Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-12
A Sunday shooting.

tKs St. John Street Family
 Troubles Said 60 be 1he Cause of the
 Difflcuity-The W0uld-5e Murderer
 Delivers Himself Up.
 About noon yesterday people living on St. John street. in the vicinity of Jefferson street, were startled by information that Q man by the name of Melvin D. Curtis, living at No. 103 St. John street, had been shot by Robert W. Jerolman. An investigation revealed the fact that Jerolman went to the residence of Curtis, and passing around to the back door knocked for admission. MT. Curtis came to the door, when few words passed between the two men. Jerolman then drew revolver and taking deliberate aim shot Curtis in the abdomen. He then walked around the house and into the street, stopping on the sidewalk James 4. De Blois, freight conductor, was passing at the time, when Jeroiman stopped him and said 'I have shot man in this house and I wish you would go and see if he is dead, and then go with me to tho station house, as want to give myself up." MT. De Blois started to go into the house, when Cur tis raised the window and said: "That man has shot me; please arrest him and call phy- sician as quick as you can" Jerolman said he was perfectly willing to go to the station house and Mr. De Blois started with his pris- oner. On the way he stopped at Dr. Lin quist's office and told what had happened. The doctor hastened to attend the wounded man and De BIois and Jerolman proceeded to the station house. On arriving there he told the officer in charge that he had shot man and desired to give himself up. Before being locked up he was searched and in his pocket was found small seyen-shooter of the New York Pistol Company's make, one of the chambers being empty and the others loaded. Dr. Linquist, on reaching the home of the wounded man, found that the ball had entered the abdomen about two inches above and to | the right of the navel. Desiring to consult \ with another surgeon before probing, Dr. | Cheney was sent for, and on his arrival the | doctors made an examination with the probe, | bat without finding the ball. The examination was not very thorough, as it was thought | the probing if carried too far might ' tend to excite inflammation which it was nec essary to avoid or if possible prevent in order | to save the life of the patient. Of course it was impossible to tell whether the ball had passed through the peritoneum, but if SO, the
 
 it otherwise would be, although cases are known where such wounds have been made and the patient has entirely recovered.
 We now come to the causes which led to
 this unhappy affair. From MT. c. l.. Com- | stock, brother-in-law of Jerolman, we learn that about year and half ago, while the
 latter was living in Fair Haven, Curtis, who
 then kept store on East Grand street, neal | the horse car stables, became acquainted with Jerolman's wife, and the acquaintance
 ripened into an intimacy that at las
 excited the suspicious of Jerolmar
 and he finally accused his wife ot
 inconsistency. He says that Curtis contin.
 ued his visits secretly to Jerolmsn's house.
 and finally they moved away, going to a house
 on Blake street in the vicinity of Westville
 The trouble did not end here. Jerolman anG
 his wife continued to live unhappily, and ont \ evening in November. last when Jerolman re
 turned to his home from his daily toll, he
 found that she had left his bed and board
 taking with her the best portion of th'
 household goods. From that time his reason
 appeared to give way, and word was sent tt
 Mr. Comstock that Jezolmnu was very sick
 He hastened to Jerolman's house and found
 him raving like madman. Help was ob
 tained and he was taken to MT. Comstock'
 house, No. 385 Congress avenue, where h.
 has since boarded. About two weeks ag'
 Jerolman went to the rubber shop, where h.
 had been employed, and asked to be set t. | work but the superintendent thought that he
 acted strangely and advised him to wait few
 days. On Saturday night when Mir. Com
 stock reached home, Jerolman was not there
 but he came in late and remained at hom
 during the evening A lady friend called and JerolGan in an incoherent way told tn lady of his troubles, but not fully under standing what he was talking about the othe members of the family explained to her wha he referred to. He retired about o'clock and got up about 8 in tn
 morning saying that he had not slept any dur ing the night. After breakfast he remarke' ' | that he guessed he would go to church, am
 Mrs. Comstock advised him to go to Wesle
 chapel on Davenport avenue. He repie
 that he thought he would go down town
 church, andleft for this purpose, as the famil supposed. Nothing more was heard of hin
 until they were informed of the sad affair re F lated above.
 Dr. F. J. Whittemore, who has been Jerol mans attending physician since last Novem , ber, when symptoms of insanity first appeared says he has no doubt but what the unfortunat man was insane, and that his mind has beel in a diseased state for many weeks. Tn ! maiden name of Jerolman's wife was Perkins
 and it is said that she is at present living witt
 her father near filings mills, in the town o Orange.
 It is said that on the return of Mir. Curtis y | family from church his father-in-law said t him, calling him by name: 'FYou are, to al appearances, soon to enter into the presenc of your Maker, and want you to tell me you have ever taken undue liberties with Mrs , Jerolman." Curtis replied, 1T have not Curtis says that Jerolman endeavored to e1tor ! money from him yesterday, which being re 3 fused the shot was fired. Jerolman denie
 asking for money. Curtis formerly kept
 grocery store at the corner of State and Bisho]
 streets, and from there went to Fair Haven He has not been in any business of late. H has 8 wife and two children and lives with hi
 father-in-law on St. John street, where the un : fortunate affair occurred. After Jerolmal
 was locked up he refused to converse wit . any one upon the subject of the shooting. Fl said he was sorry that Curtis did not shoo him in return and kill him, and that woul have ended it.