EXTRA ORDINARY TRAGEDY AT NEW YORK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5080, 5 July 1877, Page 3

EXTRA ORDINARY TRAGEDY AT NEW YORK.

(Abridged from the New York Times, April 6.) One of the most startling tragedies in the annals of metropolitan crime was enacted yesterday morning on the corner Burling-slip and Front-street, the establishment of John Jewett and Sons, paint and oil dealers. George W. Jewett and Joseph A. Dean were the senior members, and Charles H. and Orville D. Jewett were the junior members. All the members of the firm bear the very highest possible reputation, not only for probity, but for amiability of character and charitableness, except Orville D., who never got along very well with his uncles. He was not in the habit of attending to his business, came and went as he pleased, and refused to be tied down to any routine whatever. He was quite a sporting character too, and notwithstanding his extreme penuriousness, he did not hesitate to spend money freely for his own enjoyment. He kept a yacht, fast horses, and dogs, and was a generous liver. These characteristics naturally brought him into frequent collision with his partners, who were steadygoing, hardworking men, and he received their remonstrances in anything but a friendly spirit. The breach thus caused was continually widening, until about four years ago, on the occasion of the annual settlement, there was an open rupture caused by a demand that Orville should change his course or leave the firm. This was settled, however, at the time, but without producing any alteration in the relations of the members of the concern. Orville constantly grew more insolent and independent, and finally, about four weeks ago, forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and he was informed that his connexion must end without further delay. He made a stubborn resistance, however; but on one day of last week he went up to Mr. Dean, and begging his pardon for anything offensive he might have said to him in the past, told him that he considered him his best friend, and if he wished to buy out hie interest he might have it at a fair price, but he would not sell to his uncles on any terms. Mr. Dean told him to name his own price. He said he would take 200,000d01., but would require that the papers should be drawn up by his own lawyers. Mr. Dean replied that he did hot care what lawyer drew up the paper so long as he was respectable ; all he wanted was a receipt for the money which he would pay over. This was the understanding arrived at. Orville went to John L. Sutherland, of No. 54 Wall-street, his attorney, and employed him to draw up the papers. Mr. Sutherland said yesterday that they were all ready, and were to be signed by appointment at 11 o’clock yesterday morning. The money consideration, all in cash, had been provided, and a happy ending to the longcontinued troubles of the concern was promised. Mr. Orville D. Jewett was on hand, contrary to custom, at the early hour of half-past 8 o’clock yesterday morning. On the sidewalk in the front of the office he met his brother-in-law, Mr. Barrett, who passed the compliments with him, and—he said last night—noticed nothing unusual in his demeanour. Having bid Mr. Barrett good morning, Orville entered the office, passed Moses Isles, the porter, Thomas Jackson, the janitor, and Charles Campbell, the shipping clerk, without speaking. to them, and walked directly into the front office, where he busied himself a few moments at his desk; He then went out aeain into the hall and -upstairs into a small room on the third floor, where he remained some fifteen or twenty minutes. What he did there will never be known, as a subsequentclose search failed to discover any letter or. other trace of his: occupation. Descending the stairs again, he re-entered the front office, and that is the.last th'at is known of his movements up to about half-past 10 o’clock. Neither,was the'hour Of arrival of the other members, pf the firm noted, except that Charles H. entered about 9 o’clock, and at once set to work going through the mail,' and answering such letters as came within his province. Mr. Dean and George-W, .were in their private office in the rear before 10 o’clock, because it .was about that hour that Charles H., having finished his task, wpht'into them and, recited to them the : contents of • the various letters, at the same time handing to them several that required their special attention. While they were still conversing, Orville entered from , the hall and proceeded directly into the room where they were gathered, wearing his overcoat, which was regarded by the clerks as an extraordinary circumstance ; but the conversation about the mail ended. Hardly was George W. in his chair when a loud explosion shook the building, the glass of the windows on Burling-slip was shattered, and the rear office was filled with smoke and soot. While the dazed clerks still remained motionless, Mr. Dean, pale, and with clots of blood dropping from his pantaloons, staggered out into the main office, and made direct for the door. He had reached the stairs when Mr. Silleck, the book-keeper, sprang after him. His son, Arthur Dean, who had run down on the first alarm, turned back on hearing him coming, and the two grasped him together as he was about to fall. He muttered something about George W. Jewett being badly hurt, as though to signify that somebody should go to his assistance, and then suffered himself to be borne downstairs, and placed on an improvised lounge, composed of a settee and a couple of chairs. Mr. Silleck, who seems 'to hare been the only one who had presence of mind, bounded back upstairs, and made an attempt to enter the rear office. The stifling atmosphere drove him back, however. ■ At that moment Henry Murray, of Engine Company No. 32, who was On the sidewalk at the time, rushed Into his room, and dashed into the inner office. He made first for the nearest window and threw it up. Then groping about on the floor his hands touched the body of Mr. George W. Jewett, who was lying about the centre of the room, with his head to the south. Hurriedly grasping him in his arms, Murray dragged him out into the main office, leaving a broad track of blood in his wake. Mr. Jewett was still breathing, but before he could be got more than half the length of the room he gave a gasp and expired. Seeing that he was dead, Murray dropped him and rushed back. Just then there was another report as of a pistol shot, but the brave fireman did not hesitate. He kept on until he found another body—that of Orville D. Jewett—which was lying in exactly the sime position as his uncle, but nearer the fire-place, and more toward the hallway. Murray carried Orville out also. He was bleeding profusely and groaning with pain.

