The Bourbon news., 1904-06-03
SLAYER OF MILLIONAIRE SMELL.
1t is Alleged That He Died in the
Wilderness in Alaska.

Chicago, June IA special from
Victoria, B. c., says: If the voluntary
declaration CT a dying man is to be be-
Heved, f1nis has been written to the
historic Smell tragedy of Is years ago,
and Tascott, the long-sought murderer,
self-identifed, 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
fed for the effacement of his individ-
uality.
Philip Robertson, a strictly reliable
man, prospector and miner, received
the dying mans confession. and tells
the story simply and dramatically
Robertson left the Klondike capital
late last fall in small boat bound for
the new placer grounds at Fairbanks.
He reached point near Dahl river in
particularly desolate and forbidding
region when the forlorn wailing of a
dog surprised his ears. He found the
dog, half-starved shepherd. seeming
ly in much distress. Following this
animal Robertson was brought to
seemingly deserted cabin some 400
yards above the river concealed in a
clump of spruce.
Il ventured to the door of the shack
and Knocked" says Robertson. "and
there was a feeble come in All was
darkness inside and there was no sign
of fire. caught sight of a bit of
candle, which I lighted and then ad-
Vanced to where a man lay.
with feeble effort he turned and
stared at me for a full minute Then
he said: Are you an officers? No.
l said. l am a miner and if there is
anything can do for you l want to
do it. l soon had fire going and
again approached the bed. The mans
hair was white as snow, his face had
livid color in it that looked like
death and he had the most terrified
and hopeless expression l have ever
seen on a human being.
Partner, he said, finally rolling
over on his side and little more than
whispering, I'm leaving a world that
l did not appreciate. I'm going to
where l belong
He lapsed into silence again and
what | thought was a sleep came over
him. Two hours passed and he sud-
denly Wakened with a shrek and then
sank back in bed. In a few minutes
he gave another wild scream and
Strengthened up in bed. Then in a
voice you would think came from a
good, strong man, he said:
See here, boys, my name is Tas-
colt. I'm Tascott. Do you understand.
I'm Tascott that they've been hunting
like wolf for years. can not run
any more. I'm getting paid for what
did. know I'm dying and 1 know
where I'll go. Tell the boys when
they come back that am Tascott and
you can tell the world, too, for the
world has hunted me long time
About in the morning l heard a
noise like a man expelling all the air
from his lungs. l rushed over to the
bed and felt the mans pulse and heart.
He was dead.
II have never told about this until
now, but that dead man asked me to
make his story public, and so l do So
[ solemnly believe that he was tortur-
ed to death by thinking of his own life
and the belief that he was always the
object of pursuit, and l assuredly be-
lieve he told the truth in saying he
was TascOtt."
Chicago June 1.-Amos j. Snell
wealthy holder of much property on
the west side of Chicago was murder
ed at his home in Washington boule-
ward on the night of February 8, 1888,
and robbery was declared to be the
motive, although by many it then was,
and still is believed that the burglary
was concocted. However, after many
arrests the police kit upon the evil
lie Tascott clew." Tascott had been an
elevator boy at the Palmer house. It
was represented that he had been EN-.
ployed by day and committed rob,
berries at night
Heavy rewards-one for $4,000,
which was subsequently raised to S20..
900, were offered for Tascott and for
two or three years Tascott was turn
ing 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
members of the family and to-day the
Smell millions are supposed to- have
been dissipated in part and passed in.
to other hands.