Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-16

heavy instrume-t the weakened o. OF was
broken in and IL was but an easy matter for
one ~ them 10 insert his hand in the opening
and Iull back the holt and the latch Once
insife tie murd erers made their way to Mr..
SHELLS ONCE, a small room In the front OF the
building. facing Washington boulevard, and
commenced their work on tho safe SUPP osed %
contain Mr.. inelps valuables.
CLEVER MEN IN THEIR BUSINESS.
It was here that their work clearly denoted
that they were experts In their line OF business
lust below the combination Before drilling
the second hole clear through. the burglars dis
covered that the safe was not locked, 1t being
the custom OF Mr.. Smell to loavo the door un-
fastened as whatever valuable papers he might
have ON hand were kept in an inner coInpart
ment-a small, soft t-metnl affair trife larger
than cigar-box The rivets were cleverly re-
movod and the face OF the compartment taken
OFF. in this box were ", 900 worth OF Cook
County warrants and two checks, one for So
5O7.6i, drawn In favor Of MIR. Smell by A. "
Stone, his son-in-law. Mr.. Stone is the man
ager OF Mr.. SHELLS property, and 1t Is his Gus
tom to collect all the rents, which he banks in
his own name, giving his father-in-law his own
personal checks for tho amounts.
These were taken by the thieves, who next
went into the dining-room. and after search
ing the closets they secured all the silverware.
which thoy p led up in a heap on the dining
room table so that it could easily be carried
away in case thoy were disturbed in their
opernt ons.
MR.. SMELL AWAKENED BY THE NOISE.
visit was then made to the parlora on the
second floor to search for more valuables. Tho
doors OF tee parlor~ were fa5tened, Mrs.
Smell had left for Milwaukee q few days be-
fore, and for years IL has been her custom to
lock the parlors Whenever she intended to
leave the city. A jimmy was applied to the
front parlor DOORS which gave way with a loud
crash under the heavy pressure brought 20
bear on them. 1t Ia bolievet that this noise
aroused Mr.. Smell, who Is very light sleeper
and who has for wears been on the lookout for
midnight marauders. At all events he slipped
into his trousers, and, seizn. his revolver,
started down tho stairs in his stocking feet to
investigate tho cause of the noise.
THE BURGLARS AT BAY.
It is thought that he surprised one OF the mon
in the open doorway. who quickly jumped in
sido, slalnming the door shut behind him. Mr.
Smell then fired shot through the door at the
retrentiug thief which was Immediately an
swered by two shots from tho inside, one OF tho
bullets burying itself in the plaster in the hail.
while the other plowel short furrow in the
woodwork OF the door Mr.. smell. who was u
large, powerful man, about 81 years OF ago, and
perfectly fearless, evidently started through
the hall to the parlor door to int rcept tE o
flight Of the burglars. This piece of daring cost
the inside by the mon seeking to make their
escape.
SHOOTING THE OLD MAN DOWN.
Two shots wero fired in rapid succession
both OF which took effect in the DO ly of the
aged man, who doubtless fell dead. One bullet
entered the left side OF his head and buried
breast md passed through the urPer part OF
the heart. The murderers then were compelled
to step over the body OF their victim, and
doubtless made their way down stairs and out