New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-07
TRYING TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY.


the charge of the police yesterday Though there was
no large assemhlage OF people around 1t at
auy time during the day, great many
stopped at the doors and peered throngh
the windows The pOlicemens principal duty seemed 10
be TO answer the questions that were asked by
those who had heard of the vague rumor IN ercu
Iation of horrible murder" ga great explosion aud
terrible loss OF life" notice posted at the en-
trance-"Closed in consequence OF the death OF
Mr. G. W. Jewett and Mr.. o. ID. Jewett" Inc
lower floor was deserted except by porter
who was instructed TO refuse admittance TO
INV one unless he came upon business connected
with the investigation OF the affair On the second
floor in the offices Of John Jewett q Sons, were inc
clerks and Charles H. Jewet who will conduct the ous
ness of the firm until the recovery Of Mr. Dean several
of the counsel for the firm also present in consua
tion with Mr. Jewett The blackened. bloody ana torn
Garnet had been removed the floor OF the back ONCE
leaving an oilcuth, which showed no traces OF the
tragedy, except the places in the flooring near
the crate which had been splntered by inc
EXPLOSION OF the hand grenade. The glass IN the WINDOW
and in the door leading into the hallway had been re-
placed but the shattered desks and chars ana the rents
In the waipscoting and ceiling s bore evidence to the
horror OF the day before In the partition IN the halfway
opposite the glass panel of the back ONCE door, winch
was broken. discovered an impression nail an men
I'm depth which appeared 10 have been made by pue'
but the missile could not De lOuhu uhousH "i's'"'
search was made for 1t.
The clerks In the Office stil protested ignorance OF
what occurred in the private office prior to the expo
sion and could only state what they saw D. W. SeecK'
the principal boOkkceper. noticed the unusualy carry
arrival Of Orve D. Jewett, but did not look into MS
face and could mark the expression OF MS coune
nance He passed through the clerks Office with his nat
md ulster overcoat on and took notice OF any one
About 10 o'clock he went into tine private ohce
where George W. Jewett, Charles H. Je"et''
and Joseph A. Dean all members OF the
firm had been engaged in conversation relating 10
I'M Of
sove Oryle Jewetts connection with the firm FINDING
n Mr. dc Bows customer from out OF the city, present,
Oryillc proceeded up stairs into his private rOo MI
DE Bows went away almost Immediately, ana SHORTY
aterward Clas. II. Jewett left the Office Immediately
after he had gone, Orye came down ana went into inc
,rou office where as Charles TantOr, of the clerks
STATES he stood IN front Of The CRATE with his hands
behind him. Mr. Dean sat on his night, writing al Tue
desk by the window, and George W. Je"ett sat AT an
other desk about eight feet distant Charles H. JeWeu
had Just reached street when he heard the report
OF the explosion, and back into the building lie
met Mr. Dean coming down stairs, bleeding, ana
assisted by his Assistant Foreman COOK ana Fire
man Harvey Murray, from Engine Company No 81 on
the oppose side of the street, entered the bdhE Io
lowed by Policemen Sullivan and ODomel. George W.
Jcwett was upon the floor breathing his last with his
nephew, orvile Jewett, lying near him, unconscious
WHAT followed described in HE TRIBUNE yesterday
An inspection Of the surroundings OF tie marks o inc
floor leads to the belief that Oryie d. Jewet dropped
the handgrenade from the spot where he STOOD as III
struck the floor between himself and Mr. Dean. 1t an
sianty exploded, the pieces Tying III every ditctoh
It is believed that the wounds made by the fragments OF
from fully confirm this theory, Mr. DEAN who sat ut
his desk was struck in the left tmsh ana on e llSht
wrist and George w Jewett who sat with his back TO
Orye Jewett struck in the back and lower part oil
the left thigh.
The examination OF tho body Of 0rvile D. Jewett yes
, rdav showed that he had received five bullet wounds
four OF these being from the small fOurbarrel revolver
which was found the floor discharged with the car
fridge shells remaining on the cylinder inc MIN WAS
from the navy revolver, only OF It's barrels having
been discharged The wife of the janor Jackson, who
lives IN the building said yesterday that when she heard
the explosion she ran down stairs and saw Mr.
Dean lust passing out of tho office. immediately
after she heard second explosion hSh'cI
than the first and sounding like the dSch"rseo OF hie-
cracker Tie lccrks also state positively that lne
atey after the explosion Mr. Dean came from the back OF
the Office the door of which had remained open' ana
passed through the clerks Office and down stairs The
explosion OF the hand grenade was in itself suclehuy
mysterious but the finding OF the two pistols aud the
boWie-knife complicated the matter sun lulher'
The result OF the pOst-mOrtem examination and
clearer understanding Of the incidents OF the tragedy
On far as they could he learned caused TO believe
Yesterday that the grenade the pistols, and the knic
were taken to the Office Thursday morning by OrVie
d. Jewctt and that he deliberately attempted 10 nurder
the other members Of the firm and then to kill himself
Indicated that the revolver had been held close TO his
person.
The counsel OF the firm were yesterday engaged III
efforts toward solving the mystery and with Coroner
Elnger opened Orville ID. Jewetts desk Oh the thrd
floor and examined his papers They also maze thor-
ou0 examination OF his desk and papers ia the mont
Office but failed 20 discover anything OF Importance in
either place Coroner EinGer, however believed tht
he has Gle y TO the history of the handSrcnade but de-
cned TO say thing in relation to IT, lie was al WORK
in thorough, persistent and systematic man
Nor tbroughout the afternoon and is determined 70
get all the facts bearing the case. Mr. Rawson OF
counsel for the firm stated that Orville ID. Jewett
ALWAYS carried a check-bOOk ION the Seventh ward
National Bank, and gold watch but neither OF these
was found upon his person after the explosion capt
Petty of the First Police thought that this had
a most important bearing on the case, and careful
search will be made 20 discover where Orville
Jewett left the book and the watch Neither
Can't Petty nor Sergeant BLAIR accepts the theory
thar Oryille Jewett intended TO take his life, but
both are inclined 10 believe that the small revolver
belonged TO Mr. Dean, and that during quarrel which
they think must have taken place, Mr.. Dean fired at
oyvie Jewett II is asserted that Orvic ID. Jewetrs
continued connection with the firm not considered
desirable II is stated that he was OF an irasciDle
nature was suspicious that his partners were attempting
% defraud him aud would be convinced TO contrary
although books Of the firm were always open TO his
nsnection His habits asserted to have been regu
ar he did not attend his business. and lie kept
Yacht and fast he spent much money Owing
10 these things asked few years ago To leave the
arm Tn consequence OF several Misunderstanding, and
ne WAS approached only by his uncles and not by
Mr. Dean in the effort 10 induce him to sever his
connection with the finn. he thought Mr.. Dean
was his best friend and two weeks ago
,oode a proposition to Mr.. Dean to sell
,1,a I.,gfp IA r.