As soon as the smoke and soot had cleared somewhat, a search was made of the inner office. In front of the fireplace and nearMr. Dean's desk the carpet, the ■ oilcloth underneath it, and part of the wooden floor were torn up. Mr. Dean’s, desk was shattered, the glass front being smashed to atoms, and a key, that was in one of the drawers being cut in two, as though by a file. The adjoining window was completely blown out. An immense hole was broken in the wooden surhase back of the desk, through which the bricks of the wall could be felt. A ragged hole was stove through the door of the closet, and the boards alongside the safe were forced out. The blower of the grate was dented in several places, and there were two gaping holes in it. The chair upon which Mr. Dean sat was broken, and that upon which Mr. George W. Jewett was sitting was smashed to pieces. A large splinter of wood was forced firmly into the wooden partition between the two wings of the latter’s desk, There was a large hole in the ceiling, and a corresponding one in the ceiling of the floor above. The force of the explosion was to the east, to the south-west, north-west, south-east, and upward. A number of pieces of oast iron were picked up about the room, and Sergeant Blair found near the door leading to the main office a primer which, being put together, showed that the disaster had been caused by a hand grenade.

The discovery of pistols, knife, and pieces of shell gave rise to great excitement, which was augmented by the suspicious reticence of those who were likely, to be able to furnish information. Mr Charles H. Jewett refused absolutely to say anything. The bookkeeper denied any knowledge of a quarrel, but said that the affairs of the firm were in the best possible condition. Mr. Pollock said he was not at liberty to make any disclosures. Mr. Taintor had gone to Staten Island, and Mr. Arthur Dean was in attendance on his father. All agreed, however, that no such thing as the hand grenade had ever been in the office, and the janitor stated that although he had been cleaning out the office for two years he had never seen it. He was positive it was not there yesterday morning. Mr. Sutherland’s statement was the first clue to the real cause of the tragedy. Then came a report that Orville had confessed. When Mi. Chas. Jewett heard this rumor he said that Orville had undoubtedly been insane for some time. Judge Lathrop also gave out the same story. He said that he was certain from Orville’s actions that he had been crazy for at - least ten days. Mr. Pollock likewise confirmed this theory. He also had noticed that Mr. Orville was acting queerly. It came out that Orville was in the habit of carrying the large revolver when he went to the factory to pay off the men. There is no doubt that, owing to his peculiar disposition, he became insane by brooding over what he considered his wrongs, and deliberately armed himself, intending to murder the other members of the firm aud commit suicide. The two pistols and the knife were undoubtedly his, and he had the hand-grenade in his pocket when he went to the office yesterday morning. He probably drew the large revolver, and held it in one hand while he dashed the grenade to the floor with the other. The subsequent shot and the burnt clothing over the region of his heart point to attempted suicide.