The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-20
Tragedy Took Place at
81 Brown ST.
Jealousy and Drink Were the
Cause.

tsrday noon, William 0rewtr shot Mrs.
Jennie Lsgrow and taen himself, in the
house Of Edward e. Carleton at 81 Brown
street. Two shots had been fred from
a 32-oAlibre revolver, the first one strik-
ing Mrs. Legrow just above the left ear,
near the temple. and the second shot
striking Grswer In the right templs.
This was without any doubt case of
murder and suicide and the direct cause
was jealousy on ths part Of Grswer. who
had for several months been broodiug
over the thought that the woman with
whom he had been keeping company,
was going with another. Grewsr had
frequently OF late told some OF his int
mate friends that something terrible
would happen to Mrs, Legrow; and a
few days ago he had gone 80 far when
he had met the woman on the street as
to threaten that he would shoot her.
He told her that he had bought two re-
volvers for this sols purpose. These
threats of course greatly troubled the
woman. She had repeatedly explained
to Grower that she did not care for his
company any longer. But Grewer con-
tinued his attentions and persisted in
following her anu In other ways annoy
ing her. All day Wednesday Grswer was
very much under the influence of liquor.
He kept up his drinking Wednesday
night, and yesterday morning had reached
the condition of being crazy drunk. We'd
nesdsy afternoon ne had met n man on
Centre street whom be had known for
many years and said: ''If die tomor-
row, my mother, who is in Boston, will
see to 1t that you get paid for burying
me"
Yesterday morning seeing the condi
ton that the man was in and fearing
that he would really carry out his threats
against the woman, another man who
had been acquainted with Grswer and
his habits, concluded to notify the WON
an that 1t might be best for her to look
out for Grewer. Accordingly this man
wrote note to Mrs. Legrow and sent 1t
to her by messenger. The contents of
the note were to the effect that Grewer
was drunk, that che had better be care
ful and that she ought not TO receive
him. This note was delivered at about
8. 80 O'Clock in the forenoon.
The woman, 1t seems, did not take the
proper precaution and thus was heart
lessly murdered by Grewer, who then
turned about and completed the horror
by sending a bullet through his own
brain.
Mr.. Carleton. at whose house the aw-
full deed occurred, was the first person
to learn of thu affair. He went home
shorty before noon aud at once prepared
for dinner. just as he was about to sit
the two shots. The dining room is in
the Easement and Mir. Carleton rushed
upstairs, opsned tine door of the front
parlor. and there found the dead bodies
of Grewer ana Mrs. Lsgrow. They we're
lying about six feet apart from ona an
other. The woman was lying on her back
and Grewer was lying on bis right side.
Behind the man had been thrown the
revolver which all too plainly told the
story. About Grower aud Mrs. Legrow,
were pools of blood.
Quickly Mir. Carleton notified the po-
lice station and within a few ininutes
Deputy Marshal Firth arrived on the
scene. DR.. e. A. Fsssenden also arrived
and after examination of the bodies de-
cided that death must have been instan-
taneous In both cases.
The bodies were removed TO Rich's I'M
dertaking rooms on Exchange street.
Coroner Little1eld, who was called, took
charge Of the effects upon both Of the
bodies. On the. body of Grower was
found the sum of &c, while the woman
had the sum of 81 in her possession.
Both Grower and Mrs. Lsgrow
were well known In this city.
Grewsr was always known as
peaceable sort of man, except during
the last two or three years when ne
would go OF on occasional sprses.
Grower was native of Germany aud
was about Al years of age. He came to
Portland about Is years ago andEat his
business of caterer in which line he was
an adept. went to work for Flutsch, who
was the proprietor of a cafe ON Middle
street, near Monument square. After
work king here for q few years Flutsch
sold out to Grewer, who also bought and
conducted another cafe onCongress street,
near the corner of Brown street. 6rewer
conducted these two cafes for few years
and did an excellent business. He was
steady, Industrious. and some seven
years ago be was known to have squared
all of his accounts and to have aceumu-
lated the sum Of 5000. He brought q
summer residence at Prout's Neck from
Frank Libby, the proprietor of the
Jocelyn house, and paid sl4Oo for the
property. He was married and had two
little girls and boy. One OF the little
girls died five. sars ago.
1t WAC about half dozen years ago
that Grewer disposed Of his business.