The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12
THE JEWE1T TRAGEDY.
Examination of Witnesses at the In
quest Yesterday.
Old ORVILLE JEWETT SHOOT HIMSELF
The Occurrence as Described in the Dep
oslton Of Mr.. Dean.


At eleven O'Clock yesterday morning Coroner Film
ger began the inquest into the cause Of tho deaths OF
Orvile D. and George W. Jewett ON last Thursday rho
exam nation was concluded, having been adjourned
ill this morning eleven O'Clock. The Coroner hopes,
however TO finish the case to-day. Many new and
Interesting details of the scenes after the explosion
were recoun,cd by cye-witncsses, and are now made
public tor the first time A new element Is also
brought forward show the remote causes OF the
tragedy by the testimony OF Mr. James B. Pollock, who
states that insanity has been prevalent IN the family
Of oryille d. Jewctt
The following is the testimony that was given at the
inquest yesterday
THE INQUEST.
Dr. William II. Harrington was tho 0rst witness
called He was summoned from his office, In the
Aston House, by district messenger boy, on the
morning OF April 3; he got 10 No. ls2 Front
street after half-past ten, where he found
Mr. Dean IN a small oince the main floor,
lying u settce; he had him immediately
moved into the larger part OF the Office and proceeded
10 examine his wounds; hc found a large opening on
the outer side OF Mr. Deans thigh about the size of
nickel dive cent piece; The wound was laccrated and
perforated; on the inside of the lhign there was a
wound OF a similar nature, but little smaller; from
the latter opening there protruded a portion OF
metal; as tho opening not sufficient 10
extract 1t witness obliged TO enlarge the
wound; he then extracted piece Of metal about an
inch in length, OF an inch In width and
from half to thrce-quartcrs IN thickness, OF con-
cavoconvex shape this had evidently passed through
the thigh from the outer TO the inner opening; the
hcmorrhage not very considerable; II was evil
aent that the missile had passed upward; on the
right forearm, about an incn below the iold
OF the elbow Joint there was another large wound.
which was. however, quite superficial; witness found
no conusions, however, did not examine into the
cause OF the wounds: Mr.. Deans coat was torn ana
also his sleeve IN position corresponding with tho
wounds; witness, about hali-past Twelve. drove Mr.
Dean 10 his home, No II waverIcy place. where no
leit him in charge OF the family physician
DIR JAYSEs TESTIMONY
Dr. jayne OF the New York Hospital, next
called. He said be was at tho hospital when 0rvle
d. Jewett brought there; It was about eleven
left chest laceruted wound OF the lett wrist and
small wound just below the right knee at first did not
believe that the wounds were caused by pistol balls
account OF thor Jagged appearance; the edges Of
the wounds were marked with powder.
Coroner Ellinger then asked the witness, show near
TO the body do you think pistol should be IN order TO
leave marks OF powder"
DR.. Jsync-I can't say exactly; within at least three
feet
Coroner Elllnger-Then. you establish that the
weapon was within three feet when the balls were
Greu.
DR. Jayne consider 1t was near his body; what
distance can't say; should think within two eet
Witness, continuing his testimony, SAID that the
patient CONSCIOUS on his arrival at the hospitals
Mr. Higgins the nrst to arrive he asked Orville,
In the presence OF Witness how he came by his wounds
could tell him at that time; he would tell him
the next day; the treatment OF the patient
the effects oil the shock besides the shot
wounds there were other wounds on Orve's hand
and leg; witness thought these were caused by some
proectiie from some distance In front oil his leg; Or
Vile not UNCONSCIOUS until an hour before his
DEATH which occurred at quarter before SIX the day
OF the accident orviies lace was covered with powder
marks the powder had burned INTO his skin,
50 that 1t could not be washed oil; the
powder marks around the pistol shot wounds were OF
q different character from those on his face they ind-
: an a a 1
was being tired all his clothing was very much black
encd and some OF II was snged; lie had under
SHIRT Shirt vest, coat ana overcoat at the post
witness first made certain mat the wounds in
Orville's body were caused by bullets
The tour balls extracted from Orve ID. Jewetps
body were here shown 70 witness, who identified
Them one ball left the body It's direction
had been traced 10 the muscular tissue, whence II
would have been very difficult extract It; the gen
era direction OF the balls was downward and back
ward one OF tho balls had taken a direction
more nearly backward; witness illustrated the
position III which Orvilie Jewett must have held the
PISTOL supposing shots TO have been fred by that
gentleman by holding his hand about level with his
neck three tour inches from his body the vital
parts OF the body that had been touched he said,
the lungs stomach, kidneys ana intestincs also the
spleen; the Tour lower shots would have produced
death; the patient might have recovered from the
upper one, but tins also might readily have caused
death.
