The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-08
Conflicting Theories Of the Friends OF the
Dead and the Authorities.
THE coRoNER'S INVESTIGATION.
Funeral Of Mr.. George W. Jewett at Port
Richmond Yesterday.

Orvilc Jcwett died selfin1ctcd. the friends
OF the interested parties still maintain tho theory OF
suicide Tho latter notion that which IS also more
generally adopted by tho public large who have not
closely analysed every minute detail IN the case
and only Judge II from their drst-reccved i'm
pressions II may be said that the con-
tinuous discussion of tho horrible mystery
a over the city yesterday busted itself with this by
pothetica query :"What Is the more probable expla
nationhat orvillo Jcwett could lodge i've successive
bullets his body using two different pistols for the
purpose that man, after receiving tho shock OF the
explosion could have strength and GOODNESS enough to
Are q. the grenade end? THIS seemed to be the alter
presented, and, before stated, the majority OF
people inclined TO the notion Of suicide. The HERALD,
embracing neither theory and only anxious for the
irutn both VERSIONS through its reporters
yesterday and give both fair and equal consideration
It was urged on the one hand, that Orvle Jewett's
physical ability to fire five shots at himself could be
clearly inferred from the fact that oven with the five
bullets In his body he possessed strength enough to
lead glass OF brandy to his lips but this circumstan
tia corroboraton IS by the testimony of one Of
Inc police officers that he had to assist Orville in the
act Of raising the glass to his lips Conhrmatory or
this version the statements OF Mr. Taintor who
even prelcnds to have the Of suicide and Of
othcr friends of the firm who declare that Mr. Dean
never carried pistol that he remained after the ex
ploson at the window for twenty seconds, &C. On the
pther hand we have the striking OF the pistol
balls which the Coroners and police declare TO DO IN
compatible with self MURDER and otner circumstances
Of greater less significance AS TO Mr. Dean
having remained seated Mt his desk without apparent
motion aier the explosion the following is Of INTEREST,"
MR.. GEORGE A. THAYER's STORY.
Mr. George A. Thayer, Of Campbell Thayer inseed
oil manufacturers, in Maiden lane, ? iriend Oh me
Jcwett firm, is positive IN his belief that Mr. Dean did
not shoot Orve but that the latter himself discharged
all the Ave bullets lotnd IN his body. Mr. Thayer, IN
support this belief tells this story:He was just on
his way 10 the Office OF Jewett Co. when the expo
sion occurred Coming up the other side OF Burling
slip he noticed Mr.. Dean at the desk at the window,
this desk being so constructed that observer
from the other side could easily soc it's occupant Mr.
Deans position that OF man engaged IN the act
OF writing Mr. Thayer suddenly heard the explosion,
which startled HIM and rooted him to tho spot for n
few seconds. Looking up at tho window he saw tho
smoke issue, could still see Mr.. Deans
figure at his desk. How long Mr.. Dean remained
in that attitude Mr. Thayer could not say exactly MI
Thayer then rushed over the Office and met Mr.
Dean the head of the stairs PALE GREATNESS and ex
cited He believed that Mr. Dean had just time to run
from his desk that spot and no moro, and that no
could not have had shoot Orvile. He asked
Mr. Dean, whats the matter ~ but tho latter gave no
reply Both went down then to the porers lit
tie lodge, where Mr. Thayer repeated the query, and
Mr.. Dean who had while collected his scattered
senses, said, II believe I've got q crazy partner up
stairs MIR Thaycr was convinced that when he
him from other side OF Burng sl;p at his desk he
must have stunned Tor he seemed motionless ut
the time, and botn for that reason ana the lack Oh me
Mr.. Dean could not have shot Orville. But how long
does It take to discharge the contents OF four
shooterD
Another story OF the same import was told by the
clerk OF Mr.. Edward HILL whose oilco Is opposite that
OF the Jcwetts, ana VINO. from his window could COM
mand the window at which Mr.. Dean was seated THIS
clerk ar ms that for about twenty seconds after tho
explosion he could Mr.. Deans figure AT his desk
Mr. Hill himself rushed to the scene OF tho
tragedy in the midst OF writing a check and there
met Mr. Dean outside the office Mr. Hill asked him
what was tho matter and he replied-"I believe he
wanted to blow up all OF us. !"
