He was the son of Richard Wright (1795-1877), who was born in England and Emily W. Wright (born about 1811 in Virginia). His father was interred in Graceland Cemetery which was closed in 1894 and remains were removed to other cemeteries. On May 31, 1876 as Benjamin F. Wright [misspelled as Waight], he married Hattie M. Maggoletti in the District of Columbia. She was born about 1856 in Virginia.
The Evening Star Saturday, April 20, 1895
Died
Wright. On April 18, 1895, Benjamin F. Wright, in his forty-eighth year. Funeral private from 1423 8th Street Northwest, Saturday at 4 o’clock PM.
The Evening Star Wednesday, April 17, 1895
Suicidal Shots
Benjamin F. Wright Makes a Determined Attempt to Die
Discovered Struggling in a Pool of Water With Five Bullets in His Body
Benjamin F. Wright of 1207 9th Street, forty years old, brother to Mr. John Wright, the undertaker of 4337 10th Street, attempted suicide this morning by shooting himself several times through the left side. He committed the act in the woods west of Glenwood Cemetery, between the limits of the cemetery and North Capitol Street extension. When found, he was in an exhausted condition from the loss of blood and was lying in a pool of water. Two young men, one of whom was named McAleer, were passing through the woods searching for moss and passed Wright, sitting by the side of the pool, which is formed from the surface drainage and rain water. He said nothing to them as they passed and they paid no further attention to him. On their return by the pond a little later, at about 10:15, they saw Wright struggling in the water, as though he had fallen in face foremost or had flung himself from the bank. They quickly ran to his assistance and soon had him out of the water. He said little beyond to ask that he be taken to his brother’s house on 10th Street and not to a hospital. A small pistol, with which he had shot himself and a box of cartridges, were found on the ground where he had been siting. His clothes, which were of good quality, were deeply stained with blood on the left side in the region of the watch pocket, just below the heart.
Five Bullets Found in the Man
Others coming to the assistance of the two young men who first found the would-be suicide, word was taken over to the power house of the Eckington Road, at 4th and T Streets and a telephone message was sent to the Eighth Precinct Station House, from which a patrol wagon was quickly dispatched. Mr. Wright, who was by this time very weak from loss of blood, insisted upon being taken to his home instead of to a hospital, but he was first taken to the Precinct Station House at 9th and U Streets and was then driven to 1337 10th Street, where he was quickly examined by two physicians, who found that five balls had entered the side. Their course could not be ascertained at once and the nature of the injuries was not known for some time. Mr. John Wright, the brother of the suicide, said to a Star reporter that he had no idea why the act was committed. He was in a very distressed frame of mind and confessed that he could not answer questions intelligently, because of his agitation. He added that he knew nothing of the circumstance of the morning beyond the fact that his brother was brought to his house at about noon in a patrol wagon with a policeman, who was then with him upstairs. So far as he knew his brother had made no statement to explain his deed. He said his brother was about forty or forty-five years old and that he had a family. Further information could not be elicited from the undertaker and the reporter sought to find out something about the man of the neighboring merchants. At a nearby drug store, within a hundred feet of the house, it was not known that Mr. Wright had a brother. At the grocer’s across the street the same state of ignorance concerning Mr. Wright’s family prevailed. In short, the brother seemed practically unknown in the neighborhood. The men who aided in taking him from the pool described him as a man of medium height, well dressed and with a short brownish beard. One of them, a resident of the county, said that the man appeared to be remorseful for his act when he was taken away in the patrol wagon.
Probable Cause of the Act
It was later learned that Ben Wright, as he was known, was for many years employed in the government printing office and was recently dismissed by Mr. Benedict. He then established a little cigar stand in the hallway of the lunch room just west of 9th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. He was separated from his family and his two sons have been cared for by his brother for some years. It is thought that Wright, who is of a peculiar disposition and quiet, shot himself in a fit of despondency. He is not known to be a drinking man and at the lunch room in a part of which he carried on his business it was said that he had never been known to miss going to his stand until this morning, when he failed to appear. The clerks said that he was subject to occasional spells of downheartedness, but from what cause was not known. He had been doing a good business of late and it was not thought that he had any money troubles to drive him to suicide.
