The St. Johns herald., 1890-12-18
Strange History of a Crime.

CISCO Examiner, of DecemDer 0tn
 tells the following strange story :
 Yesterday a telegram was received
 in Denver from western Colorado,
 which in substance announced the
 arrest of Clarence Seller, a rancher
 residing twenty miles from Meeker,
 who is believed to be none other
 than Tascott, the much sought after
 and alleged murderer of million
 alre Shell.
 A few days ago your correspon- dent succeeded in gaining the cor fidence of a prominent American
 detective who, while in a talkative mood, confded to the writer one of the most astounding stories known in criminal history. It is story of crime committed several years before the Shell murder, in which there were three participants, one of whom was Willie Tascott. It IS claimed by the detectiye that it was on account of this crime that Tas- colt has disappeared and not be- cause of the Shell affair. In view of the fact that one of the leading witnesses recently left this country for Australia, 1t will be impossible to mention any names for the pres ent, as the publication of names would defeat the plans of the de- tectives.
 Seven years ago member of the English nobility left his home in London on a proposed tour around the world. While on board an American ship bound for New York he met a woman to whom he took a great fancy and strong friend ship sprung up between them. On landing in New York the couple stopped at the Coleman House. The woman had represented herself as an orphan, with Chicago as her home, to which city the English man accompanied her. On arrival in Chicago the couple stopped at the Sherman House.
 It appears that the woman, who was a skilled adventures, upon landing in New York had notified her accomplice in Chicago of her "good catch, and asked him to de- Yise means whereby they could come into possession of the Eng wealth. The Chicago man was physician by profession, and being intimate with Tascott, the latter was taken into confidence and they planned the remarkable plot which is now for the first time made public.
 There is law upon the Illinois statute to the effect that when a sin gle couple live together they are husband and wife in the eyes of the law. With this law in view TascOtt and the physician got the woman to accept an invitation from the Englishman to accompany him on his tour around the world.
 The couple 'e't Chicago short y for San Francisco, and from there took steamer for the Sandwich Islands, both Tascott and the physician making it point to be on the same ship. Almost i'm after being on the high seas report was in circulation that the Englishman was victim to heart disease; so when, on the sev- enth day out. his dead body was discovered in the hold of the ship 1 it was mutually agreed that he had l into danger and became | excited and was stricken down.
 The next day, according to GUS tom, the deceased was buried in Had there been an in- vestigation or post mortem it would 1 have been found that the man died | from poisoning. On arrival at the first stopping place the adventures and accomplices lett the steamer, and when the first ship bound for America arrived it was taken. No time was UaStpd at San Francisco