The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-08


seems an incongruity between the act and
its scene, as if the dramas of human pas
sion were incomprehensible in the prosy
haunts of dull and monotonous trade. But
the romantic feature which seemed I'M
ported into the crime from the mystery
that surrounded its preparation is fading
away. Mr.. Taintor's declaration that he
saw Orville Jewett fire some of the shots
into his own body will reduce the crime TO
the ordinary level in this respect. But this
statement seems likely to be strenuously
denied. In our opinion it is true; and we
are the more disposed to credit it because
we believe the fact that Orville Jewett fred
these shots can be established without this
evidence.
ficted by himself follows from the fact that
they could not have been inflicted by any
other person present on the occasion. His
uncle, the elder Jewett, and Mr.. Dean
we're the only persons there. George
w. Jewctt was assuredly Frustrated
by the wound from the grenade.
which tore from their attachments
the popliteal artery. His left leg was USE
less as a support from the moment tho
ragged fragment Of iron tore through it.
He had but one leg to stand upon, and,
startled, shocked, unnerved by the blow,
and weakened greatly within few seconds
BY the loss of blood, from which he
died but few minutes later, it is almost
an inevitable inference that he fell to the
floor instantly, with just strength left to cry
out 'Charlie Charlie r as heard by Mr..
Taintor. He was. it must be remembered,
man over sixty years of age. Now, the
pistol shots heard by Taintor were heard
after his name was thus called, and one or
more of them filled the interval between the
moment when he heard his name called and
the moment when he reached the door OF
the inner Office. He arrived there before all
were fired. If, as seems well nigh certain,
George Jewett called as he fell, the shots
were therefore fred while he was on the
floor, his life fastening away by the open
mouths of the branches Of that large
| vessel which is a continuation of the
| femoral artery Did he in that instant
| Of impending dissolution fire four shots
at his nephew? If it be deemed
possible, in view of his probable condition,
physically and mentally, that he could in
that moment have fired any shots at all, it
must be recognized that he could not have
| inflicted the wounds found on the body of
Orville Jewett, unless Orville's body was
presented to him in the attitude of person
throwing handsprings, with his feet in the
air. If it be thought possible that Orville
Jewett could have leaned over his dying
uncle in such way as to put his body in
the necessary position to receive from one
on the floor the wounds found it must, to
sustain that view, be also supposed that the
man thus shot at did not start away at the
first fire. but held himself in the same po-
sition to receive at nearly the same point
four successive loads. This is not likely
act for either the sane or the insane
| 1t is therefore as nearly as may be i'm
possible that George Jewett fired any
pistol. Did Mr. Dean fire any? At the
moment of the explosion Mr.. Dean was
| seated at his desk writing. This is his
own statement; but it is also proved by
his wounds; for missile must be pro-
jected from point to the left of man and
a little behind him to wound his left leg
and his right arm at the angle at which
Dean is wounded. Even in that position it
would be impossible for the wounds to be
| given rs they are if the man sat in an ordi-
nary attitude; but if the attitude of writing
with the right arm little extended on the
desk be assumed they become possible 1t
is further pretty clear that Dean fed from
the scene instantly, and with that instinc-
tive haste that gets to a safe place first
and reflects upon the reasons atterward
and he got himself out OF range so effect
ively that all persons in the middle office
agree that the very first fact following the
explosion was the appearance of Dean stag
gering out of the door of the inner office.
Now the janitor's wife, who started from up
stairs at the moment of the explosion, heard
the pistol shots Of the small pistol-the
only one whose use is in doubt-while she
was on the stairs. 1t is not likely that this
woman went further in the same time than
/ Dean did; for though he was hurt he was
impelled by more energetic motive, and
thus when the shots were fired he must at
least have crossed the Office. If he fred
them he fired them from near the door of
the middle Office and then turned and i'm
mediately passed ont Of that Office and
was helped down stairs. BY whom,
then, and by what process OF legerde-
main was the pistol which he must have
had in his hand while at the doorway
found between the bodies of the two Jewetts
only minute later? But Dean, it appears
is known to be quiet person, incapable of
the act supposed, and one who, if ever
forced to fire shot in any circumstances,
would be the first to make il known In