The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-07
FOUR SHOTS HEARD AFTER THE SHELL.
Taintor'S Story as He Tells 1t and as
It Is Told for Him.
The Hand Grenade Ten Days in Orvi|e's
Desk-Where He Got It.
SORROW AT PORT RICHMOND
At the Homes Of The Jewetts-ArrangementS
for the Funerals.

Tho horrors or the Burling slip tragedy to
cumulate the details OF the terrible affair devel
oped Al first the impression received was that Orvc
Jewott in At of insanity sought to compass tho de-
structon OF his uncle, George W. Jowott, and Joseph
A. Doan, his business associate and rival, by OK
plodipg the hand grenade, ana then destroyed
himself to escape the consequences Of his
awful crime. But theory even moro startling
was broachod yesterday by Captain Petty and othors
who had closely investigated the circumstances OF tho
case, that Mr. Dean shot and killed the insane
nsnd in selfprotecton just the latter discharged
his navy revolver into his own body Whether this
theory DO true or not-and If it Is of Mr. Dean
appears to Fave justified IN what he did-it
was held yesterday in well Informed quarters. Tho
statement OF Mr. Charles Tantor TO HERALD reporter
would partly boar out this theory, for he states
that counted four successive reports after the first
explosion before he entered the where the
tragedy was enacted. The further statement by Mr..
Deans relatives that Mr.. Taintor OrvilIe lying
the body OF George w. aud pressing the four
barrecd revolver against his breast docs not appear
what Mr. Taintor said yesterday that the mysti.
1cnton becomes all the greater.
Othor officials believed that the first vorson-that OF
murderous explosion and subsequent DO
still proven to be the correct The truth pre-
vail, however, careful inquiry Is being madc and
whatever now remains in mystery must soon be
brought to light The most important questions to be
settled for iu understanding OF the these -
First-Where Orvle Jewett obtained the shell or
band grenade which he used for the execution Of his
dread purpose and II any one shares the crlmnalty
OF his act by having allowed TO remain In the hands
OF q confcssedly demented man.
Seeoad-whether the small sharps revolver, the
four bullets Of which empted into Jewetts body,
belonged to Deaa, and whether Dean. BIO 1t in self
protection or not fred these smaller balls found upon
the post-mortem examination.
Neutrality-suspicious. seems scarcely possible
h0wever-Orville fred all the balls found his body
atheory which presupposes that he must have used
both the navy and the Householder for the suicidal
climax Of the drama
SUPERINTENDENT wALLINGs THEORY.
1t is the theory OF Superintendent Walng that
Orville D. Jewett shot by Mr. J. A. Dean afor tho
former had thrown tho hand grenade. Tho
scene enacted, according to this theory,
might be thus descrbod:-Orville and his
uncle, George, were engaged in q discussion
which was not taken part in BY Mr.. Dean, who sat
writing at his desk. In paroxysm of anger Orve
cast the hand grenade upon tho floor. II exploded,
nortay wounding George, the UNCLE fnjuring the rash
man himself and seriously hurting Mr.. Dean. This
gentleman seeing the fearful consequences Orviles
act, and, smarting with pain and indig-
nation, pulled tho Sharp's revolver, which 1t
is believed belonged to him, and discharged
tho four chambers at Orvilc. He had sunk to tho
floor in q sitting posture, and as Mr. Dean fred from
standing position, the OF the balls naturally
downward and backward, disclosed by tho post
mortem II is further thought probable that no
the larger pistol also and discharged shot at the
fallen mailman, He then flow TO the door already
described. Tho Superintendent did not think it
ary to put detective on the case.
CAPTAIN PETTy's THEORY.
Captain Petty's theory was that Orv.llo threw the
hail in nrdo frr n,
threatened expulsion from firm AS as he had
thrown the shell he his navy revolver which de-
pended from his belt in holster in order to shoot
himself; that Deans arm being struck by the shell
The latter turned TO Orvie, in whose hands no
oened tho revolver. and fearing that the
l.sane man meant 70 kiiI them all, indis
"a iour-shooter and in his terror discharged its
tents Orvlc This accounted for the smaller wounds
the pit OF his stomach. They jagged, and
identity produced by the smaller pistol, while the navy
revolver ball nad produced larger and clean cut
the small Householder belonged to Mr. Dean and not TO
Orvillc.
NIX JOSEPH BEysEL's STATEMENT.
The above views, which II not necessary either 10
Endorse reject the present stage OF the case and
s,nguarly accord with the statement OF Mr. Joseph
Bensel, one OF the noighbors, who rendered valuable
assistance mmedinteiv alter inc explosion Mr..
out by oil the friends OF tho Jewett family
(who desire to hush up so unpleasant an altar
sion accidental. He believed that Orvilles con-
duct before the calamity indicated that some strange
purpose had possessed his mind HIS grim urnity
upon entering his~ofce and his omission recognize
the clerks, the early hour OF his nrst appear
anco IN the ONCE, his keeping his Overcoa,
the grcnadc--all these circumstances pointed at
something strange and out OF tho ordinary. run
OF things. II was very unusual event Tor Orvle TO
appear Office before any OF his associates But
what more conclusive than anything else on this
point was Orville's conduct alter the affair, which
K
poson Whenever nc lMr. Benscll would question
orville as TO his pains no would Obtain q
touched upon the origin Of the affair no
reply could be got Orville would shut his
eyes and give reply His mind perfectly Clear
Mr.. Bcnscl sa,d and IL he was mad there was such
method his that he carried out his purpose
reveal the truth with clever pcrsistcncy MT
Bensel described the conversation between him and
Orvilc with vivid realism. Orvie WAS sitting upright
and would probably have breathcd hs last N i've mn
but Mr.. Bcnsel made him reclinc and ordered some
brandy. The dying man then SAID, quite clearly ana
with manifest self posscssion -
"You'll find some brandy IN my pocket"
tAnd regarding this as incidental confirmation OF
hts theory Dir. Bcnsel here exclaimed. You SEQ no
actually even provided with the brandy Tor tho
accident, and noticed, by the way that the cork IN
Then Mr. BonseI began asking orvie as to the cause
OF the explosion.
"was II accidentally" he asked.
Tho dying man shut his eyes. seemed to hesitate,
know"
.'was an accidcntY' was tho next question.
The dying looked at HIM with ST. angc, steady
expression, closed his eyes again, aud, alter few mo-
mcnts' apparent hesitation, mumblcd "Ycs.n
''Wcre you sholYp
OrvilIo made no reply to this query, although very
peculiar expression stoo white deaihy face
Aud now Mr.. Bcnscl seeing that Orville would not
unlock tho mystery, reverted to his condition. and no
immcd oily got a reply.
.'Whcrc DO you feel the worst pain ~
The reply was prompt, "In my heart"
Blu, now came another question, again destined to
remain unanswcrcd:-
''Wcre you snot In the heart 20
No answer TO this. but only moaning reply, ooh,
myl"
An this proved TO Mr.. Benscis mind not only that
the explosion not accidental but that OrvIio had
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