New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-01-21
MAI. J. R. WRIGHT KILLED
SHOT IN HOTEL IMPERIAL
Mystery as to accident or Suicide
DR.. Pardee Held as Witness.

Fz,s nerves wrecked in an attempt to stop the
use OF drugs and liquors. Major Jacob Ridgway
Wright OF Wilkesbarre, Penn. fatally shot hirnsef
yesterday IN the Hotel Imperial while HIS physician
DR. Howard A. Pa-dee. had turned his back for 3
moment
wright held considerable coal and gold mining
stock and was prominent in the National Guard
OF PENNSYLVANIA and the social life OF Wilkesbarre
he leaves a widow and two children. The widow
arrived here last evening, and protested against
the holding OF Dr. Pardee in $500 as a witness
Dr. Pardee. who lives No 20 West 9TH
st has been q friend of the Wright family
for years He is the medical director of the United
States Life Insurance Company, Of which DR.. John
p. Mum once physician for Jay Gould and now
FOR Russell Sage. is president
Wright came to the Hotel Imperial about four
months ago. and since that time has been under
the care Of DR.. Pardee DR.. Pardee. in his state
Enent 70 Magistrate Crane said he had been in at
tendance on AIr. Wright al Thursday night. Just
before the physician about 10 leave wright
lie turned his back for a moment. and Wright shot
himself in the side with revolver. which he had
taken from bureau drawer DR.. Pardee lifted him
the bed. and then went 10 the hotel Office where
he told the clerk that Wright had shot himself
Patrolman Marlborough. OF the Tenderloin sta
ton accompanied DR. Pardee to the room. ana
ordered Wright removed TO the New-York Hospital
The revolver was found in the top drawer OF the
bureau. with the cartridges removed
The patrolman said that when he visited Wright
in the hospital the latter had said:
While handling my revolver in my room II ac-
cl6eEtally exploded and injured me. was not shot
by any one. but did il accidentally.
Marlborough. despite this made out IN af1oavit
IN which he charged Dr.. Pardee with teonioGs as
charges that he was shot By the defendant in the
Imperial Hotel
Notwithstanding this afhdavft the magistrate az
once paroled Dr.. Pardee in the CUSTODY OF his
counsel, G. W Hart
Ii his statement DR.. Pardee said:
Just before ] going 10 depart Mr.. Wright
went TO the drawer IN his bureau 10 get some
pa pers he wished TO show me. and heard the re-
port OF a pistol turned around and saw that
Mr.. Wright had shot himself. rushed over 10
his side. carried him TO his bed and placed him
there then picked UP the revolver. empueo It's
contents into the drawer, and placed the weapon
there 20 avoid further shooting.
Wright drinks times, but he was not under
be was IA high stale OF nervous excitement from
worrying He had stopped drinking. and had hao
morphine, 10 the which he was ad-
dcted for time It is possible that the shoot
ing was accidental I have been with him hve even
inEs a week for three months"
Ten minutes after he had been paroled, Dr. Par
dee returned 10 Magistrate Crane ana told him
that Mr.. Wright dead. The magistrate told DR.,
Pardee the case was then out OF his hands and
that he would have 80 70 the CoFoner's once.
Accompanied by Wsr6nan brennan. OF the TENDER
Join Precinct Dr. Pardee then went TO Coroner
Sehoer. who admitted him TO bail. which was fur
nished by Dr.. Mum
Mrs Wright on arriving in this city went at
once TO Coroner Sender and made g deposition in
which she declared that DR.. Pa-dee should be re-
lieved OF even formal restraint
Coroner SchOler VIII hold the inquest next FIJI
day. After an investigation be said the shooting
could have been accidental. but that ne pelieFeo
Il have been intentional.
An acquaintance Of Major Wright said last night
that he had been sufferer from an incuTaD4e ner-
Eous disease for a number of years