Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-20
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A CoId-BIooded Murder and
Suicide at Portland.
VIM. Grewer Shoots Jennie Legrow Of
Whom He Was Jealous.
Then Sends Fatal Shot Through His
Own Brain.


street, in a house occupied by Z. l..
Carleton. there was a murder and sui
eide. shortly after noon, Thursday,
when William Grewer, formerly pro-
prietor of restaurant on Congress
street shot Mrs. Jennie +. Legrow in
the temple. instantly killing her.
Grewer then turned the revolver
upon himself and sent bullet into his
own temple. He died instantly and a
few moments later the bodies We're
found lying near together in pool Of
blood, the room presenting a revolving
sight.
Mr.. Carleton, proprietor of the house,
says he had just came in and had gone
down stairs into the dining room,
where he was eating his dinner, when
he heard a revolver shot in the parlor
above and directly after, with only a
few seconds between. another shot. He
heard no cutlery and could not guess
what had happened: but he went up
stairs ut once to investigate. He tried
| the parlor door which opens into the
| front hall. but could not open it be
cause something heavy was lying
against it.
Mr.. Carleton then went back to the
door opening into Mrs. Legrow's room
and went in. Mrs. Legrow's room is
directly back of the parlor and con
nected with it by double doors. These
doors are usually closed. but Mr.. Carrie
ton found them open. He looked into
the parlor and there saw terrible
sight
Mrs. Legrow had fallen into the cen
tire Of the room and the carpet under
her head was soaked with blood. IL
the corner of the room lying agains;
the door leading into the front hail lay
William Growers body. and around his
head too there was blood which was
slowly oozing from a wound in his
temple by Growers side was small
revolver with which the shooting had
been done
Mr.. Carleton at once caused the po-
lice to be notified and they We're on the
spot soon after. accompanied by a ply
stefan ana by Corriner Littleiield. who
Immediately assumed charge of the
premises. Undertaken Rich was sum-
moned and both bodies were removed
to his rooms on Exchange street.
Jealousy and liquor We're what caused
Grewer to commit til" deed. Grewcr
had Leen going about with Mrs. LIE
gov for a long time and was appar-
entity more infatuated with her than
she was with him. At any rate she ac-
cepted attentions from other men. but
was always afraid that Grcwer would
find it out.
Grewer came here several years ago
from Australia and was in the restau-
ant business until his diSSipatcd habits |
ruined it. After that Grewcr went to
Boston and worked for time, return
ing here a year or more ago. since
which time he had been been employed |
in restaurant here.
Mrs. Legrow's maiden name was
Dyer and her home was at the Cape. |
She was a woman of good education
and formerly a successful teacher. Her |
marriage did not prove a happy one
and of late years she has supported !
herself. She worked for some time at |
Growers restaurant. but for months |
past has not been employed and has |
occupied the rooms in which she met |
her death.
Mrs. Legrow for some time has been |
warned her that he meant to do her
harm, but she did not believe that he
would actually hurt her. He has been |
threatening for some time that he
would fix her and would make her
sorry for going back" on him.
In her room. Thursday. after her
death, was found a letter from one of
her friends warning her 10 look out for
Grewer and not give him n chance to
DO her bodily injury.
Grewer must have called at the
Brown street house, where the tragedy
occurred at about noon. What took
place between the two can never be
known for the attention of no one was
called to his presence in the house-in
fact it is said that she let him in her
self. 1t seems evident that the couple
had some threatening words and that
she opened the door into the parlOr and
attempted to get away from him.
Mrs. Legrow was Il tall woman with
light hair and was about 50 years of
age. Her father was John Dyer. who
died last year. Her mother and two
brothers are still living. No one seems
has not lived with him for several
years. She had a son, who is with his
father
Grewer had a wife in Boston, living
at No. 1. Roosevelt street, also grown
up son in the same city. He was so
years of age.