Samuel Bell, Former Local Man, held for Homicide in New York
Death of Cleveland financier involves prominent folk, a Metropolitan Sensation
McKean County Democra t, April 18, 1929

New York, April 16—Samuel E. Bell, prominent oil promoter of Baltimore formerly of Smethport, Pa., was held for the grand jury on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of Arthur Morgan Smith, wealthy Cleveland man, when arraigned in homicide court today.

Bail was fixed at $10,000.

The courtroom was crowed by the socially elite of fashionable Park Avenue.

A professional bondsman furnished bail. Bell’s case will be taken before the grand jury Thursday for Friday, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Pascoello announced.

The many local friends of Samuel E. Bell, former prominent Smethport man and ex-Prothonotary of McKean County, regretted to learn of the unfortunate circumstances, which lead to his being held by the New York police on a charge of homicide as the result of the death of Arthur Morgan Smith, wealthy Cleveland millionaire, in the metropolis

News of Me. Bells unfortunate plight was first conveyed to Smethport b a telephone call to the Democrat editor for the city editor of the New York American Sunday afternoon.

Circumstances of the regrettable affair are such that Mr. Bell’s complete exoneration and vindication seems certain when his case goes trial.
A mew York special of Monday gives the following account of the affair.

Mew York, April 15—“ The Park Avenue mystery death case,” involving wealthy society personages, toady engrossed the best minds of the New York police department.

The three central figures in the “love drama” as it is called are: Samuel E. Bell, of Baltimore formerly of Smethport, Pa., a distinguished looking gray haired oil promoter, who is under arrest and held without bal on a charge of homicide in connection with the death of Arthur Morgan Smith.

Arthur Morgan Smith, a Cleveland business and society man and Harvard graduate, who died under mysterious circumstances following a champagne and cocktail party in an exclusive Park Avenue hotel.

Mrs. Robert T. Brown, attractive society matron of Lexington Ky. Mrs. Brown is being detained as a material witness.

Bell was arrested Saturday night and after being questioned by Police Commissioner Grover Whalen and detectives of the homicide squad was arraigned yesterday. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty of him.

Spurred by the telegraphed appeals of the widow of the slain Smith, detectives toady wrung what they said was a confession from Bell.
It was delivered in Yorkville court by the distinguished looking, sturdily built financier before Magistrate Bernard Douras.

“I have known Mrs. Brown for several years,” Bell said. “Thursday we dined together in the Plaza. We chatted of her husband—also a fried of mine—and discussed our mutual friends.

“Around 10 o’clock I suggested it was too early to bid each other good night and Mrs. Brown said she her friend, Mrs. Schuette, was giving a party in her apartment in the Marguery.

“She telephoned and we went over. It was there I met Mr. Smith. There was considerable drinking during the evening and Smith showed the effects.
“Well, after 2 a.m. Mrs. Brown and I went down to get a taxi. When I reached the foyer of the hotel I found Smith had followed us. He was under the influence of liquor. I called a taxi for Mrs. Brown and myself and when it arrived Smith insisted on entering.

“I halted him Mrs. Brown entered the taxi while I tried to argue with Smith and persuade him to go home.

“He insisted on getting in the taxi with Mrs. Brown. When he opened the door to enter, I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back across the sidewalk. He was intoxicated and fell. I didn't’t think he was seriously injured—believed he had merely passed out –and so ordered the driver to take us first to the Plaza and then to my hotel.”

New York, April 15, -- Mrs. Robert L. Brown, prominent society woman of Lexington, Ky., was questioned this afternoon by district Attorney Joab Banton regarding the death of Arthur Morgan Smith, a graduate of Harvard and an executive of the Gas Machinery company of Cleveland. She is held as a material witness to an altercation between Smith and Samuel E. Bell, wealthy oilman of Baltimore Md., both of whom sought to escort her home from a party.

Bell is held without bail pending an investigation of the brawl with Smith, which occurred on the sidewalk in front of the Hotel Marguery in fashionable Park Avenue.

After telling her story to the District Attorney, Mrs. Brown promised to be in homicide court tomorrow when Bell is arranged on a charge of homicide in connection with Smith’s death.

Mrs. Brown, Bell, and Smith had just left a party in the apartment of Mrs. Robert W. Schuette, $11,000,000 Standard Oil heiress, at the Marguery when the argument started. The police say Bell admitted pushing Smith when he tried to enter the taxicab with he and Mrs. Brown. He denied, however, that he struck Smith.