Coroner Ellinger-What Is your opn on--that they
were inflicted by the person himself or by somebody
escy
Dr. Jayne-lf they pistol shot wounds should
consider that he mad committed suicide, that they
were fired by himself; The only question in my mind
III regard TO that theory was the question OF the
bility OF tho man shooting himself IN The vital parts
SO many times
Witness concluded by stating to the Coroner That
0rvc displayed no evidence OF any hing irrational in
his conduct TO Mr. Rawson counsel Tor Mr. Dean
Z he stated that during the conversation between
deceased and Mr.. Higgins tho former fold that he
would die. 10 Mr. sutherland. counsel for the nrm,
witness stated that orv'lc. though IN very critical
condition, exhibited remarkable vitality
POLICE ox SCENE.
Captain Petty, OF the Fns. prccinct was called, but
after whispered conversation with the Coroner
excused from testiiying.
officer Peter O'Donnell, OF the First precinct next
gave his testimony. lie was stationed Ut the Fulton
ferry When lie heard the explosions; 10 Burling
slip and saw The smoke coming out OF the side win.
dow oil the office; he ran through the Front street
entrance and up the stars 1t his Impression that
he entered the back otce by The door AT the end OF
the hall, and did not 70 through the man Office the
room was full Of smoke ana SCOT, the smoke rapidly
cleared away, going out Of tho window when had
blown out by the explosion; the first moment witness
could distinguish nothing. put alter that two men
lying on The floor; he stopped to pick up
ness noticed that the mans breast was on lire the men
lay with their feet together toward the CRATE and
their heads toward Front street, but further apart wit
ness also saw white handled pistol lying between
tner Jodies; George W. Jewctg lay uuet but Orylle
was struggling; Foreman Cook aud Fireman. Murray
were there while going up stars witness met young
man whom he was aitcrward told was OF Mr..
Dean; Murray took out GEORGE Jewett, and Cook
and wtpess took out Orvllle 10 the m.ddle Office;
officer sullivan came ana Witness left report the
facts at tic station hoase; The white handled Jour
shooter shown 10 witness. and he identified il.
after about twenty 1--we minutes; he then examined
tie room ana found the place where the shot had
podcd.
A diagram was drawn up aud TIE witness here
described the positions OF the bodies and the other
articles IN The room. This diagram corresponds in
every feature 10 that published the HERALD tho
morning alter the tragedy.
rnE PIEEaEN As GOOD sAMARlrASs
Henry Murray, nrcman ui the engine house nearly
opposite the scene Of tue explosion, the
next witness. At Inc time he was On The door Of
Tue engine mouse Just above the engine
room; heard the explosion and saw smoke
ISSUING from the oflcc WINDOW Immediately
across, and just as be had got inside The ONCE,
heard another slight concession, nothing like the first
picked up the hrst man ho found lying the door.
puI his arms under the mans armpts, and thus
ricd MIN out us nc came out OF the door,
witness said:-"lhs man IS dead ~ then he went
back and assisted the others the smoke
vas not 50 intense but the
hilec with SCOT; the time from witness hearing the
explosion and entering the back Office could nave
been more lnan hfy seconds be thought It was about
forty when witness heard the slight explosion be hes
talcd ms lac feared Il might be repetition of the hrst
be was ouy ANXIOUS 10 see II there had been a lire,