Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-15

HE THOUGHT HE WAS DYING.
MADE Al DEATH BED con-
FESSIoN. BUT SEVERAL DAYS
LATER HE RECOVERED AND
Disappeared A LONG AND
UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH-THE
STORY OF THE FAMOUS CRIME.
CHICAGO, November 14.-Willia
Tascott, the long hunted murderer OF
Amos ]. Smell, is working as miner
somewhere in Alaska. This is story
this come from Cape Nome, and 1t Is
told with so many correborative de-
tails that detectives who have studied
the case accept it is true. During the
eleven years that Tascott has been in
hiding many alleged clews have been
offered to the police, but in no instance
has the evidence been SO direct and
convincing as that which is now sent
from the gold diggings in the Cape
Nome district.
Report of the finding of Tascott is
made by William Rigler, miner, who
has lately returned from Cape Nome.
One night last fall man too Ill to
work was carried into Rigler's cabin.
He grew worse rapidly and, under the
impression that he was dying, the
stranger made what he supposed was
death bed confession. He said that his
name was Tascott, and that for eleven
years he had been in hiding from the
Chicago police, who wanted him for the
murder OF Amos ]. Smell, Of thies city.
He further said that at one time there
had been a reward OF $4,000 for his
capture, in the hope of earning which
detectives had visited all parts OF the
world. 'They never got near me, how
ever" the sick man added, because
was in the interior of Alaska all the
time, and nobody thought of looking
for me here"
Tascott gave many particulars OF the
raid on SMELLS house, which ended In
the murder of the aged millionaire, and
told his story In manner which con-
WINGED his hearers that he was tho
long hunted man. Satisfied that he
was going to die, and that no good
could be accomplished by sending out
a messenger with the news at the
time, Rigler and his companions kept
the matter quiet. A few days after
the confession was made Tascott eud-
denly grew better. His host then saw
there was chance for his recovery.
but did not put him under guard. as
he was still apparently too weak TO
make any effort to escape. The next
morning Tascott was missing. having
left the camp in the middle OF the
night.
Rigler and his partners at once took
the trail and sent word TO all the near
by mining camps, but could get TO
trace of the missing man. 1t was
plain that he had not taken refuge IN
any OF the mining settlements along
the coast or in the nearby Interior
Cape Nome is on the seacoast, and
after a long, frlitless search Rigler
and his fellow trailers became con-
WINGED Tascott had made his way out
to sea in small boat and boarded
some passing whaler or trading vessel
bound for the Arctic. He would hard
ly run the risk OF remaining IN Alaska
when his story was known all over the
country.
The Smell murder Is one of the most
sensational in the police history OF
this country. Amos J. Smell was
rich man, well advanced In years, who
lived in an old-fashioned mansion at
the corner OF Ada street and Washing
ton boulevard. He was large owner
Of real estate In the Immediate vicin.
ity, the renting OF which was conduct
ed in an Office in the basement u bis
house. On night In the early part OF
February, 1888, three men broke into
the Smell residence by boring a hole
through a panel in the rear door OF
the lower floor and then slipping the
bolts. Their first move was to break
open and rife small safe In the Office
in which 1t was supposed Mr. Smell had
considerable money taken in from
rentals. Next they went upstairs to
the pzrlor floor, where in moving
around, they were heard by Mr. sneh.
The latter, a brave, daring cid man.
came down from his bedroom In his
nightrobe, pistol in hand, and cried
out:
Who's there?p
As he spoke Mr. Smell fired shot
in the direction of the back parlor,
which was answered almost in the
same fash by two discharges from the
burglars pistols. Smell dropped dead
with two bullets in his body. The
autopsy revealed that the shots came
from guns Of different calibre, one. be-
ing a 80 and the other 30. His body
was found In the hallway, at the foot
Of the stairs, the next morning. Foot