Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-06-06
WILLIE TASCOTT
DIES IN ALASKA
SUPPOSED MURDERER OF MILL.
IoNAIRE SMELL.
CONFESSES TO A MINER
Much-huntcd Elevator Boy Tells OF
His Identity While Dying in the
Arctic Wilderness Whittier He
Had Cone to Escape His Reward
led Pursuers.

Chicago. June IA special TO the
News from Victoria. b. c., says:
'If the voluntary declaration of a
dying man is TO be believed, the
finis has been written TO the historic
Smell tragedy OF j. years ago and
Tasoott. the Iong-aought murderer
selfidentified. has paid the penalty
of his crime with penitence and now
fills an unmarked grave in the heart
OF the Alaskan wilderness, whittier he
had aed for the placement of his IN
dividuality.
philip Robertson, a strictly rel
able man, prospector and miner, re-
ceived the dying mans confession
and tells a strong story simply and
dramatically. Robertson left the
Klondike capital, he says, late last
fan in a small boat bound for the
new placer grounds at Fairbanks.
He reached a point near the Dahl riv-
er in a particularly desolate and for
bidding region when the wailing OF
dog surprised his ears. He found
the dog, a half starved shepherd,
seemingly in much distress. Follow
ing this animal Robertson was
brought to a seemingly deserted cab
in, 400 yards above the river, con.
cealed in a clump of spruce.
Robertson entered the cabin and
r0and a man so weak from Illness
that he was unable to speak above a
whisper. He asked Robertson If he
were an officer, and was answered IN
the negative. After Robertson had
built a fire he again approached the
bed OF the stricken man. 1t was
then the man made his confession.
In his delimium, Robertson says, the
man declared his name was Tascott.
Tel the boys he said, 'whea
they come back that ! am Tascott
and you can tell the world, too, for
the world has hunted me a long
time
Early next morning the man died.
The next day his partners arrived.
When he told what the man said
they made no remarks, buried the
dead man and almost Immediately
packed their belongings and started
away. Just as they were leaving
one advised him TO say nothing OF
what he had seen and heard. Rob
ertsOn says he believes the man told
the truth in saying he was Tascott,
and expressed the opinion that his
partners knew IL too
Crime Sixteen Years Ago.
Chicago. June Amos j. Smell, a
wealthy citizen Of Chicago, was muir
dered at his home in Washington
boulevard the night of February g.
1888. and robbery was declared to be
the motive, although by many II was
then and still is believed the evidence
of the burglary was concocted.
However. after many arrests, the po-
lice hit upon the Willie Tascott clew.
Tascott had been an elevator boy at
the Palmer house. II was repre-
scented that he had been employed by
day and committed robberies at night
Heavy rewards-one for $4,000,
which was subsequently raised to
$50 OOO-were offered for Tascott
and for two or three years Tascoti
was turning up. dead or alive, in all
parts of North and South America.
Eventually Mrs. Smell withdrew the
reward for Tascott. quarrels, civil
suits and other scandals followed
among the members Of the family
and today the Smell millions are sup
posed TO he dissipated. in part, and
passed into other hands.