The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-27
Whitaker Wright Famous on
Three Continents, Dies With
in an Hour After Sentence
COURT GIVES HIM SEVEN
YEARS PENAL SERV|TUDE
All London Is Thrilled, for No Such
Human Tragedy Has Been En-
acted In England for
Many Years.

London, January 2s.--At 8 o'clock this
afternoon Whitaker Wright was sentence
ed to seven years penal servitude. Af 4
Q. clock he lay dead on the floor of a
small room in the law courts.
Whether he took his own life by poison,
or whether death in its natural course
robbed the law of its fulfillment, will not
be known until postmortem examination
is held; the indications, however, point to
poison
The career of this man, who was known
on three continents for his stupendous
financial operations. closed in startling
tragedy. Even in his life with his rise
from poverty to enormous wealth, which
was full of dramatic incidents, there was
nothing which could compare with the
manner of his death All London tonight
is thrilled with the news of it, No such
human tragedy has been enacted in Eng
land for many a year.
The inquest will probably be held on
Thursday.
Mrs. Wright In America.
Mrs. Wright the dead mans wife. is an
American. She now lies Ill at the magnih-
cent country home which Wright had in
Surrey. Dispatches from there say with
a certain ingenious pathos:
'',rhe news of Whitaker Wrights death
has caused much sorrow He was well
Known here for his acts of generosity
and 1t was generally believed tnat ne
would be acquitted and return hons
agaln.'
The feeling that Justice Bingham's con-
duct of the case was not very JUDICIAL
appears to grow in legal circles OF Lon
don. and the sentence imposed upon
Wright would have in itself furnished
England with an unexpected sensation.
Until counsel commenced pleading, the
actual trial of Whitaker Wright scarcely
aroused that keen public interest which
was exhibited when Wright was In the
United States, or when parliament decided
he did not come within the pale of law
breakers.
People Awake to Gravity Of Issues.
When Messrs Isaaes and Walton start
ed to make their appeal to the jury, the
people awoke to the gravity of the issues
concerned Even the government was In
volved, for 1t had taken the stand that
Wright could not be prosecuted. Further
more it was an open secret that many
great and even royal names were In
directly involved in the proceedings.
Friends of Wright had said that If
driven into corner. he would tell who
had profted by his transactions. Suspense
reigned in many quarters While counsel
for the defense made their appeal, but
when the appeal was finished those In
volved breathed easier and public curiosity
remained unsatisfed.
Justice Bingham began summing up to-
day and the courtroom was crowded.
During several previous sessions Wright
had gone to sleep. He had adhered to
his conviction that he could not possibly
be found guilty and it was upon this
conviction that he, against the advice of
his lawyers, Insisted upon returning
from the United States to stand trial.
AS Justice Bingham emphasized the
points against Wright, expatiated to the
Jury upon the immortality In issuing mis-
leading balance sheets, and the doubtful
ness Of the transactions of the London
and Globe financial corporation under
Wrights guidance, the prisoner showed
tired Wright still retained confidence in
his acquittal. He reiterated that he had
done nothing which was not done ev-
cry day in the city. For an hour Wright
awaited the verdict meanwhile talking
cheerfully with his counsel
First Sign Of Nervousness.
When the jury filed in at 3 o'clock,
Wright showed his first sign of nervous
ness. Peering through his glasses he
leaned forward to catch the foreman's
answer. At the word guilty" which
broke the tense and expectant silence,
Wright did not even finch but sticking
nhands deep down into his pockets,
F gazing rather grimly at his judge.
stood up to receive sentence.
Vro the cry of woman that came from
the back of the court, and to the reali-
nkation that his career as man of busi-
rs and honor was ended. Wright SEEM
terly oblivious He sat down me-
kwhile Mr.. Walton made plea
e Bingham, in sharp and
tones answered Mr.. Walton.
WAS peremptorily told to stand
Fhitaker Wright said Justice Bing-
"in my opinion the jury on the evil
could not have arrived at any
conclusion than that which they
( expressed In their verdict. confess
Zee nothing that in any way excuses the
crime of which you have now been found
guilty, and 1 cannot conceive of a worse
case than yours.
Most Sewers Penalty.
Under the sections of the act of parlia-
ment upon which you have been indicted
and which define the offense in these
circumstances do not think that have
any option save to visit upon you with
the most severe penalty which the law
permits. and that is you go into penal
servitude for seven years"
The crowd In court gasped In surprise
-,as almost the only person pres
ppeared to be unmoved. Then
the reporters in the room
to his judge. he cried out in
ce:
IN say is that l am innocent of
tion to deceive as any one in
apparent that he would have