The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-26
SKELETON OF CHILD
CONCEALED IN WALL
Grewsome Discovery Made
by Worken Tearing Down
Old Smell Mansion.

BLOOMINGTON, H., Sept. 25.-
The mansion at Clinton, ILL.,, erected
forty years ago by Colonel Thomas
Smell. yielded another sensation today,
when TIE body of child in home
made coffin was found skilfuLy con-
cealed within wall of the house.
Wreckars tearing down the residence
made the grewsome discovery, which
adds another chapter to the stormy
history of Colonel Smell, who died
about seven years ago. and for whose
fortune famous fight was made In
the courts of Illinois.
The body Of the child had been IN
its hiding place so long that little
except the skeleton remained
A hurried inquest was held, an open
verdict was returned and the town su-
pervisor took charge of the body,
burying il in the public cemetery
eve have no idea as TO how long
the body had been in the wall, said
o. +. Burr, Clipton;s chief Of police.
Buried in Starch Box.
The body had been buried In starch
box with sliding cover. which easily
opened, exposing the nohes' "nen '"e
WorSmen who made the fud were so
appalled, that all that they thought OF was
to get rid OF the body as soon as pos
sible Out Into the yard they chucked
the box with its contents, and It re-
metned there for two days, exposed to
the elements. before 1t was turned over
TO the police.
"There was little flesh remaining" said
Mr.. Burr. ''and the box must have been
concealed many years ago Colonei Snen
himself built the mansion about forty
years ago and lived In II UP 10 the time
Of his death. about seven years ago, II
has been occupied since that time by one
family. though vacant practically q year.
There was no sylacnee n TOT 'hS fni,ows ynsS and
I expect that the case Will always re-
main a mystery.
The story Of Colonel Smells ltfo, as tod
In tho courts at three trials when Rich
ard Smell made successful effort 70
break his fathers viii, on the ground
that the old man vas OF an unsonnd
mind. stirred the entire state.
Lure of Gold. J..
1t was declared that the lure Of gold
led ut least one husband 10 consent TO
his wIfe's selling her affections TO tho
banker, while both. II MAS charged. CON
| holding out their 1s-year-old daughter as
a lure for the eccentric millionaire,
| Letters were introduced 10 Snow tne re-
| la tions between Colonel Smell and the
! mother and also letters from the dauen-
| ter. imploring him to exchange his money
| for her kisses Other letters were offered
as evidence In proof OF the charge that
Mrs. Mabel Smell Mcnamara, srana
| niece. profted more by the VIII than
any ono else; that Colonel irel had prsc.
ticallv disInherited his oiI.t son, and thar
during the life OF the elder Snel', Mrs.
| Mcnamara had received annual money
tributes amounting TO many thousands OF
dollars and had accompanied him on trips.
The nrst jury that tried the VIII ca sc
| Jurors found that Smell was insane and
unduiy influenced when he had his VIII
drawn up, The second. Jury fo4nd @ ,o1
| the son and cast the will sside. The SUI
nren,a court reversed the verdict The
son won AT the third trial. there was
another appeal. and this time the SUI
preme court decided 'hat ''o ~
should go to the son