Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1890 — THE SNELL TRAGEDY. [ARTICLE]

THE SNELL TRAGEDY.

GOSSIP ABOUT THE SENSATIONAL CASE REVIVED. A Daughtor-in-Law of the Mnrdered Millionaire Makes Be>lou* Charges Against A. J. Stone—Airing Unpleasant Family Secrets. [Chicago special.] It is nearly three years since the murder of Millionaire Amos J. Snell was a topic that was discussed in every household, on tho streets, in public places, from one end of tho country to the other. The circumstances attending the assassination were so startling and realistic that every man who heard the story omid not restrain a feeling of alarm and disquietude. A disorganized army of man-hunters, whose forces werei scattered through every town, and city on the continent, spurred on by the offer of a large reward, worked diligently to capture the murderer, who was supposed to bo Willie Tascott, but without succtiss. He eluded his relentless pursuers at every turn, and is still at largo. The only tangible clew to his whereabouts that was ever obtained after ho left Chicago was in St. Paul, where he, or somebody who resembled him. pawned his sachel, his revolver, and some other articles of lesser value. From that time Tascott dropped out of sight, and no more was heard of him until a few days ago, when the wife of tho dead millionaire's only son wrote a communication to tho Chicago Herald, in which she wished to lie informed If the hunt for Taeeott had been abandoned and the reward for his capture withdrawn. Following this as she did with a number of extraordinary statements, in which some strange family history and tocrets were disclosed, the murder has assumed all its old-time proportions and a sub.'oct of gossip. Stories tliat have heretofore been circulated with caution are now being told openly. Old suspicions have been revived and new theories given life. Mrs. Albert J. Snell, the wife of tho son of Amos J. Snell, the murdered millionaire, has followed up her open letter with verbal statements casting doubt on the sincerity of A. J. Stone, Mr. Snell's son-in-law, In his search for tlw murderer. She asserts that the house was not broken into thenlght of the murder, but that tho panel of tho rear door, which was removed, was bored through from tho inside, and that tho safe was opened by some one who knew the combination. She says that Mr. Stone, subsequent to the murder, suffered from a wound in the leg. Tho assertion is coqpled with the Intimation that part of the blood found on the stairs camo from one of tho murilcrers, who was wounded by a bullet from Mr. Snell’s revolver. She says that tho house next door to the banker’s was kept vacant for several months, referenbo at tho sumo time being made to the possibility that Tascott, or whoever was the murderer, never left tho city at all. Mr. Stone said: “This Mrs. Snell Is a family outcast.” Thus ho dismissed tho subject. Inspector George Hubbard, who was Chief of Police at tho 44me or tho crime, says: “I do not believe that the murder was‘a family affair.’ That there were two men mixed up In tho crime I am convinced. I am certain Tascott was one of them. As to the other man I have no guess to make. It was ap arent to the Police Department that the Snell family was divided. Personally I have hoard nothing to make me believe the murder was committed by anyone related by blo.)d or marriage to tho dead man. ’’ John Bonfield, Chief of Detectives at tho time, believes that Mrs. Snell's Implied charges ore the fruit of a family row. “Tascott had a hand in the murder,” he declared. “I never lost sight of the fact that many suspected that Tascott was only an agent. Those ‘tips’ I carefully Investigated, but. always found them worthless. Tho panel of the door was certainly bored from without and not from within.” Mrs. Snell, Sr., announces that the reward is still open to any one who will secure the arrest of the murderer.