, 165 pounds
weight, slim build, very fair complexion dark
brown hair, thin on top of head, short cut, large
blue eyes, small thin dark moustache may be
dyed. Wore when last seen, brown and grey
striped pants, stripe one-half inch wide, dark
coat, vest and overcoas, black silk hat, square
top ring set with garnets and pearls. one pearl
missing. May carry cane with round gold head,
engraved with w. b. r. in monogram, also a
russell cOlored valse eighteen inches long, and
eight. inches deep, hung by a strap over his
shoulder. The above reward will be paid for
his capture and detention until officer with
papers car arrive for him. Send all informa-
'tiOn to GEORGE w. HUBBARD,
Superintendent of Police.
The father of young Tascott is Colonel
James B. Tascott, the head of the j. B.
Tascott Manu- featuring Company. Colonel
Tascott has been in business in Chicago for
many years and is highly respected. When
Will was seven years OF age the Colonel,
who was a widower, married his second
wife, lovable lady, and the boy was given
every advantage that his fathers wealth
entitled HIM to. But he was seemingly
bound to be a scapegrace. He would not
attend school and associated with the worst
class of boys. When he was sixteen he
ran away from home, and was not heard
from for several years. He landed in the
kentucky penitentiary, a confirmed thief,
and served a term OF two years for bur-
glary.
A few months ago he returned and was
treated as prodigal, not only by his
father, but by Mrs. Henrietta Owsley and
other wealthy friends of the family, who
hoped to reform him. Mrs. Owsley philan-
thropically invited him to her handsome
Ashland avenue home, and sought to in
fuence him for good through her sons.
One morning Mrs. Owsley discovered that
her house had been 'burglariZed of many
small articles OF jewelry and clothing, en-
trance having been effected through the
rear door. The goods were afterwards partly
recovered from pawn shops by the police
and a description of the thief tailed with
young Tascott. Mrs Owsley refused to
prosecute. Burglaries in the wealthy resi-
dence district on the West Side continued
ana young Tascott, who all this time had
been rooming at Mrs. Wicks as Mr.. Scott,
was ostensibly pursuing with increased
industry the avocation of a reporter on
morning newspaper. The burglaries and
the supposed newspaper engagement both
ended with equal suddenness the night of
the Smell murder and the flight of the young
scapegrace Tascott.
The estate of Mr.. Smell was administered
in the probate court yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Smell made no will. The total value of
his estate IS estimated at 81, 050, 900, but of
this SS,OO0,OO0 was conveyed by Mr.. Smell
to his wife four years ago, which left only
81, 1900 to be adjudicated. Mrs. Smell
and her daughter, Mrs. Coffin, both heavily
vailed, appeared in court in person with {.
petition TO have letters of administration
issued to Mrs Smell and A. L. Stone. her
son-in-law. The petition was promptly
granted All OF the estate is in realty ex-
cept $4,000, nearly all of household effects.
The heirs of the dead millionaire are the
widow, a son, Albert J. Smell. and Mrs.
Grace Coffin, Mrs. Mary Stone and Mrs.
Alice McCrea, daughters. BY law one
third of the 81, 050,0OO goes to the widow
and the remainder falls equally to the four
children. share and share alike.