Now what does this amount tor The space OF time
required for the discharge Of small iour-shooter Is
loo regard tho above detailed stories OF much
Tho hnnEk Ia
CIared that no nad never known Mr.. Dean to carry
pistol, and he also adds his opinion 10 those already
gwen for believing that the shots could not have been
fred by Mr. Dean as iollows:-
sILLEcK's ALLEGED PROOF
the floor beneath the Office where the tragedy
occurred when the explosion took place. and not know
ing exactly where the sound came lrom ran to the
door, and looking out INTO Inc street, saw dne glass
located blown in fragments to the sidewalk and a
volume oil smoke rushing out OF the window. imme-
diately ran up stairs, and as | going up met
the other clerks OF tho oihcc rushing down. One
of them, really don't know which, halted and
assisted Mr. Dean to the loot OF the stairs. Some
asked Mr. Dean II any one else was IN the
office and he replied Yes, George Jewctt is there
then ran 10 tho top the stairs where fireman joined
me- lille was looking round he rushed into the room.
which Oiled with smoke and SCOT that when
followed him It was a little difficult look through
IT, | saw however, George w. Jcwett lying on his
back, with his feet toward the nreplacc and Orvlc
lying In kind OF halfway sitting posture his shout
ders resting across George Jcwetts breast Both
writing terribly, and one Of them was moan
Ing. When was going up the stairs heard what is
the discharge OF the navy revolver did not hear
any OF the shots from the small Sharp's pistol At
the time heard the second loud shot or explosion,
which believe to have been the navy revolver shot,
Mr. Dean was at the foot Of the stars aud IL is there
fore be certain that the theory that h0
could have fired that shot is Incorrect"
THE OTHER SIDE
A gentleman whose place OF business Is near the
scene OF the tragedy did doubt that the story Of
suicide absurd. "a man who intended 10 commit
suicide would not have held pistol with the
above his fncc and pointed II at his stomach. THIS
was opinion expressed by other neighDors also.
Tho conjecturcs OF THIS gentleman this connection
are interesting, he believes that there death
struggle, and that Orville held while the bullets
were fred into his body; but 1t is admitted on all
eidos that the time which elapsed from the OF
the explosion until Mr.. Dean was outside the Office
was far snort to have admitted OF such combat
TAINToR
Mr.. Tantor, who suddenly turned up with his
story that no had witnessed the act OF suicide
sought the residence OF the late George w. Jewct,
whose son. in-aw he Is. Mr. Taintor and the rest OF
the family IN the upper part OF tho house In
strictly private secuson, and he could not be seem IL
was stated nj the house, however, that Mr. Tantor adj
hcrcd TO story given IN the HERALD OF yester
day, and which the coroners and police seem TO onan
mousIy discrcdit
Yesterday morning Coroner Einger continued
prosecute his inquiries inio the circumstances Of the
whom be expected 10 CLEAN information bearing on tho
case, and succeeded in discovering couple oil men
whose testimony, though trivial IN itsci VIII serve TO
form a INK IN the chain OF evidence that may
ultimately connect the dark deed with its per-
pctrator and assign TO each actor in the
iragic scene the part he filed one OF these
chauccd TO be opposite the establishments OF the
Iewetts al the time OF the exposlon aud he states
that at the of the FIRST 1ad report ne glanced
Mt ib. pac. aud Mr. Dean. WAC was sitting at his
desk, throw up his hands convuisvey. another per.
son stated that he reached tho Office just alter the
occu rrcnce and saw Mr. TaiDtor coming out Coroner
Etlngcr gathered some additional testimony OF less
,nnortaucc and in afternoon visited Mr.. Dean AZ
ms house 10 Waverley place His condition was
but little changed and bis physicians judged
mat he IS not yet sufficiently recovered TO make any
cxpIiclt abatement OF how the explosion occurred
al eyeuipg the Coroner stated that no Official action
,vhatevcr had been In the case 80 far as mp-
eating any one with criminay was concerned ana he
said that all reports to the eject that warrants Of ar
rest had Issued or mad a. al recesea oucAi con-
sIdcrat,on were utterly unioundcd
ruyKRAL SERVICES OVER THE LA1E GEORGE ". JkwkrI
: Yesterday was "a day OF mourning Tor font hchmoha,
..ara ,hc residence ol the lato George W. Jewcu IS
s,.ualed the icrryhouscs and neghboring evenings