Bell, in his cell, was heartbroken today “I didn't’t hit him,” he exclaimed. “I just pushed him. Oh, if there was anything that could be done to bring him back to life.”

The strange death of Smith occurred after he, Bell and Mrs. Brown had attended a fashionable bridge and cocktail party as the guests of Mrs. Robert H. Schuette, $11,000,000 heiress. After the party broke up —about 10:36 p.m., Smith and Bell engaged in an altercation over who should take Mrs. Brown home. Bell, according, to latest police information, wanted to accompany Mrs. Brown alone and resented Smith’s intention to go with them. Bell had brought the society matron to the party.

Smith was picked up early Thursday morning in front of the Hotel Marguery in Park Avenue—the “street of 400.” He was charged with intoxication and died in his suite in the Hotel Barclay Friday, after the intoxication charge had been dismissed by a magistrate.

Assistant Medical Examiner Thos. A Gonzales announced tonight that Smith died from heart disease and diabetes, but said death was hastened because of the skull fracture and resultant brain laceration and hemorrhage.

Further investigation revealed that Bell and Smith had engaged in an altercation in front of the Hotel Marguery after the party as Bell was entering a taxicab with Mrs. Brown to accompany her home.

Bell is alleged to have knocked or pushed Smith to the curb when the latter tried to force himself into the taxicab. Bell was arrested, arraigned and held without bail. He was in a semi-hysterical condition in his cell last night.

While Bell admitted to detectives that he pushed Smith, he denied that he had struck him. At any rate, Smith staggered across the sidewalk, fell—and lay still. Subsequently, he was picked up as intoxicated but this charge was dropped when, in court, it seemed he was more ill than anything else.
Mrs. Brown, who had entered the taxicab during the discussion between Bell and Smith, said today that she did not witness the struggle.

“I did not know anything about what happened to Mr. Smith. The last time I saw him I was coming down the elevator. I felt in the company of Mr. Bell He escorted me home to the Hotel Plaza, where I was living.”

The party that preceded the tragedy was held on the tenth floor of the Hotel Marguery, in Mrs. Schuette’s apartments. There were about ten guests present.

Bell escorted Mrs. Brown to the party. Smith came alone. According to one of the members of the party, Smith did not play bridge but he did take several drinks and was quite attentive to Mrs. Brown.

Smith was married. His wife, Mrs. Lois Rucker Smith, of Cleveland, has been an invalid since the birth of her daughter. Smith came to New York on a pleasure trip and was accompanied by his eight--year--old daughter, Suzanne. He was secretary and treasurer of the Gas Machinery Company of Cleveland.

Mrs. Brown, “the woman in the case,” is married. Her husband, a stockbroker of Lexington Ky., has stated that he will stand by her. He is in Kentucky. Mrs. Brown is a diminutive brunette and quite attractive.

Mrs. Schuette, at whose apartments the party was held, was the widow of Harry S. Harkness, millionaire sportsman, who left one of the great Standard Oil fortunes. In 1922 she was married to Schuette.

Bell’s activities as an oil producer took him to Tulsa Okla. In 1919 and later to Louisiana and Kentucky. He is also sad to have extensive oil holdings in these states in Wyoming where he was one of the pioneer oilmen. For a time he operated from a Baltimore office. It is understood that he first met Mrs. Brown during the Kentucky oil boom.

The Bell's have been estranged for several years, according to dispatches. Two sons, Donovan Morrison, 33, a real estate operator and Mortimer, 28, live with their mother in Baltimore.

Mrs. Schuette was formerly Florence Steuber. Daughter of a wealthy Erie pa., shipbuilder, according to the New York Mirror. She eloped in 1906 with David H. Caines, nephew of John S. Hyler, candy manufacturer. They were divorced in 1917. She was married shortly after Harkness, millionaire sportsman. He died in 1919. His will leaving his estate to the widow, was contested by the first wife, then Mrs. Kennett Cowan, wife of a stock broker who charged Harkness’ widow with fraud. The will, however, was upheld. Mrs. Cowan charged that faith healers and oriental soothsayers were called in when Harkness was ill.

