The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-09
THE FORT1ETH STREET TRAGEDY.
investigation Before Coroner Keenan,
Suicide by Shooting.

investigation Before Coroner Keenan,
Suicide by Shooting.
Coroner Keenan, yesterday held an inquest at
the West Thirty-seventh street police station in
the case of Charles Grom, the German who on
Thursday morning last, in his rooms at 426 West
Fortieth street, attempted to take the life, by
shooting, OF Mr.. Charles Merweg President of the
Bricklayers' Cooperative Building Association,
and then, placing the muzze of the pistol in his
mouth, shot himself through the brain, doubtless
producing almost instant DEATH Subjoined will
be found in full the deposition of MIR. Merweg,
which contains a complete history of the circum-
stances which led to the shooting of Grom:-
Charles Merweg. living in Second avenue, be-
tween Thirty-ninth and F0rtieth streets, being
President of the Bricklayers Cooperative Build
ing Association; deceased was financial secretary
settlement every month, but, as he was Negligent
there was sometimes settlement every three or
q meeting held on Sunday last to examine the
books OF the society, and they were to do SO to-day
| knew thar deceased was not prepared to show
his books and ne asked me to get them ready; was
in his house Monday Tuesday ana Wednesday
but he put me Off every day; Thursday morning,
at 426 West Fortieth street, there was no IRE IN
his rooms, but he sitting in front of the crate
and told HIM it was very cold to sit there h;
said he would make fire. but did not do 40: we
sat at the table, where we looked the affairs OF
the society he said he was moving today, and
should go to the house which he expected to
occupy; told him we had but two days to make
up the books, and was about to 20 out, when he
asked me to wind up his clock before that he
commenced to talk about his wife; l told
him that l was there to talk about bust.
ness and nothing else; told him that
he had been drinking and was not able
attend to business; after had wound up his clock
and at half-past nine O'Clock he said, ''What half
past nine in the afternoon Y''; went through the
back room and said "GrOm, why can't Won give up
drinkingY' and added something more of the same
kind was then in the back rOOm just about STEP
ping out and shook hands with him he gave me
his right hand, and when had got down stairs
about half way heard shot and felt blood on NV
another shot, and felt a shot in my other
shoulder; l got down stairs as quickly az
could there were no angry words
passed between us; in December last he
said he was about $3.50 short but don't know how
his account stands now; went to place In Thir.
ty-secOnd street after was shot; was afraid that
deceased would follow me and shoot me- as he has
threatened to shoot me when he has been
intoxicated; then went to lager beer
saloon and sent for deceased's brothers: 7 then
went to Tenth avenue and saw them coming:
called them and told them deceased had shot me:
AdOlph said. Hes dead, and you have killed him y,
then thought would have trouble, and went for
man who would go bail for me If it was required:
vised me to go TO doctor and then as soon as |
possible to the station house; did so; think de-
ceased was insane from drink.
Mary j. Cilligen and Catharine Weiss living in |
the house with deceased, made very brief affida- |
Wits, but their testimony contained no new facts |
Of Importance not heretofore published in the |
HERALD.
Wooster Beach, NJ D., deposed that pistol shot
wound OF the brain was the of death,
The case being submitted to the jury they found
sefin the head with pistol, at 426 West Fortieth
street. March Q, 1873"