The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-13
THU JEVETT TRAGEDY.
Conclusion Of the Inquest and Verdict
Of the Jury.
Mr.. Taiptor's Astonishing Dull
ness OF Hearing.


conclusion yesterday BY verdict which. II not qu'te
almost all that could have been desired by the
friends of The deceased. Several peculiar crcum-
stances deserve noticed. me inquest was held
tho bodies Of George W. aud Urvilc D. Jewett who
we're killed In very mysterious manner on the oth
inst Notwithstanding this the jury never viewed tho
body OF Orvc Jowett, US they were by law required
do. Captain Petty called on the inquest, but
excused from tcstifying after whispered consul
tation with the Coroner. Mr.. Deans statement was
taken privately At his house All the questions asked
Of witnesses appeared TO point alone toward bringing
and establishing the suicide theory rho develop
ments OF yesterday however surpassed IN mystery all
the previous details that could be CLEANED concerning
the AFFAIR
MR.. TAIyroR's CONTRADICTIONS
Mr. Charles Tanor was the first witness called HIS
testimony on all points relating Immediately 10 the
tragedy was very confused. lie SAID that he had
been connected with the drm OF john Jcwet Sons
years Orvlle d. Jewett kept the books OF the
white lead rm and witucss kept the books Of the oil
business Aitcrward. in response 10 a demand Tor
explanation by juror reference TO some accounts
he prolcssed himself TO be unable to explain very
clearly account of his want OF experience oil book
keeping. The day before The catastrophe be said no
had been informed that he to have share in the
business Mr. George Jewctt told him So AZ the same
time saying that Orville was going out Of tho hrm
Mr. rainlor continued rs folows:-In last November
FIRST learned from Mr. Dean That they Intended to get
OrvilIc out of the rm; tho reason tor this was that
Orville had acted SO ungentemanly toward both Mr.
Dean and George w Jewett aud they could not agree
gel along with him; lived in tho same house with
my ather-in-iaw; both to tho olice together
on The day oil the tragedy
xvESrpUL MOMENTS.
George w. Jewett went into the rear Office and there
M uaan md Mr.
Powers; could not understand what said as was
In the centre ONCE with Charles Pollock and young
Dean Mr. Powers and Mr. Dean passed out Of the rear
Office; shortly after sir. Doan returned Charles II.
Jcwett also lott the Office Mr. George Jewett also
and went out into the front Office with some
letters and sat down the desk for about i've mn
utes; this Office occupied by Charles Jewett; Or
VILE followed George W. 10 the front Office; George w.
thcn back into the office. but Orvillc fol-
lowed him shortly after; in about think, three or
iour minutes MIR. Dean appeared at the door ana
walked right BY me out of tho gate didn't hear the
explosion: turned right around and saw tho soot
Coroner Elllnger-You didn't hear the explosion at
aly
Mr. Taintor-I did not
Tho Coroncr--What then?
Mr.. Taintor-I went to tho door and looked In,
George called "Charley! Charley"
The Corouer-What was your impression theny
Mr.. Tantor-l don I know that had an Impression.
Witness then continued ioliows:-Mr. Dean
looked very PALE but spoke not word; tho door was
ROOM which was alied with smoke, but l could not
anything; heard tho report OF four shots, and
supposed that Orvile was firing u George W. Jewett
into the room; on looking again toward where heard
the shots saw Two men, George W. and Osvillo ID.
JcwelL lying on tho floor.
MT Tainlor here explained to the jury the position
OF the bodies. He said that George was dead.
BY the Coroner-tow Gia you know he deadY
Well supposed he was; he looked ike II, but did
not feel OF his pulse or hcart orve was not dead Tor
Were you aware that orviIIe offered to soil his In
terest out TO Mr.. Dean rather than TO any other MEM
Der of the hrmf A. No. sir; ! was aware that IL was
intended tor Mr. Dean 10 buy out Orvile's interest IN
tho business.
