John Wright (1864 - 1911)

Born 1864 in Worcestershire, England

Died 13 Nov 1911 at about age 47 in Mangatoki, Taranaki, New Zealand

Biography

John Wright was christened in Crowle, Worcestershire on the 8th October 1864. He emigrated with his family to Taranaki, New Zealand in the 1880s.

The Wright home at Rowan - left to right - William & Sarah Wright and their sons John, Edwin & George

Hawera & Normanby Star 14th November 1911 p:5 ^[1]

John Wright, a farmer on the Eltham Road, Mangatoki, was found dead in a creek near Mr Hair's property, Hunter road, by Constable Wade and Mr Fitness yesterday. It appears that the deceased, who had been suffering from insomnia and melancholia, had shot himself and fallen into the creek. The deceased, who was 46 years of age, had been farming in partnership with his brother, Mr Edwin Wright. An inquest will be held to-day.

John Wright with the milk On the daily trip to Rowan Dairy Factory

Hawera and Normanby Star 16th November 1911 p:4 ^[2]

ROWAN

Great was the gloom cast over the district when it became known on Monday that Mr. E. Wright of Mangatoki and late of Rowan had passed away.Mr Wright had resided in this district for a considerable number of years and was respected by all who knew him. His parents, though very aged still survive him, and to them all we tender our depet and heartfelf sympathy in their sad berievement.

Hawera & Normanby Star 15th November 1911 page 8 ^[3]

INQUEST AT MANGATOKI

An inquest was held at Mangatoki on Tuesday before Mr McGarry, coroner, and a jury, consisting of Messrs A. G. Batten (foreman), j. Spraggon, R; Mortlock, and R. G. Cook, touching the death of John Wright, farmer, Mangatoki, who met his death on Monday morning by a gunshot wound inflicted by himself. After the jury had viewed the body, Dr.G. A. Harrison gave evidence as to having examined the deceased and found a wound on the right hand side of the top of the skull, which could have been caused by a bullet, and was the cause of death.

Frank-Arthur Firness, farm worker, Mangatoki, stated that he last saw deceased alive, on Monday morning at about; 7.30 hurrying along the Lower Hunter road at a-quick, walk. Near the same spot, at 11 a.m., he had assisted Constable Wade to take deceased's body from a small creek that flows in the vicinity.

Edmund Wright, farmer, of Mangatoki, brother of deceased, explained how, on entering his brother's room at 6.30 on Monday morning he was surprised to find that the bed had not been slept in. Knowing that his brother suffered from sleeplessness, he presumed he had gone out for an early morning walk. As he did not return, he began to get anxious, and on making a search found a letter in his brother's box (produced). The letter explained that owing to frequent and increasing attacks of sleeplessness, life had become unendurable and expressed the writer's intention of doing away with himself and where his body would be found. On going to the spot indicated he found his brother lying in the creek dead. He had immediately proceeded to Eltham and communicated with the police. His brother had been perfectly rational, but had been suffering from insomnia for the past three weeks, and intermittently for several years.

Constable Wade deposed, having, on information received, proceeded to the creek flowing across Mr Haire's property, where he saw the body of deceased, lying on its back in about 2ft. of water. On bringing the body ashore he found a small five-chambered revolver attached to his coat button by a piece of string, the weapon being loosely clasped in deceased's hand. The chambers contained four live shells and one recently discharged. From the attitude of the body he judged deceased had entered the water, sat down in it and shot himself while in that position. This concluded the evidence and the jury, after brief consideration, returned a verdict "that deceased met his death by a gunshot wound self-inflicted while in a state of temporary insanity, caused by insomnia.

Bush camp, Rowan

John Wright is buried in the General Methodist Section of the cemetery at Eltham, with his parents William and Sarah Wright and his brother George in plot 2370. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 14 November 1911, Page 5
2. ↑ Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 16 November 1911, Page 4
3. ↑ Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 15 November 1911, Page 8
4. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial ID: 233934117 - John Wright

• N.Z. Deaths - 1911/1662 - Wright John age 46 years