New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-13
ORVILLE d. JEWETTvS CRIME.
A VERDICT OF SUICIDE.


JRwETr MAJOR BARRETT, AND OTHERS.
The Jewett inquest was continued yesterday
before Coroner Elinger The first witness was Charles
Taintor who said interested in the oil branch OF
the business John Jewett Sons at No 1s2 FrontsI
George w. Jewett my father-in-aw nave Deeh IN
the business about 10 years. At first was employed
at salary The books of the oil branch OF the business
have always kept separate from those OF the lead
business. On the day before the explosion was IN
formed that one-fOurth Of tine interest OF George v"
Jewett III the lead business to be transferred TO me-
and that this would date from Jan. l, 1877, Out
that my name would not appear III 'ne
title which was to be continued as pelore-
John Jewett Sons OrvIlle ID. Jewett was Irregular !"
his attendance the Office, frequently being absent io
two or three days cousccutyey and this prevented ne
firm from assigning TO him any particular duties that
xoud ,eouire constant attention. This has been the
case for the last four five years. On the day OF the
EXPLOSION reached Office about 10 O'Clock In COM
pany with George w. Jewett, with whom i've. Joseph
A. Dean Charles ii. Jewett Mr.. Powers, ana orVlne ~
Jewett we're in the office when we arrived Invent
at once TO nv desk which is near the partition dividing
the middle and rear Offices Charles Pollock and Arthur
Dean also occupy in the middle ROOM About ten
minutes after | sat down at my desk Mr.. Powers
came out Of the office and went OUT
accompanied by Mr. Dean. few minutes later MT.
Dean returned the Office, leaving memorandum
at my desk Us he passed. was reading some letters
when suddenly Mr.. Dean appeared In the doorway ana
staggered past me into the middle heard no ex
posion but saw cloud Of smoke coming from the rear
Office At the time George W. Jewett called OUT
Charlie, Charlie" sprang from my seat, and as
opened the door heard four five reports as though
pistol had discharged pidy possible AS the
smoke lifted that George W. and orvle d. Je"et'
Law upon the floor OF the office. Both were Oh thcir
backs fireman rushed past me- and Selling George W.
Jewett carried him into the middle room He was then
,ty daad alive and grOancd lie
lifted
That Oryile D. Jewett had not been III a normal state
of mind for time previous TO the explosion WAS
quite evident his actions and movements lie
would the Office and slam the door after hlhl lie
would throw himself into chair without removing his
hat or coat and few minutes would jump up and 20
out banging the door behind him and not having spoken
to ANYBODY even reply TO the courteous salutaons
offered by his relatives and partners. warned MI.
Dean 10 out for him, because he seemed 10 nave
more dealings with Oryile and Orviles feelings
especially directed toward him. Orvlle was most friendly
with Charles II. Jewett. know that Oryie carried
pto nave seen the butt Of pistol prorudns from
Ills pocket cannot account Tor the Tact that did not
hear the explosion OF that haudgrenade l was very
busy at the moment. Orye had not been intrrsied
with any special line duy in connection with the bis
ness OF the firm George W. Jewctt frequently said that
lie could depend upon his judgment III matters OF I'M
portaLce.
James w. Sc!lcck OF orange " d., testlicu' h''c
been the general boOkkceper for the firm OF John Jcweu
& Sons for Il years past. The books include both the
OIL and the lead business. On the morning OF April
last reached the Office the usual hour. Charles H.
Iewet and Joseph A. Dean were III the rear once, ana
Gus oiner named Powers heard the xrosion aud I'M
mediaely afterward saw Mr. Dean advancing lhto the
middle Office where was at work supposed that the
heater had exploded and FASTENED 10 60 down stairs Al
the bottom the stairs l met our men who work
down there. They asked what had exploded up
stairs was astOnshcd and replied that thought that
the trouble below. As splang back upstairs
saw Mr. Dean. pak and trembling lie seemed about to
fall | threw my arms around him, aud supported him
to chair near by. did not hear any pistol shots, and
knew Of no differences that existed between Orye ID.
Jswett and the other members Of the firm Ii is true
that Orve has appeared very strangely for the past
three months lie always had TO the books kept
By me.
Charles H. Jewett OF No. IL MonrOep,ace Brooklyn,
testified: When first became member Of the lrm of
John Jewctt sons the other partners were John jew
EFT jr, benjamin f. scaver, aud George W. JeWctt Or
willie d. Jewes interest began in 1868 There had been
trouble brewing time but the first decided out
break that determined dissolution Of the coarnership
WAS in November last Orviile George, and were in
the habit Of going to dinner about o'clock every day.
One day in November last had been dining usual,
and arose before the others for other
and went back TO the Office alone. Later George said to
Charlie OrNllIC mas must
toward me to-day | have put up with his
ecccntricitics and abuse as long IA
can cannot go in this way any
longer" l tried to demonstrate with Oryille. He
answered: "Wcll am bound to have my rights. But
on need not afraid. You all right" Orvie COM
MANNED that the business ought to be pushed to greater
extent and accused the senior partners who managed
the firm as being too conservative lie also founc fant
because e was consulted when important purchases
"a m regard cXDpii-
eucy of this or that movement II his advice asked
he had any suggestions TO make and the facled
neglect was only morbid creation OF his own
mind George declared that he could not continue the
business present after jan l. 1871 and announced
this date as tie time set for dissolution OF the
coparnciship few days aitcrward Orvilio said that
he visited to go away for two weeks Understanding.
George consented to his ABSENCE ana asked me whether
he had better announce the intention TO dissolve the
partnership before lie went away. advised George n0t
tTip might not he spoiled II got to he the middle OF
January, 1877 andnOting definite bad been asreed TO-
/ went Orve and asked him II ne d.d not wish 10
make proposition whereby he and should buy out
the partners and continue the business as before
lie gave me no satisfaction, but repeatedly sad Don't
be afraid. IL VIII he all right Aer tlat lie becalhe
surn ard mcrOse, making himself a. dsagfceae as pos
sibc. We made the rule never 10 smoke III our olce
this Orylc would come IN, set down Win MS coat
and put his feet up on one OF the desks smoke
violently until the rooms were hlied, ana drum WIN ms
fingers. whistle. and make himself ~ ANNOYING as lie
could. On Feb letter was written To OrHle asking
him 10 y out The Others sell his interest in the husl
ness Oivile considered this matter for month and
and under the ADVICE COUNSEL ana Ilchuh,
on March - sent acceptance, agreeing To take SO
much for interest he possessed and nam
ing Che terms OF pay We all believed tHai all the
difficulties we're settled amicably, and that there
would bc trouble
OF the morning OF the explosion arrived first, opened
the letters and handed several orders 10 Mr. Pollock.
r PONcIs OF our Customers, Ecn Gale ana soon
acrwdrd Joseph \. Dean arrived Orvillc came IN
atelSald wearing his la: and coat and shook hands
with Mr. Powers Ia few mlnuics George came In aud
went TO his desk believed that every thing having been
alnicaby settled and II O'clock that day appointed
as time when were TO meet at the office OF sydney
f. KaWson at No. "a Wd.st.. Ory lie perhaps had called
10 say few words TO Mr. Dean asked George whether
he had any orders for the factory, aud then went out 10
give O!yiIc q chance to talk freely.