O Did you ever any member OF tho nrm carry
any wcaponsf A. Yes; about SIX years ago saw Or
Vile Jewett with revolver IN his pocket; 1t was on
Staten Island.
BY juror-How do you account for not hearing the
explosion? A. don't know, except that WAS so ab.
sorucd that did not take notice Of II.
Q Are you Mr. Dean was out OF tho rear Office
before the pistol shots were nredf A. Yes. hc was;
saw him before went IN the glass partition
between tho and office is ground SO that
could not distinguish anything through Is when the
by counscl--Do you moan to say that you did not
hear tho explosion and that the nrst you heard about
affair Mr. Dean came TO the door alter
coming out OF the rear oiiiceY
An explosion heard distinctly at Fulton ferry and
also the Seventh ward Bank 400 feet away and yet
you pretend 10 say you did not hear and you were
but twenty feet frUm ~ A. do not recolcct having
heard II; perhaps tho sound went out Of tho window
(perisive laughter
q Were you stunned, or are you doaf, Mr.. Taintors
A. No; am not deaf, was stunned or fright
cncd when saw Mr. Dean come out looking so white
must have boon greatly absorbed in what was do
Ing.
Counsei--welL l should think SO, not to hear
posion that blew out the windows close BY you and
was heard several blocks OF.
Witness stated he had heard that Orvile had spoken
OF the other members OF the firm in ungcntlcmanly
terms; his recollection on this point very con-
used
by counscl-what were these ungcntcmanly words
that Orvc used toward tho other members OF tho
1rmY A. don't remember.
o. Were they not " this effect, that OrvilIe had
SAID, ave have picked Dean up out OF the gutter and
will send him back there asain' A. believe heard
some such words.
The watch aud other articles OF ewelry belonging
Orvile Jcwett were here produced They were handed
to the witness by tho bremen or policemen, aud he
placed them IN Mr.. Charles Jewett's desk
The Coronor-what did you do theny A. decided
TO 60 down Staten Island to notify tho family OF
George Jcwctt OF tho catastrophe Intended 10 have
inquest on the body OF George W. Je*ettt and havc
IL held IN The oihce; spoke Mr.. ILL., and about an
hour aiterward saw Mr. Dean down stairs, and spoke
10 MN the subject u was then first discovered
that Dir. Dean was wounded; went TO staten Island
and did not return until Monday; tho explosion oc-
Cured on Thursday morning.
q Then you went away and lot orvile D. Jewctt and
Mr. Dean take care OF themselves, IND thought you
had done enough to 20 TO Staten Island and notify the
family Of your father. n-law OF the explosion and
catastropheY A. knew the other parties were taken
/ caro- Of, and heard Of their condition daily.
The next witness called was MIR. James W. Selleck,
the general bookkecpcr OF Jewou Il Sons. lie said:-
not aware of any trouble or dispute between the
members OF the rm for several days previous TO the
explosion UrviiIc appeared 10 be troubled about
matter; do not know whether he was out Of his
mind or not; cannot say whether the small pistol
which was found Is tho ono | saw with Orve some
time ago.
| CHARLES II. JEwErr ON THE
Charles Il. Jcwett next testified us ioows:-l am a
member OF the nrm OF J. Jewctt Sons, and have
been since 1857; Mr. Dean AT that time an en-
ployc OF the firm, but was not member; George
Jcwstt said to me one day in last Novcmocr:-
Charley, can't stand this any longer Orvilie has
treated me outragcously aud would prefer 10 leave
the hrm than put up with II"
TINS was at dinner day, when my brother
George Orvc aud myself dned up stars III The Office
together; l left them tho table together
| Orvilic was Omen dissatisfied the firm be.
cause they we're not making money enough; / Aaid 70
HIM that he had not the right to speak in the manner
he did to the senior partners; he replied -
son well, have my rights; but don't you bt
| frightened, It's all right"