The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-11
Youth Who Was Shot by
YaIettutOr in Precari-
Gus Condition.
MYSTERY IN DOUBLE CRIME
Man Had Been Drinking, Was
MorOse and Had Apparently
Contracted a Strong Affec-
ton for His Victim--His
Quick Suicide.

N W 1OGH, Wv 1 RAACA 49,
was asleep in bed, Paul Gilbert
Thebaud, jr, the 17-year-old son of
Paul Gilbert Thebaud, multi-million-
aire whip and society man, today how
cred between life and death in the
magnificent country house, Hillair, at
White Plains.
He was shot by John Bjorlin, valet
and language tutor to Paul and his
younger brother, Reynal. The mar then
turned the pistol on himself, sent a
bullet through his brain and died in
stantly.
Bjorlin, it was declared today, had
vowed to kill not only his young mas
ter, but every other servant on the big
estate. He had their names on a list,
with the millionaire's son marked
mo. l."
The shooting is mysterious in every
respect. Bjorlin was devotedly at
tached to the boy. and If there was
any motive for desiring to kill him 1t
must have been Jealousy. The family
believe the butler was insane.
Bjorlin, the other servants said, was
SO fond of young Thebaud that he
scowled and fumed if the boy spoke
kindly to anyone but him.. Several
times he threatened to thrash stable
men and undermen in the house whom
he accused of currying favor with
Paul.
Paul Thebaud. a handsome. athletic
boy, fond of hunting and outdoor
sports. is the pet of his father, and the
servants in the palatial country home
worship him. Bjorlin, the efficient
valet and tutor, who was proficient in
many languages, a quiet, u~nassuming
man, who had not only the confidence
of mis- master but the other members
of the household, was his affect slave.
The vaIet-tutor instructed the youth
In languages, and the affection he had
for him was always noticeable.
Biorlin, so 1t Is stated. became mo-
rose some days ago. 1t was told about
the servants quarters that young Paul
had spoken roughly to John Then
John began drinking. He drank heavily
and his condition on Saturday was re-
garded as dangerous. To one of the SER
wants he said:
II must XIII Paul and that second
man. Paul has ceased to care for me-
The second man w a warned that
John had threatened him and he was
on his guard. On Saturday night when
he retired he locked his door securely.
NJ lit 9illtd 1OhAAS 4 ~ 4 = f'AAPA
the servants thought the threat of the
valet-butler-tutor was only the speech
of a drunken man, and they were too
loyal to their f~ellow-servant to open
q way for the master to hear of Johns
conduct. So the second man locked
his door, and Paul, all u~nsuspecting,
went to bed with his doc unbolted.
Before retiring Paul began leading
some cartridges, telling Hickey, the
night watchman, he expected to go
shooting in a day or two.
Hickey, following his usual custom,
began making a round of the servants
hall yesterday morning at 6 O'Clock.
When he came to the ~butler-valets
room he noticed that John was slow in
arising: his hand was shaky and his
eyes bleared. The Waterman had heard
he had been drinking. and he saw a
~verification of the report in the mans
manner
But John talked coherently. So
Hickey hurried along to awaken the
other servants.
Half an hour later h stiffness of the
house was broken by the sharp, whip
like crack of a revolver shot. Hickey
heard it as he stood in the wide recep-
tion hall on the ground floor. Wonder
ingly III stood still and listened. The
explanation that flashed through his
mind was that young Pau Thebaud
had arisen early for an hours shooting
before breakfast and, in examining his
gun, a accidentally discharged a
cartridge.
A second shot dispelled the accident
theory from Hickey's mind and sent him
rushing upstairs in the direction of the
sound. Others in the household had been
awakened by the two reports, and several
doors were opened and heads thrust out as
the now thoroughly alarmed Waterman be-
gan an Investigation. >
From room to room Hickey ran, bang
ing at closed doors and getting reassuring
answers from the startled occupants. But
there was no answer from within young
Paul's silent room. Hickey pounded on the
thick panel Of the door; then, STOPPING
down. tried TO peer through the keyhole.
He could not see within, but he caught
the odor of burning gunpowder. Using
all his strength, Hickey first strove to
force the door from its hinges, but failed.
the top of the great stone portico that
crosses the front OF the mansion, and
climbed along TO the window of young
Pdul's room.
One glance told Hickey the story. Bjor-
lin was dead on the oor. and young The
baud lay unconscious among the pillows
on his bed with a Jagged bullet hole in
his forehead.