The Evening Star Saturday, April 20, 1895
Died
Wright. On April 18, 1895, Benjamin F. Wright, in his forty-eighth year. Funeral private from 1423 8th Street Northwest, Saturday at 4 o’clock PM.
The Evening Star Wednesday, April 17, 1895
Suicidal Shots
Benjamin F. Wright Makes a Determined Attempt to Die
Discovered Struggling in a Pool of Water With Five Bullets in His Body
Benjamin F. Wright of 1207 9th Street, forty years old, brother to Mr. John Wright, the undertaker of 4337 10th Street, attempted suicide this morning by shooting himself several times through the left side. He committed the act in the woods west of Glenwood Cemetery, between the limits of the cemetery and North Capitol Street extension. When found, he was in an exhausted condition from the loss of blood and was lying in a pool of water. Two young men, one of whom was named McAleer, were passing through the woods searching for moss and passed Wright, sitting by the side of the pool, which is formed from the surface drainage and rain water. He said nothing to them as they passed and they paid no further attention to him. On their return by the pond a little later, at about 10:15, they saw Wright struggling in the water, as though he had fallen in face foremost or had flung himself from the bank. They quickly ran to his assistance and soon had him out of the water. He said little beyond to ask that he be taken to his brother’s house on 10th Street and not to a hospital. A small pistol, with which he had shot himself and a box of cartridges, were found on the ground where he had been siting. His clothes, which were of good quality, were deeply stained with blood on the left side in the region of the watch pocket, just below the heart.
Five Bullets Found in the Man
Others coming to the assistance of the two young men who first found the would-be suicide, word was taken over to the power house of the Eckington Road, at 4th and T Streets and a telephone message was sent to the Eighth Precinct Station House, from which a patrol wagon was quickly dispatched. Mr. Wright, who was by this time very weak from loss of blood, insisted upon being taken to his home instead of to a hospital, but he was first taken to the Precinct Station House at 9th and U Streets and was then driven to 1337 10th Street, where he was quickly examined by two physicians, who found that five balls had entered the side. Their course could not be ascertained at once and the nature of the injuries was not known for some time. Mr. John Wright, the brother of the suicide, said to a Star reporter that he had no idea why the act was committed. He was in a very distressed frame of mind and confessed that he could not answer questions intelligently, because of his agitation. He added that he knew nothing of the circumstance of the morning beyond the fact that his brother was brought to his house at about noon in a patrol wagon with a policeman, who was then with him upstairs. So far as he knew his brother had made no statement to explain his deed. He said his brother was about forty or forty-five years old and that he had a family. Further information could not be elicited from the undertaker and the reporter sought to find out something about the man of the neighboring merchants. At a nearby drug store, within a hundred feet of the house, it was not known that Mr. Wright had a brother. At the grocer’s across the street the same state of ignorance concerning Mr. Wright’s family prevailed. In short, the brother seemed practically unknown in the neighborhood. The men who aided in taking him from the pool described him as a man of medium height, well dressed and with a short brownish beard. One of them, a resident of the county, said that the man appeared to be remorseful for his act when he was taken away in the patrol wagon.
Probable Cause of the Act
It was later learned that Ben Wright, as he was known, was for many years employed in the government printing office and was recently dismissed by Mr. Benedict. He then established a little cigar stand in the hallway of the lunch room just west of 9th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. He was separated from his family and his two sons have been cared for by his brother for some years. It is thought that Wright, who is of a peculiar disposition and quiet, shot himself in a fit of despondency. He is not known to be a drinking man and at the lunch room in a part of which he carried on his business it was said that he had never been known to miss going to his stand until this morning, when he failed to appear. The clerks said that he was subject to occasional spells of downheartedness, but from what cause was not known. He had been doing a good business of late and it was not thought that he had any money troubles to drive him to suicide.
