The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-16
DUAL LIFE
EXPOSED AT
HIS DEATH.
millionaire Wright Expires from the
Bullet Wound Received from
Mrs. Louisa Lottridge.
WERE DRINKING TOGETHER,
Tried to Take the Weapon from Her
Hand, With Fatal Results-PO-
liee Have Another Theory.

CHICAGO, April l5.-hutus wright
the millionaire manufacturer of rubber
tires, who was shot during a scume fo-
possession of 4 revolver in the apart
ments Of Mrs. Louisa LottrIdge, at the
Leland hotel, died to-day from the es-
fects of the wound. The body of the
millionaire Is now at the undertaking
rooms, where an Inquest will be held
tomorrow. 1t is the opinion Of the
police that the coroner's investigation
will mark the close OF the sensational
case. A statement by the deceased to
Chief OF Detectives Colleran that the
shooting was accidental win, it Is
thought, CLEAR Mrs. Lottrldge Of all re-
sponsIbnlty. Wright died with words
OF sxculpatIon on his lips for the
woman whose revolver was responsible
for his death. He persisted in saying
that the woman was not to blame for
his condition and that he had the re-
volver In his hand when 1t was dis
charged.
Was Out Helping a Friend.
Mr.. wright's son-in-law and partner,
Fred Morgan, was at his side at death.
Mr.. Morgan held that his father-in-
law was on an errand to help friend
who had become entangled with the
woman when he received his death
wound.
Mrs. Lottridge, in a statement made
at the police station, said:
"I cannot remember what led up to
the production of the revolver. was
talking to Mr.. Wright when he asked
me to show him a revolver Of which
had spoken previously. refused to do
so, and we talked on other matters for
while. I remember that finally I
went to my valise and took out the
weapon, and when he saw 1t Mr..
Wright begged me to throw 1t away. As
I remember, he tried to take the weapon
from my hand and we scufled.
stood up and he was sitting on the
couch. had hold OF the weapon, when
with a sudden EFFORT he tore the revolt
yer from my grasp. He fell backward
and 1 followed him. managed to get
hold of the butt of the weapon. he hold
ing to the guard. AS we struggled the
weapon was discharged. and bad as
felt from the liquor had drank. could
not help crying out In horror when I
saw he was wounded. He fell back on
the sofa and gasped that he was shot.
l laughed hysterically and told him that
he was all right. He insisted he had
been wounded and begged me to call a
doctor.
Tried to Stop the Flow of Blood.
81 told him he was dreaming. and
then set about caring for him. 1 took
handkerchief from his pocket and at
tempted to staunch the flow OF blood
from his neck, where the ball had en-
tered. I saw at a glance that the re-
volver had done deadly work. but
could not bring myself to tell any one
OF the occurrence. I waited on AIr.
Wright for two hours possibly before
summoned doctor. 1 was so over
come that I could not talk. and may
have said things I ought NOT TO have
said, but the pressure was laboring
under was the cause for my actions
The story that Mr.. Wright came to my
room in the interests of a friend is
false. He came TO see me at my r.
quest. He had known me long enough
to come at my least call. He was in
good spirits when he entered the room.
We drank together and talked OF mat
ters which concerned ourselves. We
had pleasant conversation until the
revolver was introduced by chance and
the struggle which ended in his death. +"
Did Not Hold the Gun Himself.
Although he admits he can offer no
evidence Chief Of Detectives colleran
strongly believes that the weapon was
not in the hand Of Wright when 1t was
discharged. A careful exar1lnation OF
the position Of the wound, he says, will
HHo" bAAhN II Woulu pe lulpOsslDle LOT
Wright to have held the weapon tn his
hand. Captain Colleron says also that
Mrs. Lottridge said she could not re-
member whether the weapon was in
her hand or in wrights. He also cites
the fact that wrights beard is not
slnged. as 1t would have been II u
weapon had been discharged close 10
his head. His face Is not marked with
powder-in fact, Captain colleran says
there Is nothing to show that he held
revolver close to his face.
Well Known in Buffalo.