Bell’s attorney, Theodore F. Vandorn, issued a statement tonight in which he attributed Smith’s fatal injury to an accident and said that Bell’s conduct was only that of a gentleman. Describing the trouble between the two men, Vandorn said she client did not strike Smith, only pushed him twice.
“Neither of the pushes,” he said” was of sufficient force to cause Mr. Smith to lose his balance, not is there anything to show that his fall was not caused because he tripped, or that his knees gave way because of his condition.”

Mr. Vandorn said that Bell and Mrs. Brown were old friends and that in refusing to allow Smith to annoy her Mr. Bell was only acting “ the part of a perfect gentleman.”

Sam Bell, Charged with Murder, Was Well Known Here
Was son-in-law of former Judge T. A. Morrison—held county office was unsuccessful candidate for Legislature in 1910
McKean County Miner, April 18, 1929

Samuel Bell, the principal in the recent exciting affair in New York, in which Arthur Morgan Smith met his death, was a well-known figure in Smethport about twenty ears ago when he made his home here.

Bell came to Kane from DuBois when a mere lad and for a time was call boy in the Kane yards of the Pennsylvania railroad and a Western Union messenger boy. Being an attractive youth, he soon made friends throughout the county and when scarcely twenty years of age he married Mayme Morrison. Daughter of former Judge T. A. Morrison of Smethport. His new father-in-law sent them both to business college in Bradford, where they completed their studies. Bell then opened up a men’s furnishing store in Kane, and lived in that city until he was elected Prothonotary when the bells moved to Smethport. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the legislature in 1910.

About nineteen years ago he left here for the west where he was interested in numerous oil ventures. Since then he has been heard of in various parts of the county promoting numerous schemes. It was not known here that he had amassed any fortune as the New York papers report. Mr. bell, however, was a man of attractive manners and engaging personality, factors which have evidently been the means of opening golden doors for him, as in the case of the entertainment by the $11,000,000 heiress, Mrs. Schuette, after which the fatal accident occurred. The case is an especially sad one as Smith left an invalid wife and an eight years old daughter. The daughter and her governess were with him in New York on a sightseeing trip at the time of the tragedy.

Discharge of S. E. Bell assured by Three volunteer Witnesses
Verify local man’s version of Smith’s Death in New York
McKean County Democrat, April 25, 1929

New York, April 24—The Grand Jury declined today to return any indictment in the death of Arthur W. smith for which Samuel E. Bell, Baltimore oil operator, a former resident of Smethport, was at liberty under $10,000 bail on a charge of suspicion of homicide.

Failure of the Grand Jury to act means that Bell’s bail will be discharged and the charge against him dismissed.

The Grand Jury heard evidence in the case for two hours and among the witnesses appearing before it were four women who attended the bridge party which preceded Smith’s death. Mrs. Robert L brown, of Lexington Ky., over whom bell and smith quarreled, did not testify.

The defense of Samuel E. bell, former prominent Smethport man and twice Prothonotary of McKean County who is held for manslaughter as the result of the death of Arthur Morgan Smith, prominent Cleveland financier, which followed accidental injuries received in front of the exclusive Hotel Marguery in new York Friday, April 12, has been materially strengthened by events which transpired the latter part of last week.

The unexpected reinforcements to the defense camp came in the form of volunteer witnesses who are willing to substantiate Mr. Bell’s version of the regrettable affair from a prompting sense of fair play.

At a hearing in New York City homicide court on Tuesday of last week, at which the charge of homicide originally lodged against Mr. Bell was reduced to that of manslaughter and the defendant released under $10,000 bail, the most damaging testimony introduced against Mr. Bell was that of a taxicab driver who testified that he witnessed an altercation between Bell and Smith which occurred when smith attempted to forcibly enter a taxi in which Bell was about to take Mrs. Robert T. Brown, wealthy and beautiful Lexington Ky., society matron to her apartments at the Hotel Plaza. The witness testified that Bell hit Smith a terrific blow on the face, which lifted him clear of the sidewalk and sent him sprawling unconscious, that Bell then entered the cab and drove off, while a policeman arrested Smith, thinking him intoxicated.

Bell stoutly maintained at the hearing that he dad simply shoved Smith away from the door of the taxi and that the latter had apparently tripped and fell over backwards and that he did not appear to be injured, so the former local man drove away.

