The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-01
HORACE WRIGHT SUICIDES.
EDITOR. INDEPENDENT DRINKS
CARBOLIC ACID.
Takes Two ounces of Fiery Liquid and
Expires in His Chair-TerribIe End
of a Well Known Man.

w. Horace Wright, lawyer associate
editor of the Independent and local re-
preventative of the San Francisco Call,
committed suicide sometime during the
late hours Of yesterday afternoon or
early hours OF the evening 10y taking an
immense drdIght Of CarbOlin acid. lie
died sitting IN his chair in the ludepen-
dent office. Early this morning one OF
the compositurs, arriving at the office.
saw the door open and Mr.. Wright sit
ting in his chair. He wished him "A
happy new year, and, receiving no res
pOnse, walked over to the desk and
found the man dead. Running over to
CamarinOs' fruit store he notified the
police. Deputy High Sheriff Chilling
worth responded promptly, although up
nearly all night, and subpoened the fol-
lowing coroner's jury. George Dillng-
ham, Kirk B. Porter, Frank Godfrey,
John Sullivan, James Carol and l.. d.
Timmons. The jury accompanied by
DR.. Emerson viewed the body at 80
this morning and then adjourned to $3.50
tomorrow afternoon when q verdict will
be rendered.
From all accounts, Mr.. Wright had
been drinking for simetime and was
probably very respondent. Suicide was
likely the result of a debauCh of yes
terday, for he was drinking during the
day and a half filed flask of whiskey
purchased from the Hoffman saloon was
on the desk close to the hand of the
dead nan. This was the first thing no.
ticed by the Coroner's jury on entering
the room. The Deputy High Sheriff
however, detected a smell of carboliC
acid and a search for the dreadful poi-
son was Immediately Instituted A
small glass at the front of the desk was
picked up by DR.. Emerson and found to
contain a small quantity Of the acid. A
one ounce bottle Of the stuff was found
under the desk and another among some
papers on top of it, both nearly empty
Dr. Emerson made a hasty examination
of the corpse and found the lips burned
white by the fiery liquid. Death must
have resulted within five minutes and
must have been horrible in all respects
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Wright appeared at the Hebron
drug store and asked for ten cents
worth of CarbOliC. To Nh. Muller one of
the clerks, he stated who he was ana
that he wanted the acid to prepare a
wash He was delivered an ounce bot
tie, From Hobron's he went straight
to HOLSTERS and there purchased a
bottle of the same size. At the latter
store he stated that he wanted the acid
iyt solution for an old wound to be
used as a wash and disinrectant. Asked
how he would prepare it, he said one
part to thirty of water This was all
right, and the bottle was given him.
He evidently then went straight back
to the Independent office, for one of the
compositors states that he was there
when he(the printer) left the office at
4:3O. Suicide was not committed until
after everybody had gone home for the
night. 1t is to be supposed that the half
flask of whiskey was taken ahead of the
poison.
No letter or any other expression was
left by the dead man. The body was
nDnrn1np rn1nnNyAH f. h.
where an autopsy is being held.
The early days of Mr.. Wright are
shrouded in some mystery. He was
born in England and was an English
barrister. When a young man he left
home and came to California where he
engaged in the practice of law and in
Journalism. About 1877 he arrived in
Honolulu and, on his excellent Califor-
mia papers. was admitted to practice in
all of the island courts. Under the Glib
son regime he was employed in the for
eign Office as Interpreter and assistant
secretary. associated with j. S Webb
At the time of the overthrow in 1928 he
was continued as secretary of the office
! and served until the appointment of
/ George c. Potter to the office. Deceased
| had since then been a counsellor at law
! ana newspaper man. When the hide
pendent was established he became its
associate editor. He was practically the
LtNNll'l VI lllc w dNtIltN NluD, Il uStIul
| institution in its palmy days and still
tribute to his memory.
Mr. Wright was a highly educated
man and a good writer He had many
friends in Honolulu and the Islands who
deeply deplore his untimely and unfor-
tunate ending.
F. j. Testa, business manager of the
| Independent, came down town Just be-
| fore press hour. and said: II visited the
| Independent Office about II o'clock last
night. Found the door open. Went in
| III match and saw Wright in his chair
| His head was down over his breast and
| | thought he was asleep. / saw a halt
| filled bottle of whiskey on the desk in
! front Of him. My Impressions were
| that he was in a drunken stupor. l die
not want to be bothered with him, SC
| did not try to wake him. He may have
! been dead at that time"
BIG CHRISTMAS TRADE.