The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-06
MURDER OR MADNESS
Deadly Explosion in Front Street
Firms Office.
THE WORK OF A HAND GRENADE
George W. Jswstt and Orvllb D. JsWstt Killed,
Joseph A. Dean Wounded.
TERRIBLE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION
"A Dissolution Of Partnership
s.i, by Death.
! 80 -
-ORvILLE'S ARSENAL OF WEAPONS.
The Troubled Undercurrent of a
Prosperous Firm.
mo PREMONITION OF THE TRAGEDY.
Startling Stories by Those First on
the Scene.
Theories Of Lunaty, Homicide and Suicide
The CorOner's Examination.
ORvILLE'S ARSENAL OF WEAPONS.
The Troubled Undercurrent of a
Prosperous Firm.
10 PREMoSIYION OF THE TRAGEDY.
Startling Stories by Those First on
the Scene.
Theories Of Lunacy. Homicide and Suicide
The CorOners Examination.

"a
Tha act OF an insane man. IL IL claimed, brought
death and dissolution to OF the best known and
most respected firms down town yesterday. George
W. Jewett slain At his desk in hts private ONCE,
orvle D. Jewett, his nephew, fatally injured In
me same chamber, and died In lonely ward Of the
New York Hospital last evening, and Mr. Joseph A.
Dean was badly wounded vt the same time
These disasters occurred at halt-past ten A. ~.
1t No. 1872 Front street, the private office on the
second door, above the store warehouse OF John
Jewett Sons, manufacturers OF white lead and lin
seed Gil, Tho immediate cause Of the calamity the
explosion OF large sizcd hand gtenade believed
have been thrown upon the floor by Orvile D. Jeweit
In ~ OF temporary insanity, for which
could be assigned other than dissatisfaction being
compelled TO withdraw from the nrm. Thus OF tho
lour partners George W. Jewett, Joseph A. Dean
Charles Jewett and Orvilc d. Jewctt, all OF whom
were in most excellent health yesterday morning.
the first and last were in eternity by sundown
The place was opened usual yesterday morning,
ana Noses Ise, employee saw Orville D. Jewett,
who lived in Orange, N. j. in and 60 up stairs
~ hali-past ognt O'Clock, unusually early hour
him. He wore heavy Ulster overcoat, which he did
DOT take OF before the calamity. The clerks Messrs
y. W. Silleck, Charles Taintor, Charles Pollock
and Arthur Dean, Joseph A. Deans son, ar.
rived duo timc and sat down to busi-
ness. Aner them and before ten O'Clock
came tho other members OF tho firm, who
exchanged tho customary greetings and betook them
solves 10 their regular daily advocations George w.
Jcwett and Mr. Doan ut their desks roar or
senior partners ONCE Mr.. Charles Jcwett in
front Office looking The houses correspondence
and Orvs rcstlessly roaming about the premises
First he ONCE then no went upstairs.
again no returned and took some papers OF
his desk In the front ofice but no woro
bis overcOat all tho time. The Two seniors
George W. Jcwett and MIR. Dean were quietly attending
to thor business In the rear oice Mr. Dean sat At
his desk, which laced tho open door leading 20 the
middle Office and overlooked the clerks DESKS which
ranged In direct line between tho front and
Offices the Burning slip side. @. W. Jcwett's desk
was inside the door opening into the middle Office
anu that gentleman was sitting ut Il with his back
TO the Gre place tho left Of Mr.. Dean. II
Is thought that they had had some conversa-
lion concerning the proposed sale Of Orvillo's
share In the nrm, which to havo boen perfected
eleven A. n. yesterday. Nj. Dean hnd agreed. Judge
Lathrop said 10 give Orvile $500 00O Tor his interest,"
and tho latter's attorney, j. N. Sutherland was to
bring the necessary papers for tho contamination or
the transaction before noon. About ten O'Clock
Charles Jcwctt came into the private office and CON-
muncalcd the result OF his perusal of the mornings
mail TO them and remained with tho two seniors u
did not bear anything unusual within. Two Of them
Of whom Arthur Dean was one, could Mr. Dean
wrng at his desk whenever thcy raised their heads
they saw Charles out anu j. w. SiIieck, the
cashier said that George W. accom- panied hin tho
front room for tow moments. and there they parted
never 10 meet again in HE Charles went. out, ana
Georgo w. returned along tho middle chamber 10 the
rear ONCE, where, according to Judge Lathrop, Mr.
Deans iathern-Iaw, Orviue D. had already preceded
him.
THE EXPLOSION
few moments after George w. Jewett returned to
the Office, aud while the clerks und cashiers eyes
were bent upon their iedgers, r,ghttu explosion
heard in the roar ofIice aud the place Tiled with
smoke Panic stricken, tho clcrKs leaped IRON their
DESKS and Mr. Slieck saw Mr.. Dean, ST., begrincd
and dazed, sla2ger the middle Office from the
door Of the rear 10 the head OF the stairway. Mr..
Sileck sprang TO hts assistance and helped him down
10 the warehouse In tho little Office OF which he was
placed upon lounge and Dr. Farrngton Of tho
House, sent Tor The other clerks did not know
which way to turn for tho momens. In fact, every
body too surprised ana upset to DO useful.
The nremcn Of Engine No. 80, who hoard the
explosion and saw the volume OF smoke burst
from the otico window. rushed across tho way
from their house, and two Of them, Assistant Foreman
Cook Henry Murray, dashed up the apart
nent The latter Just he crossed the threshold Of
tho Office heard unnher explosion, Ike The report
OF u small nrearm, but could see nothing stumbling
IN followed by officer 0nonne Of the First precinct,
who camo from tho Fulton Terry house, he saw
or rather struck against two bodies the floor,
In thnt part OF tho Mr. Deans
desk right before the fireplace. He seized that
nearest to him and dragged him into the middle
oliice AZ moved tho body left trail OF blood a
foot vide upon the 1oor trod SO firmly I've mnutos
before ny Mr. George W. Jewctl
DEAD MERCHANT
"ohl this dead" said Murray. as he glanced
into tho lace OF his burden. and he laid II down upon
the toor. This George W. Jcwctt lie expired
almost Immediately, aud carried INTO the
front Office looking upon Front street and laid
upon his back, his hands crossed upon his breast
and tied together with pocket handkerchief,
his shirt and undershirl were torn open,
his chest protector was pulled over his face and
back beneath the window and between the two desks
formerly used by tue junior partners Of the firm
Meanwhile tho 1rcmen aided by the
police officers, ODopuen aud sullivan, were
back In the rear oiice trying TO help Or
vile ID. Jewett, wno was also stretched upon tho
floor tho spot which George, his uncle had
boon found. The smoke had cleared or sufficiently TO
permit tho mon TO distinguish objects upon the floor
ana around the room. They found a largo navy
revolver near him, also small sized Sharps Jour.
barreed pislol and hunting kn,e One chamber
81 The navy revolver had been discharged and newly