The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-10
CONFESSED HIS CRIME.

a special from Victoria, B. O., SAYS,
II the voluntary declaration OF a dy.
ing man Is to be believed, tinis has
been written to the historic Smell
tragedy Of Is years ago and Tascott,
the long sought murderer, self-identi.
fed, has paid the penalty of his crime
with penitence and now fills an un-
marked grave in the heart Of the Alas
kan wilderness, whittier he had II ID
for the placement Of his individuality.
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.
he says, late last fall in a small boat
bound for the new placer grounds at
Fair Banks. He reached point near
Dahl river in particularly desolate
and forbidding region, when the for
lorn wailiug OF dog surprised his
ears. He found the dog, half starv.
ed shepherd, seemingly in much dis
tress. Following this animal, Rob
ertson was brought to a seemingly de-
serted cabin some 40 yards above the
river, concealed in clump Of spruce.
l. ventured to the door Of the shack
and Knocked" says Robertson, land
there was feeble Come in All was
darkness inside and there was no sign
of fire. l caught sight Of bit Of
candle which lighted and then ad-
vanced to where man lay.
With feeble effort, he turned
and started a. me for a full minute.
The mans hair was white as snow,
his face had color in it that looked
like death and he had the most terri.
fled and hopeless expression l have
ever seel on human being. Part
ner,' he said, finally, rolling over on
his side and little more than whisper
ing, l am leaving word that l did
GOT appreciate. I'm going to -
where | belong He lapsed into ST.
lence again and what l thought a
sleep came over him. Two hours
passed and he suddenly wakcned with
shrek and then sank back in bed.
In 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
Tascott. I'm Tascott. DO you un-
derstand? I'm Tascott that thev
have been hunting like a wolf for
years. cannot run any more. I'm
getting paid for what l did. l know.
I'm dying and l know where III 90.
Tell the boys when they come back
that l am Tascott, and you can tell
the world, too, for the world has
hunted me long time About 3 in
the morning l heard a noise like a
man expelling the air from his lungs.
| rushed over to the bed and felt the
mans pulse and heart. He was dead.
The man was buried by his COM
radeS.
Tie facts OF the murder is as fol-
lows Amos j. Smell, wealthy
holder Of much property on the west
side OF Chicago, was murdered at his
home in Washington boulevard on
the night of February 8, 1888, and
robbery was declared to be the mo-
tive, although by many it then was
and still is believed that the burglary
was concerted. However, after many
arrests the police hit upon the Willie
TaScott clew. TaScott had been an
elevator boy at the Palmer house. 1t
was represented that he had been en-
ployeG by day and committed rob-
berries at night. Heavy rewards, one
for $4,000 which was subsequently
raised to $50, 900, were offered for Tas-
cott and for two or three years Tas-
cott was turning up. dead or alive, in
all parts Of North and South Ameri-
ca. Eventually Mrs. Smell withdrew
the reward for Tascott'