Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-06-04
"A MESA TRAGEDY
REVEALS A MYSTERY
The Suicide of John Ferguson Who
Had Been Living With His Broth
er's Wife.

John Ferguson. alias John Wright,
husband of Mrs. Eva Wright who lies
at the Mesa hotel suffering from a
broken skull caused by falling into a
well at Chambers ranch two weeks
ago, lies today in the undertaking par
lors OF Hodnett & Carr "A corpse.
death being caused by narcotic pois-
oning taken with suicidal intent.
Yesterday about twelve o'clock word
was sent to Drs. Palmer and Drane
that a man at the Mesa hotel had
taken poison. They hurried to the
scene and found John Ferguson, or
John Wright as he was known to peo-
pie here lying upon the floor in his
room. which Joined that of his wife. in
an unconscious state.
on the table nearby were several
bottles. .3S Smith & Wessen revolver
and a pasteboard box which had APP
parently contained the revolver. Upon
an examination of the box IL was found
that the man had written a note ex-
planning his action.
The note which was scrawled in a
trembling hand on the cover and bot
tom and even upon the inside with
lead pencil. read:
MRS. OPENSHAW-I have stood
all / can. Ask the Lord to forgive me
for what am doing. I know that my
dear wife will not live from what
saw last night. Please pray for me.
Give her the money l left. / would
write more but now / have TO go.
20. Mr.. Lewis was so very kind to
me.
JOHN W
May the Lord forgive me for doing
this. Mrs. Openshaw, please kiss my
dear wife for me. l am gone, gone,
gone. gone"
The doctors working for five hours
with the man, using all means that
medical science affords To resuscitate
him but without avail. His pulse grad
ually grew weaker and soon after five
o'clock ceased to beat
The body was at once taken to the
undertaking parlors. lest the mans
wife in the next room should suspect
his death and an inquest was held
Those who served upon the coroner's
jury were: o. "A. Pickens. foreman:
Geo. Johnson, secretary: 5. w. ].
Bowen. f. p. Grover, Joe Phelps.
Charley Simpkins. J. NJ. Daley. John
Williams. John Riggs. Lu Cuber. Geo.
Fryer and Dave Crisman.
Before the jury the doctors stated
that they were called about noon and
upon entering the mans room found
him upon the floor unconscious. They
injected stimulants and did what they
could to revive him. Upon the table
they found the revolver and cartridges.
the box with the note. a bottle half
full Of wine and an unmarked envelope
morphine tablets.
Mrs. Arthur Openshaw. for whom !
Mrs. Wright was working at the ranch |
when she was hurt. then took the !
stand. She reported that Mr. Fergu- |
son. or Wright. had been crying all
morning and saying that he knew his |
wife could not recover. He complain
ID Of being tired and was told to go |
% his room for rest In few min |
ties Mrs. Openshaw heard something |
all To the floor and rushing to the |
Dom found the man lying upon the
'loor.
The jury decided that the deceased I
net his death by narcotic poisoning !
administered by his own hand
The young couple have been a study !
q the people on Chambers ranch and /
he few Mesa people who knew them |
,ver since their arrival i'm the valley. |
which was only a few weeks ago |
They never referred to their past life |
md had but little to saw. aside from |
business affairs. to their acquaint- !
,nces
When Mrs. Wright was injured the |
ioctors wanted to notify her relatives 1
that the woman was in a very |
serious condition hut the husband re- |