He was the son of Richard Wright (1795-1877), who was born in England and Emily W. Wright (born about 1811 in Virginia). His father was interred in Graceland Cemetery which was closed in 1894 and remains were removed to other cemeteries. On May 31, 1876 as Benjamin F. Wright [misspelled as Waight], he married Hattie M. Maggoletti in the District of Columbia. She was born about 1856 in Virginia.
The Evening Star Saturday, April 20, 1895
Died
Wright. On April 18, 1895, Benjamin F. Wright, in his forty-eighth year. Funeral private from 1423 8th Street Northwest, Saturday at 4 o’clock PM.
The Evening Star Wednesday, April 17, 1895
Suicidal Shots
Benjamin F. Wright Makes a Determined Attempt to Die
Discovered Struggling in a Pool of Water With Five Bullets in His Body
Benjamin F. Wright of 1207 9th Street, forty years old, brother to Mr. John Wright, the undertaker of 4337 10th Street, attempted suicide this morning by shooting himself several times through the left side. He committed the act in the woods west of Glenwood Cemetery, between the limits of the cemetery and North Capitol Street extension. When found, he was in an exhausted condition from the loss of blood and was lying in a pool of water. Two young men, one of whom was named McAleer, were passing through the woods searching for moss and passed Wright, sitting by the side of the pool, which is formed from the surface drainage and rain water. He said nothing to them as they passed and they paid no further attention to him. On their return by the pond a little later, at about 10:15, they saw Wright struggling in the water, as though he had fallen in face foremost or had flung himself from the bank. They quickly ran to his assistance and soon had him out of the water. He said little beyond to ask that he be taken to his brother’s house on 10th Street and not to a hospital. A small pistol, with which he had shot himself and a box of cartridges, were found on the ground where he had been siting. His clothes, which were of good quality, were deeply stained with blood on the left side in the region of the watch pocket, just below the heart.
Five Bullets Found in the Man
Others coming to the assistance of the two young men who first found the would-be suicide, word was taken over to the power house of the Eckington Road, at 4th and T Streets and a telephone message was sent to the Eighth Precinct Station House, from which a patrol wagon was quickly dispatched. Mr. Wright, who was by this time very weak from loss of blood, insisted upon being taken to his home instead of to a hospital, but he was first taken to the Precinct Station House at 9th and U Streets and was then driven to 1337 10th Street, where he was quickly examined by two physicians, who found that five balls had entered the side. Their course could not be ascertained at once and the nature of the injuries was not known for some time. Mr. John Wright, the brother of the suicide, said to a Star reporter that he had no idea why the act was committed. He was in a very distressed frame of mind and confessed that he could not answer questions intelligently, because of his agitation. He added that he knew nothing of the circumstance of the morning beyond the fact that his brother was brought to his house at about noon in a patrol wagon with a policeman, who was then with him upstairs. So far as he knew his brother had made no statement to explain his deed. He said his brother was about forty or forty-five years old and that he had a family. Further information could not be elicited from the undertaker and the reporter sought to find out something about the man of the neighboring merchants. At a nearby drug store, within a hundred feet of the house, it was not known that Mr. Wright had a brother. At the grocer’s across the street the same state of ignorance concerning Mr. Wright’s family prevailed. In short, the brother seemed practically unknown in the neighborhood. The men who aided in taking him from the pool described him as a man of medium height, well dressed and with a short brownish beard. One of them, a resident of the county, said that the man appeared to be remorseful for his act when he was taken away in the patrol wagon.
Probable Cause of the Act
It was later learned that Ben Wright, as he was known, was for many years employed in the government printing office and was recently dismissed by Mr. Benedict. He then established a little cigar stand in the hallway of the lunch room just west of 9th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. He was separated from his family and his two sons have been cared for by his brother for some years. It is thought that Wright, who is of a peculiar disposition and quiet, shot himself in a fit of despondency. He is not known to be a drinking man and at the lunch room in a part of which he carried on his business it was said that he had never been known to miss going to his stand until this morning, when he failed to appear. The clerks said that he was subject to occasional spells of downheartedness, but from what cause was not known. He had been doing a good business of late and it was not thought that he had any money troubles to drive him to suicide.
