, 1889-10-10
THE SMELL MYSTERY.
A Complete Confession From the
Murderer of tho Chicago
Millionaire.
Tascott Fully Exonerated From
Any Direct Completely in
the Crime.

The Chicago Tribune says II is at lasS
able to throw new and positive light ON
the mystery Of millionaire SMELLS muir
der.
1t has discovered that three men took
part in the crime. One stood guard out.
side the house, two went in, cracked the
safe in the basement, and together shot
Mr.. Smell. One of these two was James
Gillian, u noted thief and ex-conyict. 1t
has been ascertained that Gillian made
full confession of the crime to Father
sullivan of st. Jarlath's church, tho
night before his death, six months ago,
at the county hospital.
More important STILL statement
made by Gillian the morning after the
murder, to an old and reputable lawyer,
whose services he wished to retain in the
event OF his arrest, has been obtained in
the lawyers writing a mass OF col
lateral details, though not needed to
verify the fact of Gillan's guilt, which Is
established 10y the confession and state
| ment, has been collected with view to
the detection of his aCComplices.
If the result of these discoveries does
not show that the Tascott of the Smell
case and Gillian We're tho same person,
1t will show that
TAscOTT WAS MERELY A cars PAW
used by Gillian for the purchase of tools
and the secretion and disposition OF
stolen property, and that others. hither-
TO aS irce from suspicion rs Gillian, were
the lattcr's partners In the murder. Gil
/ IAN IN ms statement to his lawyer de.
scribcd the shooting of Millionaire Smell
as follows, Just as got to the parlor
/ door, which was open, | looked up aud
there stood the old man ut the head OF
the stairs. lie saw me and sworc at mo
/ | lost no time in getting inside of the
| parlor and wns about to try to open the
connecting doors when shot was fired
from the hal or stairway. This ratified
me Il HIT e. and not daring to
make a noise by forcing the doors, |
went back to the door had conc ia
| by from the hall. When Smell
saw me the second time at the parlor
door, he again began his loud talk. saw
ing he had me in a hole and hc would
catch me and break every bone i'm my
body. just then my companion showed
at the rear of the hall and head of, the
basement stairs. The old man had been
trying TO fire his revolver Mt me but could
not make his revolver go OFT for some
reason. He now turned to the man at
the head of the stairs, thought to take
advantage of this diversion and step
past Smell through the hall, but could
not. At this time he succeeded in again
firing his revolver toward me. / hadn't
shown mine, but finding his working
again, and fearing my life, | shot with.
out sighting or taking other aim than by
holding the pistol toward him. Almost
at the same instant | saw the flash, nv
companion fired, and it was evident
Smell was badly wounded by one or both
of us, for he staggered and in a short
time
FELL DEAD IN THE HALL"
| The Tribune says "As to Tascott's
| part in the tragedy, there are excellent
| reasons for believing that Gillian state
ment eNhonorating him from direct COM
| pliCity may be correct, 1t is known
| from Gillun's former associates ut Kcll
that he has been in the habit of using
| Tascott, who was not under suspicion OF
| the police, as an agent between himself
and the purchaser of his stolen goods.
| 1t Is the opinion of those who know
Gillian best that he, being aware that
| Tascott had left the city about the time
of the murder, put the papers from the
Smell safe in TUscotts stove, which were
found there 81 iSteen days later. There
were special reasons why suspicious once
directed toward Tascott would take root
/ and they were known TO Gillian. They
related to the fact that TasCott was ac.
quainted with the family.
"ln this connection it is said on the
ulltnOrlty OF luSCOtl DfOlllcf, tlltt us
| colt on hearing while in Madison, Wis.,
that he was charged with the murder,
came to Chicago, on funds supplied by
the brother, to declare his Innocence
and stand trial He consulted La
Sale street attorney. The attorney in
/ yestigOted the Circumstantial evidence
which had been hcraIdcd as sufficient to
convict him, and advised him to stand
trial, TasCOtt learned, however, Of tic
discovery Of Il lot Of stolen property in
his closet which had been secretcd by
Gillian. He learned that this property,
consisting of iue guitars and mundolus
and silycrwure, had been identified by
various west side residents whose houses
Gillian had pillagod. He realized that if
he escaped ON the charge OF murder he
would he convicted for receiving stolen
goods, if not for robbery. lie deter.
mined TO leave Chicago again, and did
: so.n