Three-Part Investigation · First Published October 2008
The Murder of Amos J. Snell
The West Side Millionaire, the Vanishing Suspect, and the Family That Fell Apart
By Adam Selzer
This story was originally published on the Mysterious Chicago blog by Adam Selzer in October 2008 — described as the first examination of the Snell case in about 65 years. Reproduced here with attribution for historical and genealogical research.
Part One
The Near-West Side Millionaire
Posted October 25, 2008 · Mysterious Chicago
The near-west side in the 1880s had no shortage of villains. E.A. Trask was operating on Washington Street, possibly in conjunction with H.H. Holmes. A block to the south had been the offices of the notorious Dr. Thomas N. Cream. A block west of all of this stood the mansion of Amos J. Snell, a local millionaire who owned hundreds of houses, including most of what is now Milwaukee Avenue, which he turned into a toll road that made him a fortune. He lived at the northwest corner of Washington and Ada — where a vacant lot now stands.
Neighborhood Context — 1880s
Washington Street
E.A. Trask — possibly connected to H.H. Holmes
One Block South
Offices of Dr. Thomas N. Cream, notorious poisoner
NW Corner, Washington & Ada
Amos J. Snell's mansion — now a vacant lot
A millionaire with a streak of paranoia, Snell kept a pistol by his bed and was known on several occasions to wake up, grab the pistol, and run off to investigate any strange noises he heard. Usually, it turned out to be nothing but the wind.
But in February of 1888, Snell heard a strange noise in his house at 2 in the morning, came down to investigate, and was shot to death by burglars — who stole nothing. The only clues were scattered views of coaches running by in the freezing street reported by servants, two sets of footprints in the snow, and a bag of tools — the kind used by burglars — left on the scene.
Selzer's Note — The Toll Road Fortune
"He owned hundreds of houses, including most of what is now Milwaukee Avenue, which he turned into a toll road that made him a fortune."
This detail — Snell as the owner and operator of the Milwaukee Avenue toll road — is one of the most striking facts about his wealth. It is explored further on the Toll Roads page.
Part Two
The Vanishing Suspect
Posted October 26, 2008 · Mysterious Chicago
Some believed that Snell's strange sense of foreboding came not from some psychic feeling, but perhaps from some sort of warning from a recently-freed burglar — and that burglar was one of the first men rounded up. But he was found innocent very quickly.
Evidence that it had been a two-man job was fairly overwhelming: there were two sets of tracks in the snow, and two kinds of bullets in Snell's body. But when no solution had been found after 10 days, the frantic police decided that it had been the work of one person: Willie Tascott.
Profile — Willie Tascott
William B. Tascott — "a young man who lived on Ashland near Union Park before becoming something of a drifter."
Background
Worked for railroad companies across the country
Criminal Record
Jail time in Kentucky for robbery
Last Known Job
Elevator operator, Palmer House Hotel, Chicago
Sideline
Petty thievery; known to carry a bag of unusual tools
Days Before Murder
Visited a jeweler to have a pearl set in a ring
"A few days before the murder, Tascott went to a jeweler to have a pearl set in a ring. The jeweler noticed his strange bag of tools and asked if he was a piano tuner."
— Adam Selzer, Mysterious Chicago, 2008
Part Three
The Aftermath
Posted October 27, 2008 · Mysterious Chicago
No examination of the Amos Snell story — Selzer notes this was the first in about 65 years — is complete without a few words on what became of the well-to-do family.
New York Times
Feb. 25, 1900
"Amos J. Snell's Widow Dead — Dies in House Where Her Husband Was Murdered."
Henrietta died on February 25, 1900 — twelve years after the murder — in the same Washington Boulevard mansion where Amos was shot. She had posted the $50,000 reward. It was never collected.
Read the NYT Archive →Albert Snell — Son
Penniless and living in the barn on the property by 1901.
Committed to an insane asylum. Died in a rooming house a few years later.
Mrs. A.J. Stone — Daughter
Sued for a share of the estate — and lost.
Her claim was struck down on the grounds that she was allegedly an adopted daughter. Selzer notes: "What a horrible verdict!"
Grace Snell — Daughter
"The Most Married Woman in the World."
Ran away with a coachman at 16. Married and divorced the same man three times. Her full name at various points: Mrs. Grace Snell-Coffin-Coffin-Walker-Coffin-Layman-Love-Love. Died in 1941 as Mrs. Love.
As Recorded in the Newspapers
Mrs. Grace Snell-Coffin-Coffin-Walker-Coffin-Layman-Love-Love
The second marriage to Mr. Love appears to have lasted. She died in 1941 still as Mrs. Love.
"No examination of the Amos Snell story is complete without a few words on what became of the well-to-do family."
— Adam Selzer, Mysterious Chicago, October 2008
Attribution
This content is drawn from the Mysterious Chicago blog by Adam Selzer, originally published in three parts in October 2008. It is reproduced here for historical and genealogical research purposes, with full attribution to the original author and source.
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