The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-21
TAs otis CHIEF CRIME.
Strange Tale of Man Supposed to be
SnelTs Murderer
From the g .icaqo Inter Oeean.

~'NNNt
DENVER, Col, Dec. Yesterday a
telegram was received in Denver from
Western Colorado which In substance an
nounced the arrest OF Clarence Seller, a
ranchman. residing twenty miles from
Meeker, who was believed to be none other
than Tascott, the much sought after alleged
murderer Of Millionaire Smell.
few days ago your correspondent sue
ceeded in gaining the confidence of promi-
nent Americl N detective who while IL q
laxative mood told an astoundi story.
1t Is a story of a crime committed several
years before the Smell murder, in which
there were three participants, one being
Willie Tascott. 1t is claimed that it was on
account Of this crime that Tsscott disap-
peared, and not on accou t of the Smell
affair. In view of the fact that one of the
leading witnesses recently left this country
for Australia, 1t will be impossible to men.
ton auy names for the present, as the pub
lica ion of names would defeat the plans Of
the detectives.
Seven years ago a member of the Eng
lish nobility left his home in London on "A
tour around the world. While on board an
American ship, bouud for New York, he
met a woman to whom he took a great
fancy, and strong friendship sprang no
between the two. On lauding at New York,
husband and wife. The woman repre-
sented herself as an orphan, with Chicago
as her home, t. which city the Englishmau
accompanied her. On arriving in Chicago
the couple stopped at the Sherman house,
again registering as in New YORK. 1t
appears that the woman. who was
skilled adventures, upon landing in New
York, bad notified her accomplice IN Chi
cago of her ''good catch, y and asked HIM to
daviea EhprafU funv could inf.
possession of the EngishmaA's wealth. The
Chicagoan was physician by profession,
maxi a speciality Of malpractice. Having
been intimate with Tascott, the latter was
taken in confidence, and they Matched the
remarkable plot which is now for the first
time made public. There is law upon the
Illinois statue book to the effect that
when a couple live together they
are considered husband and wife in
the ewes Of the law. With this la"
in view Tascott and the physician got the
woman t. accept an invitation from the
EngllShman to accompany him on his tour
around the world. The cIupIe left Chicago
shortly afterward for San Francisco, aud
from there took a steamer for the Sandwich
Islands, DO h Tascott and the phys cia
making it point to be on the same ship
Aim 81 immediate after getting on the
high sea a report was circulated that the
Englis1man was v ctim of heart disease;
so when GA the seventh day, his dead body
was discovered in the mold of the ship IT, was
mutually agreed that he hal ventured
into danger, became excited, and
was stricken down. The next day,
according to custom, the deceased
was buried in mid ocean. Had there been
q post-morten it would have been found
that the MAJ died from poison. On arrival
a. the first stopping place The adventures
and her aocompiices left the steamer id
boarded the first ship bound for America,
aud hurried to Chicago. AT Q latter CITY
the page from the hotel register was secured
containing the Englishman's signature, as
we'll as that in New York. With this evil
dence and number of til deceased's let
ters, the adventures I'D her two accom-
plices good-by and sailed for England in
order to claim her alleged husbands torture
a d estates. For several years past the
suit has been Ia litigation, ana Is at present
on trial
Two years ago relatives of tire deceased
becoming suspicious, placed the case 10 the
hands of a renowned secret service agency,
which has at last succeeded in securing the
necessary evide &C, 18th one exception.
" hiie on board the steamer returning the
physician one day confided part of his crime
to a sailor The sailor on one IL his trips
I Id the story in turn to a friend, and in
this way 1t reached the detective agency,
which Is now Ia search OF the sailor in Aus
tralia.
1t was upon their return TO Chicago. IL is
alleged, that the PHI Siciaa and Tascott con-
CO led the Slell affair with such marked
success. When the case was FIST placed in
the hands Of the agency it was with the un-
ders di that should they meet with
success their reward should be $4,000. BY
this it will be seen that there were two re.
wards for Tascott's capture The agency
has had assstan = securing America, Aus
tralia a Europe. Wherever q report wes
in circulate % regarding Tascott's arrest IL
was investigated. A year ago
ex-Inspector Kon6s.d OF Chic go came
out TO Colorado IN hopes OF
locating the man. but without success
Early last'summer az authenticated report
reached the agency that Tsse ~ hal been
rec gnizsd, aud lnaly the fellow Bearing
the rese nbiance was located at deeaef, Col,
and on aOuday last arrested. lie Nas taken
by . age 70 Rifs, a DsAvsr aDd Rio q ands
statsol, add % arriving a. Pueblo to-day
was placed o. boari an eAss~boQnd train for
Chicago for lden lhcati9n
What this arrest Nil amount 10 rsmaips
70 Ne seen. II any ewa1t Ibis story Il bound
10 create a % s2fien. ailcP g Is hsfet9lofs
uapahllsltad 1tatemout VI faGtG