The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-16
WOMAN'S PISTOL
Causes the Death of Millionaire
Rufus Wright.
Celebrated Manufacturer of
Rubber Tires Is No More.
HE MAKES STATEMENT
Declares His Companion to Be
Without Blame.
Shooting Took Place in Room Of
Chicago Hotel.
EE MAKES STATEMENT

Chicago. April 16-Rufus Wright, the !
millionaire manufacturer of rubber |
tires, was shot during a scuff1e for pos
session of a revolver in the apartments
of Mrs. Louisa Lottridge, at the Le-
land hotel. dying from the effects Of
the wound. The body of the millionaire |
is now at undertaking rooms, where an
inquest will be held It is the opinion
! of the police that the coroner's inves- 1
! tigation will mark the close Of the SEN
! sational case. A statement by the de-
ceased to Chief of Detectives Colleran
| that the shooting was accidental, will
1 it is thought, clear Mrs Lottridge of
! all responsibility Wright died with
/ words Of exculpation 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 it was dis
charged.
| 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 a friend who
| had become entangled with the woman,
| when he received his death wound.
| Although he admits he can offer no
| evidence, Chief of Detectives Colleran
| strongly believes that the weapon was
| not in the hands of Wright when it
| was discharged. A careful examination
of the position of the wound, he says,
will show that it would be impossible
for Wright to have held the weapon
| in his hand.
Captain Colleran says also that Mrs
I4ottridge said she could not remember
whether the weapon was in her hand
or il Wright's He also cites the fact
that Wright'S beard is not singed as it
would have been if a weapon had been
discharged close to his head; his face
is not marked with powder, in fact,
Captain COlleran says, there is nothing
to show that he held a revolver very
close to his face.
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
, he had spoken previously. I refused to
| do so and we talked on other matters
: for awhile. I remember that finally
| went TO my valiSe and took out my
weapon, and when he saw it Mr.
Wright begged me to throw it away.
z As remember, he tried to take the
weapon from my hand and we scuffled
1 stood up and he was sitting on the
couch. I had hold of the weapon when
[ with sudden effort he tore the revolver
from my grasp He fell backward and
2 I followed him. 1 managed to get hold
of the butt of the weapon, he holding
5 to the guard. As we struggled the
weapon was discharged, and, bad as I
felt from the liquor 1 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. I laughed Historically and
told him he was all right. He insisted
he had been wounded and begged me
| to call a doctor
'sI told him he was dreaming and then
set about caring for him took hand
kerchief from his pocket and attempted to
= stanch the how of blood from his neck,
j | where the ball had entered I saw at a
glance that the revolver had done deadly
|, Work, but could not bring myself to tell
h | anyone of the occurrence. waited on Mr..
Wright for two hours possibly before !
summoned doctor. was SO overcome
: that could not talk, and may have said
= things ought not to have said, but the
: pressure was laboring under was the
+ cause for my actions. The story that Mr.
a Wright came to my room in the interests
. of a friend is false. He came to see me
Z at my request. He had known me long
d enough to come at my least call. He was
in good spirits when he entered the room
: We drank together and talked of matters
. which concerned ourselves. We had q
pleasant conversation until the revolver
was introduced by chance and the strug.
gle which ended in his death"
Mrs. Lottridge is a widow IS years ole
and of not very prepossessing appearance
She is nearly six feet tall and weighs
was ELECTED from her by Captain Col
:. She told the chief of detectives she hse
been acquainted with Wright for the las
eight years, and that on every one of hei
visits to Chicago he had called on her. Sh,
n | owns property in Chicago, Detroit and
several other places. For some time she
has made her home in Chicago, staying
. Mr. Wright was 20 years old and had {
family. One daughter is the wife of Mr.
5, Morgan, his partner. Wright moved t
Le Chicago fifteen years ago and has lived il
= considerable style.
Mrs. Ross. who had been Mrs. Lott
q ridges companion at the hotel denies al
Is knowledge of the shooting, declares tha
she and Mrs. Lottridge had several drinks
in the room of the latter, and when Mrs
Ross was about to leave the room, Mrs
I Lottridge announced that she intended t
j send for Mr.. Wright.
According to the statement of Manage
Dabb of the hotel, orders for wine Wer
plentiful after the arrival of Wright.
h Several coolers, in which the bottles
were sent to the room, were found b.
Detective Burns. The orders ceased abou
2 o'clock and half hour after that tn
bellboy. Hugh Wills, hurried to the deSl
% of the hotel Office and notified Chief Clerl
le O. Brien that Doctor Hammond was want
- ed at once in the room occupied by Mrs
Il Lottridge. The clerk sent for Docto
Hammond, and the doctor found Wrigh
n lying on the bed suffering from woun
. in his neck.
l. The bullet had entered on the left sid
and had lodged in the right shoulder, a
- far as could be ascertained- He attempt
- ed to probe for the bullet, but decided
re was too dangerous operation, when h
v found it impossible to locate it. Whe
iy Doctor Hammond took the revolver wit
a. l. which the shooting done, Mrs. Lott
r. ridge attempted to take it from him, an
-, | struck him several times in the face.
nTnN5ET HANG HIM