The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-31

revolver. He was heard to utter an
oath and pointing the revolver at the
wOmen's left temple, he fired. Mrs
Boyer fell to the ground and was dead
when witnesses to the shooting ar
rived. Wright threw his revolver in
a yard and ran north. Detectives
Sauls and Ross were within two blocks
of the shooting and arrested Wright a
few minutes after the tragedy occur
red. He was taken to the police sta
tion and an hour later turned over to
the county authorities on state war
rant charging first degree murder.
Wright had been keeping company
with the Boyer woman nearly a year.
She had several times stated that she
feared him, and Wright had several
still loved him is evidenced by the fact
that she repeatedly called Wright over
the telephone and was a frequent call
er at 903 n. Jackson street, where he
boarded. In the last few weeks Wright
had several times declared that he
did not love the woman enough to
marry her and wished he could break
the engagement. He drank heavily;
and when drunk was of 4 melancholy
disposition. On several occasions he
threatened to take his own life. and
once asked ]. S. Combs, his landlord,
for money with which to buy poison.
Man Had Been Drinking.
Saturday night Wright did not show
up al the boarding house. 1t was
nearly 1880 Sunday morning before
he made his appearance. Combs does
not know wher. the man spent the
night. Wright was at the Combs home
for dinner. He had been drinking. At
o'clock he left the boarding house.
Mrs. Boyer left the NeaIe Institute
where she was a housekeeper, at 2:1O
She told her 12-year-oId son she was
going to see Wright. An hour later
her dead body was in the SheIlen-
barger undertaking rooms at Fifth
and Jackson streets and Wright was
in the county Jail.
Il am scared to death of that man
and afraid he will do me injury when
he is drunk" Mrs. Boyer once told G.
r Williamson. who conducts the NeaIe
Institute. Williamson urged her to
not keep company with the man, but
his urging had no effect. Every few
days she would meet Wright down
town, or go to his home to see him
Wright seldom visited her at her
home.
Several months ago she persuaded
Wright to take the drink cure The
remedy did not stick and following his
attempt to swear off, Wright went on
protracted drunk that lasted three
weeks. Still Mrs. Boyer believed she
could persuade her lover to reform and
she clung to him. They were engaged
to be married. "By taking Jack away, .
L sober
up and do better" It was about this
time Wright received an offer of a no
sition in Oklahoma City. At that time
Wright was boarding al 106 East Mar
ket street and was out of work He
wrote Mrs. Boyer of his plans and a
few days later received this letter:
Wrote Loving Letters.
Topeka, Kan, May "a, 1910.
My Dear Jackson: I received vour
most welcome letter; am sorry vour
arm is no better. and am more thar
sorry you VIII VIII be out OF employment
! do hope that you will be in luck Ry
what I hear Oklahoma City is up-to.
date and very nice city. 1 imagine
would like it there. Darling, YOU say
that you don't know what to write
that will interest me. You might tel
me that you love me once in awhile,
that is always interesting to me dear
I do hope Jack that you will get :
good job, and do write. dear. because
1 Will be so worried till hear from
you. Mrs. Case is going to K. c. to-
morrow Well. goodbye dear. mucI
On May Is, "A Friend" had writer
this message in an autograph album
found in Wright's room:
Mr.. Wright: There is not a breez,
that filings its gentle kiss on TIN
cheeks, that bears from me on hiddeI
wings truer friendship than tongu,
Tan speak. A FRIEND.
May IS, 1910"
Another Woman-Perhaps.
The handwriting in the letter from
Mrs. Boyer and the message in thl
autograph album are not the same
Wright refuses to discuss the question
and If there was a jealousy betWeel