Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-14
R, 7. WRIGHT ENDS
LIFE BY HANGING
Uses Halter, Tied to Rafter Of
Barn, and Jumps From
a Chair
DEPENDENCY THE CAUSE
Feared His Family Would be in Want
During tho Winter, and Ended All
- Neck Broken by tho Fall - NO
Word Left to Family, Which Dis.
covered Act at About O'clock.

covered Act at About 8 O'clock.
Arising early this morning, and
quietly dressing himself SO as not to
arouse the sleeping members of his
household, Robert Frederick Wright,
SOL North Third avenue, went to his
barn, took the halter from his horse,
mounted a chair, and jumped to his
death, breaking his neck. The body
was discovered when Leo Brown. q
friend Of the family and boarder at
the Wright home, went to feed the
horse. Dependency. and the fear that
his business would not keep his family
posed to have been the cause Of the
act of self destruction.
Wright came to this city three
months ago from Hawarden, and was
working the county in the interests of
an invention known as the improved
axle cutter, on which he held the pat
ents. The machine Is one to cut down
old axles on vehicles, cutting new
threads In them, and saving the pur-
chase Of new axles. He. had hardly
got the work introduced here, and be-
came Respondent because he was not
doing large business. A week ago
he began to show signs Of despond-
ency, when he mentioned to his wife
that he was discouraged because
everything was going out and nothing
coming in" He also stated that If he
did not do better he hardly saw how the
family would get thru the winter"
Wright was out all of last week,
canvassing the country. A part Of his
business was to dispose of county
rights, but he had not had sufficient
time to do much in this line in sur
rounding counties, because he had de-
voted all his time to introducing his
machine. Sunday night he again grew
respondent, and while helping his wife
with the dishes, again repeated about
the same words as a week ago, and
added that he did not care whether he
lived or died. Mrs. Wright tried to
cheer him, and told him not to worry,
for If it came to the worst she could
take in washing, and help in that way.
The family went to bed at $40, Mr..
Wright sleeping with his older son,
In one room, and Mrs. Wright with the
two younger children, in an adjoining
room.
Wife Docs Not Hear Him.
Altho Mrs. Wright is a light sleep
or, she did not awaken this morning
when her husband arose to end his life.
She aWoke at o'clock, and called to
her husband, asking him If he were
up. She got no answer, and concluded
that he had arisen. Mrs. Wright fell
to sleep again, and did not awaken
again until the Mailman called at s:
She got up went to her husbands
room, and saw that he was not there.
She also noticed that the fire had not
been started, and considered it very
strange. She awakened Mr.. Brown, who
who at once realized that it was
very strange that Mr.. Wright had left
his bed and had done nothing toward
building fire. He dressed and search
Cd the cellar, and then went to the
barn to feed the horse, thinking that
probably Mr.. Wright had gone down
town before breakfast. He was shock
ing the barn door, he saw the lifeless
body of the man swinging before him.
Officers Notified.
Sheriff Hutson and Coroner Nichols
were summoned Immediately by tele-
phone. w. A. Davis, the Finkle block
druggist, who lives at Fourth avenue
and Woodbury., just one block east Of
the Wright home. was passing at the
tiYae. and was called in by the dis
tracted wife. He examined the body
and found that life was extinct. The
officers arrived shortly afterwards,
and Sheriff Nutson cut the rope from
which the lifeless form was suspended.
The officers made q careful search for
q letter that might have been left but
there was nothing either in the barn,
the house or on the mans clothing so
far as found, either in the shape Of a
farewell to his family, or in the way
Of an explanation of the deed.
Family Well Known in Sioux County.
Mr.. Wright's family is well known in
Eioux county, where he lived for a
humber Of years. Two brothers, Messrs. |
Albert and George Wright, reside at |
treton. Mrs. Wright was also from |
Sioux county. and, prior to her mar
rage thirteen years ago, was Hester |
Ward. Mr.. Wright was native Of
Kingston, ILL.,. and was 80 years Of age
He came to Iowa fifteen years ago. He |
was married at Ireton, and resided |
there for eight years. The family then
moved to Lyons, and lived two years,
then went to Sterling. ILL.,, where two
more years were spent. Returning to
Iowa, and locating at Hawarden, the
family lived there until coming to this
city three months ago.
Mr. wright's immediate family COM
prises his wife and three children.
Robert John, the elder son, is u years
Of age, and Lloyd Clinton, is g. Mary, |
the daughter, is years old. and is an
invalid, beng sufferer from spinal
trouble that has rendered her dumb.
Aside from the two brothers in Ireton, |
the deceased is survived by three half |
sisters. Misses Mary, Grace and Lee
bertha Wright, who live at Savanna,
Ill.
Mr.. Wright was a member of Pioneer
Camp, No. II, M. w. A., of Lyons, and |
Mrs. Wright says he was in. good |
standing at the time of his death. He
carried $4,000 insurance in the order.
He also carried $4,000 in the Bankers
Life. and $500 in the Royal Neigh
bors
Coroner Nichols has decided that the
case is SO clearly one Of suicide that no