The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-24
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THE SUICIDE OF AN ARTIST.
A MAN OF GENIUS VINO MAD INHED.
TIED A BIG FORTUNE.
Husband ard Wife separated -Depressina
Letters from n DauGbter-The End OF the
son of "a DISTINGUISHED Portrait Painter.

son of "a Distinguished Portrait Painter.
Mr.. w. 8. L. Jewett. who for many years
was an artist for Harper's Weekly, shot himself
through the head In hotel In Jersey City yester-
day morning, and died almost Instantly. About,
four months AGO no went to the Bank Hotel at
Washington and York streets, kept by Alfred
Cox, and took n single room In front, the SEQ
ond story. He furnished his chamber luxurious
ly, and slept there, taking bis meals at restau-
rants. He did no work, except for the amuse-
ment OF his friends and himself, having resigned
his position on Hdrpers Weekly. He sat In his
little chamber from morning until evening, and
only went Into the street when he was called
upon by particular friends. At such times he
forgot his melancholy. and was as genial and
jovial as his friends. He had few acquaint ancess
and seemed to care for only one or two partioi-
lar ones. Mr.. William Ward, the artist. was his
most confidential friend. He frequently asked
MIR. Ward to sleep with him, and at such times
he rolled from one side to the other Of the bed
and cried out, and rocked the bed in the agony
Of bis dreams.
e .rly on Saturday evening Mr.. Jewett osledi
to Mr.. Cox. and said 81 want your wife to put
clean sheets on the bedroom rdjonins mine.
and want clean clothes in my chamber. Mr.
Ward Is to stay With me tonight, and want to
have everything right. want him TO stay In
my room, ana will sleep In the other"
Will put CiohO CiOtncS on DOtO Dbub, uuu ~
don't want YOU TO worry at ALL" replied MIR. Cox.
MIR. Jewett and Mr.. Ward went out In the
street, & a1d, , erter pleasant evening. w returned
bed and at about two o'clock In the nioruing he
was awakened by lisht touch on the shoulder.
wide open eyes and with a strange look said
II think you ought to have your gas lighted
%oaa bessr blew So~p rsped %
Dir. Jewett hastily returned TO his own room..
| AT 8 o'clock yesterday Mr.. Ward opened thsi
dead upon the bod. He held a revolver at hisl
breast, and there was bullet hole In the right
TEN ole. d.
| Coroner Cannon was summoned, and he or.j
dered an inquest for Monday. Toe body was
| taken to the undertaker's store OF Mr.. Speer.
The light was burning In Mr.. Jewstts room
| when his body was discovered. On tho stand
were found sheet Of note paper, an envelope,
| and = POSTAGE stamp. 1t Is believed that he In,
tended to write a farewell letter to his family
but that at the last moment his spirit failed hin,
Mr.. Jewett was very melancholy ard depressed
| on the evening preceding bis suicide, and at
| about . o'clock be took Mr.. Cox aside and said
that be had. terrible letter" from his dansh-
| sic. His body Is to be buried In the New York
Bay Cemetery on Tuesday next. II 10 said that
slight family oifhculty. Mrs. Jewett has often
| visited her husband. however, and between them
'" Mr. Jswet, was "a son 80 % of nr. william Jewet.,
who was one Of the most celebrat q portrait
~ m ,ns IL. jSwstt Tss 5he linden eds made
| nue., ard owned many houses and lots on Ber-
| gen Heights. Jewett avenue was named after
him. Young Jswett was the only child. He
| was educated In Trinity school, and early dis
| played a remarkable aptitude for drawing. He
was encouraged, aud was soon accorded place
| on the stsn Of Harper's Weekly.
Last year his father and mother died at .
age and ne 81 became nes5y sr'sea ss With
| with mis- vile to New YORK, and they lived for .
time In Irving place. After their parting Mrs.
| house in Bloomfield.
During the past three years Mr. Jewett did lit
| tie work. He was SO sensitive th at the slightest
| difficulty threw him into melancholy. lie was
special artist for Frdnk Lesiies at the battle OF
| bull Run, and in the raid OF John Brown at Har-
| per's Ferry In the latter work he was suspected
| OF abolitioDism, and was pursued To mis- house
by a mob. He barricaded his doors. and barely
| escaped WITH his life. At his death he was ~
years old.