The Evening Star Saturday, April 20, 1895
Died
Wright. On April 18, 1895, Benjamin F. Wright, in his forty-eighth year. Funeral private from 1423 8th Street Northwest, Saturday at 4 o’clock PM.
The Evening Star Wednesday, April 17, 1895
Suicidal Shots
Benjamin F. Wright Makes a Determined Attempt to Die
Discovered Struggling in a Pool of Water With Five Bullets in His Body
Benjamin F. Wright of 1207 9th Street, forty years old, brother to Mr. John Wright, the undertaker of 4337 10th Street, attempted suicide this morning by shooting himself several times through the left side. He committed the act in the woods west of Glenwood Cemetery, between the limits of the cemetery and North Capitol Street extension. When found, he was in an exhausted condition from the loss of blood and was lying in a pool of water. Two young men, one of whom was named McAleer, were passing through the woods searching for moss and passed Wright, sitting by the side of the pool, which is formed from the surface drainage and rain water. He said nothing to them as they passed and they paid no further attention to him. On their return by the pond a little later, at about 10:15, they saw Wright struggling in the water, as though he had fallen in face foremost or had flung himself from the bank. They quickly ran to his assistance and soon had him out of the water. He said little beyond to ask that he be taken to his brother’s house on 10th Street and not to a hospital. A small pistol, with which he had shot himself and a box of cartridges, were found on the ground where he had been siting. His clothes, which were of good quality, were deeply stained with blood on the left side in the region of the watch pocket, just below the heart.
Five Bullets Found in the Man
Others coming to the assistance of the two young men who first found the would-be suicide, word was taken over to the power house of the Eckington Road, at 4th and T Streets and a telephone message was sent to the Eighth Precinct Station House, from which a patrol wagon was quickly dispatched. Mr. Wright, who was by this time very weak from loss of blood, insisted upon being taken to his home instead of to a hospital, but he was first taken to the Precinct Station House at 9th and U Streets and was then driven to 1337 10th Street, where he was quickly examined by two physicians, who found that five balls had entered the side. Their course could not be ascertained at once and the nature of the injuries was not known for some time. Mr. John Wright, the brother of the suicide, said to a Star reporter that he had no idea why the act was committed. He was in a very distressed frame of mind and confessed that he could not answer questions intelligently, because of his agitation. He added that he knew nothing of the circumstance of the morning beyond the fact that his brother was brought to his house at about noon in a patrol wagon with a policeman, who was then with him upstairs. So far as he knew his brother had made no statement to explain his deed. He said his brother was about forty or forty-five years old and that he had a family. Further information could not be elicited from the undertaker and the reporter sought to find out something about the man of the neighboring merchants. At a nearby drug store, within a hundred feet of the house, it was not known that Mr. Wright had a brother. At the grocer’s across the street the same state of ignorance concerning Mr. Wright’s family prevailed. In short, the brother seemed practically unknown in the neighborhood. The men who aided in taking him from the pool described him as a man of medium height, well dressed and with a short brownish beard. One of them, a resident of the county, said that the man appeared to be remorseful for his act when he was taken away in the patrol wagon.
Probable Cause of the Act
It was later learned that Ben Wright, as he was known, was for many years employed in the government printing office and was recently dismissed by Mr. Benedict. He then established a little cigar stand in the hallway of the lunch room just west of 9th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. He was separated from his family and his two sons have been cared for by his brother for some years. It is thought that Wright, who is of a peculiar disposition and quiet, shot himself in a fit of despondency. He is not known to be a drinking man and at the lunch room in a part of which he carried on his business it was said that he had never been known to miss going to his stand until this morning, when he failed to appear. The clerks said that he was subject to occasional spells of downheartedness, but from what cause was not known. He had been doing a good business of late and it was not thought that he had any money troubles to drive him to suicide.
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