Last Friday three persons, who witnessed the affair in front of the Hotel Marguery, and who had read the rather far fetched testimony rendered by the taxicab driver for the prosecution, called at the Wall street offices of Bell’s attorney, Theodore F. Vandorn, and volunteered to appear as witnesses in the local man’s behalf. One of these persons was sitting in his automobile at the curb near the scene of the altercation, the other two were passersby who were attracted by the argument and stopped to witness what subsequently transpired. All three witnesses stated that the Cleveland financier, despite Bell’s remonstrance, tried to enter the taxicab in which Mrs. Brown was already seated, forcible and that Bell, as he has stoutly maintained, simply pushed the Cleveland man, who appeared to be intoxicated, to one side and then entered the cab and drove away.

The new testimony strengthens the growing belief that Mr. Bell will be acquitted and vindicated when his case comes to trial.

The unfortunate affair which placed the former local county official in such a trying position, followed a bridge party at the apartments of Mrs. Robert Harkness Schuette, $11,000,000 Standard oil heiress and widow of the late Harry Harkness, noted sportsman at the exclusive Hotel Marguery, which was attended by socially prominent personages of Park Avenue, “the street of the 400” and at which Mrs. Brown were guests Thursday night, April 11. When Mrs. Brown and Mr. Bell left the party about 2:00 o’clock Friday morning, Smith who had been a guest at the party where he had partaken of several cocktails and according to witnesses, showed the effects of them attempting to supplant himself in Mr. Bell’s stead as escort to the comely Mrs. Brown. When the Cleveland millionaire attempted to enter the cab, which had been engaged by Bell, the latter pushed him out of the way.

Later, a policeman arrested Smith in a dazed condition in front of the Marguery and lodged him in a station house on a charge of intoxication. Friday morning, when the police station attaches became convinced that Smith was more ill than intoxicated the charge against him was dismissed and he was allowed to proceed to his room at the Hotel Barclay, where he became violently ill and died of violent convulsions a few hours later.

The report of the medical examiner was to the effect that the financier had died of heart trouble and diabetes, aggravated by a fracture of the skull.
Smith’s relatives immediately started a vigorous investigation of his death and the probe headed straight at the metropolitan police department when it was learned that a police ambulance surgeon had refused to approve of Smith’s removal to a hospital soon after his arrest and that after several hours, when the Cleveland man’s condition became serious he was turned loose and allowed to return to his hotel where he died.

Vigorous police action to counteract this probe followed with the result that the facts of the altercation between Smith and Bell were learned and the former Smethport man was arrested Saturday night, April 13, and questioned personally by Police Commissioner Grover Whelan, after which he was lodged in the Tombs without bail on a charge of homicide, which was reduced to manslaughter at the preliminary hearing.

There is a growing conviction that Bell is being vigorously prosecuted on a charge, which under ordinary conditions would mean prompt vindication and acquittal in view of the circumstances of the case, simply to save the face of the police department.

Smith’s relatives and business associates intimate that civil action will be brought against Mr. bell for Smith’s death, regardless of how the criminal charge against him turns out. Likewise, Samuel bell has many staunch friends who sympathize with him in his present predicament, knowing him to be a man who never used intoxicating liquor and who would not willingly inflict injury to any living thing, much less inflict physical violence to any man. Believing him innocent, they will assist him to the event any attempt is made to make him the victim of any frame-up to save the hides of those who were directly responsible for Smith’s death by depriving him of vitally needed medical assistance after he received the accidental injures.

The case has proved to be one of the most sensational in the metropolis in recent years. The metropolis news writers refer to Bell as the “distinguished-looking silver-hair multi-millionaire oil operator.”

Mr. Bell’s status as a multi-millionaire is exaggerated. Those who know the oil business, of which this county can be regarded as part of the original cradle, know the ups and downs of an oil prospector’s existence. It is known that Samuel Bell, like most other prospectors, has experienced his “ups and downs.” He has made lots of money, while riding the crest of the wave in various oil fields and at other times has met with reveres which have left him al but penniless. At the very best, Bell’s financial circumstances, apparently affluent now from descriptions given, are probably far from the million- dollar mark.

Bell, a son-in-law of the late Judge Thomas A. Morrison of Smethport, former president judge of McKean County and later a justice of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, left Smethport where he resided for many years, having served capably for two terms as Prothonotary of McKean County and being narrowly defeated for the State Legislature in 1909, early in 1917. He has since followed the oil business in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana and for some time past has maintained offices in Baltimore.

