The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-07
SEVERIO SILENT.
He Declines to Discuss the
Shooting.
ABOUT GRISSELL'S PAST.
A Former Partner Tells of Trcnsac-
tons With fiim-The Widow'so
Statement-Th Inquest.

shot and killed George GrlSSell IN the
Metropolitan Match Factory on Saturday
night, held a sort of levee at the City
Prison. He was scarcely in his cell at all,
but had to bear the ordeal of standing at
the iron grating at the entrance to the
prison and talk sometimes to one man.
sometimes to two or three, ana once or
twice to about dozen men and women,
all sympathiZlng with him in his unenv-
able position. Some of them were EN-.
ployes of the factory and others personal
friends.
Among the visitors was AID. BeShoTman,
carpel-layer. 131 Grove street. The dead
man was interested in a carpet beating
machine. and Besnorman has also SIM
liar machine. BeshOIman sad yesterday
that Grissell came to him in 1884 with
carpet-Sewing machine, but without any
money.
"He told me all about the machine" cou-
tinued Brshorman, land what cnuld be
done with it. l employed him at S25 per
week salary to perfec, /. Finally It went
along trstrate aud got so that ii could sew
carpets, but not SO perfect as could be
wished.
Then Grissel began to borrow money
from me besides getting his regular sal ry
till he had got from $1,000 to $780, About
that time my money gave Ou:, and after
consulting " 18th Grssell we took in part
ner whom gave half undivided interest
In the machine"
He then went on to say that Grissell
and the new partner told him the machine
was failure, and that three weeks later
he learned that the two had perfected the
machine and taken out patent on 1t in
GrisSelPs name. He claimed that while
Grlssell was working for him and drawing
So a week, he was working for other
parties and drawing pay from them. lie
said further that Grissel was Quarrelsome
and oyerbearing, and that on several Occa-
sions he threatened to kill him unless he
made reparatiOn.
La conclusion he said: HE was won
derfuly smart man and was the best
machiuist | had ever known.
"Grissell and his partner made between
$50, 900 and SAC, 900 out of the machines"
Severio positively refused to talk for
publication yesterday. He said the Case
was in tie hands of his lawyers. COBB &
Leat1er, and the facts would come out at
the proper time. lie was quite composed
yesterday and did not seem in the least
dlstur bed over the tragic affair. GriSselPs
widow. accompanied by her mother and
brother. visited the Morgue yesterday
morning. She begged to see the body of
her husband, but as it was in the autopsy
room her request could not be complied
with. When she was told this she burst
into tears and was led away crying bit
terly. After the autopsy was made the
body was removed to an undertaker's
establishment.
found three bullets in the body and a
splntered portion of another bullet. One
bullet had entered about four inches above
the Dipple and two inches to the left, had
ranged down aud pierced the left lung,
the aOrta of the heart aud the middle pOr-
%ha rtzvhk Ht,,o IL
dealh. Another bullet, which would have
also caused death. entered about three
inches to the left of the nipple and one
inch below 1t. Another entered the left
arm and came out at the other side, then it
passed along and abraded the abdomen
about an inch above the lower bOrdrr of
the breastbone and lodged in the right
hand pocket of the deceased's vest. The
fourth entered the lower jaw and pierced
the mouth and tongue, being spintered
through contact with the jaw.
Five bullets were fired. and the fifth is
account ted for by bullethoe in the de-
eaSed'S hat.
Third Regiment, of which he is surgeon,
Frank Gray, Justice of the Peace, will
hold an inquest on the body this morning
at II o'clock.
Mrs. Grsell, the widow of the victim of
yesterdays tragedy, is discOns0late over
her great loss and can barely speak ofthe
occurrence. She knows nothing of its d.
rect cause, but presumes it arose over an
adjustm Of the mems rights to the ma
chInery. Amid sobs and tears she said:
My husband was genius and has in
vented a great many useful mechanical
appliances, among which were several re-
lating to the matchmaking industry.
A bout four years ago he formed semi
partnership with Severio and they began
series of experiments or labOr.saving ma
cbinery. The result of their cooperation
was that they perfected several very val
liable machines and upon each a patent
was procured in their juint name. Direct
sales of the inventions and subsequent
royalties have brought considerable sum
chanic of the firm, while my husband
furnished the ideas and practical
suggestions. He made the fatal mis-.
take of allowing Severio to acquire
any interest in his inventions and
it is solely to this source that the terrible
happening can be attributed. Severio in
sisted upon having more than his share of
the honor and income of the inventions,
and finally they az I'd to submit the en-
tire matter to .Wyer and have him
arbitrate and adjust their respective
rights. The lawyer and my husband and
Severlo reached an agreement short time
ago, and since then they have been en-
i
must have been that Severio demanded
100 much in the settlement, seeing that
he was going to lose the benefit of nv
husbands genius l know that my hus-
band was liberal with him, and he gave
him excellent pay for all the aid he ever
lent. l would have advised my husband
to give him all rather than have them even
quarrel, and L bitterly regret that did not
do so. When my husband refused 10 part
with bis interests this desperate man
shot him, and in the fulness of his awful |
deed he con inued to shoot after he had
inflicted several mortal wounds. On, it is |
too tt BILE" and the heart-broken little |
woman gave vent TO a torrent of tears. |
Regaining her cOmpnsure, she con-
tInued: my husband has invented
many other appliances, among them
being carpet beating machine
that does superior work. At the
time of his death he was the president of
company that operates a carpet-beating
establishment in Oakland. His rights are
all secured by patent and are very val |
liable. AS the men were alone when the
shooting occurred. / cannot tell lust what
feature of the final settlement was in prog
ress when Severio shot down nv poor
husband"
AcouaIntances OF Seyerio and Grissell
are inclined to believe that Grissell was
the transgressor. They allege that he was
Ihf