Evelyn Wright's death on November 9, 1937, in Glendale, California, was a result of a tragic and violent incident. On that fateful night, Paul Wright, an aviation manager at the Union Air Terminal, discovered his wife, Evelyn, in a compromising position with his best friend, John Kimmel. The two were found in an intimate embrace on a piano bench in the Wrights' living room.
Overcome with a "white hot flame" of jealousy and rage, Paul Wright shot and killed both Evelyn and John.
The case quickly garnered significant public attention, leading to a high-profile trial. Paul Wright was arrested and charged with the murders of his wife and his friend. During the trial, Wright's defense attorney, Jerry Giesler, presented a unique defense strategy. He argued that Wright's emotional instability, exacerbated by his World War I service, a post-war tuberculosis attack, and a voluntary vasectomy, made him prone to violent reactions under extreme stress. Wright's testimony was filled with emotional outbursts as he recounted the events leading up to the shootings, describing how he was awakened by the sound of the piano and, upon investigating, found his wife and friend in a passionate embrace.
The jury, composed of eight men and four women, was tasked with determining Wright's guilt. Despite his initial confession to the murders, Wright's story changed during the trial, with his memory conveniently failing him at critical moments. The defense's argument that Wright was temporarily insane at the time of the killings played a crucial role in the jury's decision. Ultimately, they found Paul Wright guilty of two counts of manslaughter but also concluded that he was insane at the time of the murders. As a result, Wright was not held criminally responsible for the deaths of Evelyn and John.
Following the trial, a Lunacy Commission examined Paul Wright and determined that he was no longer insane, leading to his release without serving any prison time. The case remains a notable example of how emotional and psychological factors can influence legal outcomes, particularly in cases involving crimes of passion. The tragic deaths of Evelyn Wright and John Kimmel continue to be remembered as a dark chapter in Glendale's history.
