John A. Wright

WRIGHT, THOMAS

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2010 at 23:17:38

Source: LCHS scrapboook, newspaper clipping with handwritten date of April 18, 1915

JOHN A. WRIGHT IS KILLED BY HIS WIFE

Dies From Bullet Wound In His Back

WIFE TEMPORARILY CRAZY

Shooting Occurred About Nine O'clock Sunday Morning - Had Quarreled Night Before and She Was Afraid He Intended to do Her Bodily Injury - Shot Him Through Door - He Died at 5 O'clock Tuesday Morning.

A telegram was received here yesterday morning announcing the death of John Wright at Denver, Colo. Carl C. Thomas took the noon train for that city and will accompany the remains to Wapello where the funeral will be held. The deceased was a son of Mrs. B.F. Wright and he had many friends in Wapello who extend sympathy to his folks in their bereavement.

Since the above was put in type a Denver paper has been received here that gives the particulars of his death, which was caused by a gunshot wound from a revolver in the hands of his wife, Birdie Wright. This news was a great shock to the relatives and many friends of the family.

According to the newspaper the shooting occurred Sunday morning a little after nine o'clock. It seems the couple had been quarreling Saturday night and Sunday morning John went up town and returned about nine o'clock seeking admission to the house. Mrs. Wright, who claimed she was afraid he intended to do her bodily harm, ran to his bedroom and obtained a revolver and shot through the glass in the door, inflicting a mortal wound. The injured man was at once taken to a hosptial and an operation performed. At first the doctors thought that he had some chances for recovery, but it proved to be otherwise, and at 5 o'clock Tuesday morning he passed away.

The following account of his death appeared in Tuesday's issue of the Denver Post:

"'I hope God will take me too,' screamed Mrs. Birdie Wright, this morning, when Police Matron Archer informed her that her husband, John A. Wright, whom she shot Sunday morning at their home, 3350 Adams street, had succumbed to the bullet wound.

" 'Why, oh, why did I ever do it,' she moaned. 'I just can't live any longer. I don't care what becomes of me. They told me last night that he was getting better, and I thought they were telling me the truth.

" 'Now he's dead. And they didn't let me see him before he died. Oh, God! I know I'll go crazy!'

"Her voice rose to a shrill pitch and she collapsed in a crumpled heap beside her 5-months-old daughter, Nadine, sleeping peacefully on the cot from which her mother had risen when Matron Archer entered the room.

Wright died a few minutes before 5 o'clock this morning. He was conscious almost until the moment of his death and the last wish he expressed was that he might see his wife and assure her of his forgiveness.

"'I don't want her to go thru life thinking that I did not forgive her,' he whispered to the nurse who was with him. 'She did act a little too hastily, but she wasn't to blame under the circumstances. I know she loves me and she wouldn't have shot me if she had stopped a moment to think of the consequences. I hope they won't prosecute her, because it wouldn't do anyone any good; it would only make it harder for her and the children.'

"Wright's body was turned over to Deputy Coroner Bostwick, who is preparing to hold an inquest in the case. On the verdict of the coroner's jury may depend whether District Attorney Rush will file an information charging Mrs. Wright with murder.

"Altho sentiment among the members of the police department is entirely in favor of the woman, the officers conversant with the facts in the case hold the opinion that her action in shooting Wright in the back will operate strongly against her and may cause the coroner's jury to hold her guilty of malicious murder."