Prothonotary Endorsement
McKean County Miner, September 18, 1902

The Smethport Miner of last week contained a picture of Samuel E. Bell, Republican nominee for prothonotary of McKean County. Sam deserves the office. He is well fitted for it, he is a young man of god habits and ability to make an exemplary official. Sam is deservedly popular in every section of the county, and it appears to the Enterprise that he will be an easy winner—Coudersport Enterprise

An Unfair Race for Prothonotary
McKean County Democrat, November 14, 1902

Again it has been demonstrated beyond a doubt by the recent election returns of the county that low grade abuse and blackguardism aimed at a candidate is a source of help, and not a hindrance to that man’s candidacy. In this connection the Democrat is moved to remark that S. E. Bell appears to have been most fortunate in some of the enemies he had made. The newspaper abuse aimed at Mr. Bell and other members of his family proved a source of strength to his candidacy that very few realized during the campaign, but which the close observer of the political drift could not have failed to notice. The argument of the blackguard never makes votes for any cause, and for the good name of journalism it is well that it should be this way. Honesty and common decency in the discussion of the issues of the day attracts more votes than does billingsgate.

No Introduction Needed
McKean county Democrat, April 7, 1910

At the head of the columns to-day appears the announcement of Samuel E. Bell, of Smethport, who is a candidate of the office of Assemblyman of McKean county, subject to the decision of the Republican voters of McKean county at the primaries of June 4, 1910. Mr. Bell is too well known to the voters of McKean county to need an introduction from the Democrat at this time. He has been a respected resident of Smethport for many years. He served for two terms most efficiently as Prothonotary of McKean county, and during the time he served in that office he proved to be a most capable official, and during his incumbency made a record that he has every reason for being proud of. He is a wholesouled, genial gentleman in every sense of the word, and as a vote getter he stands at the head of the class, and is sure to make himself felt in the pending campaign. The Democrat is not at all backward in advising all to keep their eye on this hustling young gentleman from this time on, as he is in the fight to win.

Gentleman's Race
McKean County Miner, October 13, 1910

The legislative candidates for members of assembly on the Republican ticket, Samuel E. Bell and Horace H. Redfield, and making a tour of the county and are meeting with much encouragement from their many friends. There is a general feeling that these gentlemen will best represent us at Harrisburg and everything now indicates that both will be elected by a good percentage.

Receive News of Passing of Samuel E. Bell
Former Prothonotary was in Mid-Western Oil Field
McKean County Democrat, April 21, 1938

It was with sincere regret that the Democrat received the belated news this week of the death of Samuel E. Bell, aged about 67, former Prothonotary of McKean County and a prominent figure in oil producing circles of the nation, who passed away of Sunday, November 14, 1937, at the Olney, Illinois, sanatorium.

Mr. Bell had been ill for a month prior to his death.

He had been identified with the oil business at Oblong, Illinois, for several years past.

Deceased was born in Patton Pa. he came to Kane while still a youth and was employed as a Western Union Telegraphy and was named as manager of the Western Union office in the old Thomson Hotel in Kane.

Mr. Bell became interested in politics early in life and for a number of years was one of the most influential Republican leaders in this section of the country.

He was named deputy recorder of McKean County when the late George W. Mitchell of Smethport succeeded J. M. McElroy as recorder on January 1, 1893. In November 1902, Mr. Bell was elected Prothonotary, and served for two 3-year terms, being succeeded by the late B. F. Starsky.

Mr. Bell owned a lease in the Crawford field of Illinois when a rich oil strike was made there in 1905 and he had been interested in oil production in various fields of the country since that time.

Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Mayme Morrison, daughter of the late Judge and Mrs. Thomas A. Morrison of Smethport.
The subject of this sketch was a sports enthusiast and at one time was shortstop on Smethport’s baseball team. He possessed a charming personality and many old-time friends in Smethport will be saddened to learn of his passing.

The writer recalls very vividly one of Mr. Bell’s spontaneous acts of generosity, which was typical of the man. Although the writer was only a small child at the time, he never forgot the incident and we fondly remember Sam Bell as a prince of good fellows.

Surviving are his wife, who resides in Hollywood California; two sons, Bon Bell of Hollywood, and Mortimer E. Bell of Baltimore Md., and two brothers, Lincoln S. Bell of Altoona, Pa., and William W. Bell of Reynoldsville, Pa.

Burial was in the cemetery at Oblong, Illinois.