The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-27

4 ONDON. Jan. 26.-At O'Clock this
afternoon Whitaker Wright was
sentenced TO seven years penal
servitude. At O'Clock he Ley 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
fulhIlment win not be known until
a post norton examination is held.
The indications. however, point to
poisoning
The career of this man. who was
known on three continents for his stu
pendous financial operations, closed in
startling tragedy. Even in his lie
which with his rise from poverty to
enormous wealth, was fun of dra-
matte Incidents. there was nothing
that 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
England for many year
Until nearly O'Clock tonight the
body Of the man who formerly had con-
troIled many Of the worlds markets.
and who had been courted by royalty
remained upon the floor Of the room
where he fell, Tor. as a convicted felon,
NFright's person had become the prop
eTty OF the crown.
The home office finally gave permits
sion for its removal, and the body was
given over 10 the jurisdiction Of the
coroner. 1t now lies at Westminster
mortuary, where almost all the corpses
taken from the Thames are laid out.
The inquest probably win be held on
Thursday.
Friends Expected an Acquittal
Mrs. Wright, the dead mans wife. Is
an American She now lies iii at the
magnificent country home which
Wright had IN Surrey. Dispatches from
there say, with certain ingenious
pathos;
The news of Whitaker Wright's
death has caused much sorrow. He
was well known here for mis- acts Nof
generosity. and il was generally be
lieved that he would he acquitted and
return home again-"
The feeling that Justice Bighams con-
duct 81 the case was not very Judicial
appears to grow in legal circles Of Lon
don. ard the sentence imposed upon
Wright in Itself would have furnished
England with an unexpected sensation.
Until counsel commenced pleading. the
actual trial OF Whitaker Wright scarcely
aroused that keen puzzle interest which
was exhibited when Wright was i'm the
nited STATES. or when parliament de-
cided he did not come within the pale OF
law-breakers
When Mcssrs. Isaacks and Walton
started 70 make the appeal 10 the Jury
She people woke zap 10 the gravity of the
was involved, for 10 had taken the stand
that Wright could not be prosecuted
Furthermore, 1t was an open secret that
many great and even royal names were
Indirectly involved i'm the prOCeedin g.
Friends of Wright had said that If driven
into q corner he would ten who had
Trofited by his Transactions. suspense
reIgned ia many quarters while counsel
for the defense made their appeal, but
when the appeal was finished those In
VOWED breathed easier and puoliC cuTiOs-
ity remained unsatiSfied-
Slept During Court Session.
Justice Bigham began summing up to
DAY AM the court room was crowded
During several previous sessions Wright
had gone TO sleep. he had adhered "a
his conviction that BE could not Dossibiy
be found guilty. and il was upon this
conviction that ne. against the advice OF
his lawyers insisted upon returning fr0U
The United States 10 stand trial
As Justice Bigham emphasized tht
points against Wright. eNpatiated 10 tlis
jury upon the immortality in issuing mis-
leading balance sheets and the doubtfuf-
ness OF me transactions or tuS London
~ Globe Financial corporation uuGci
WTiEhLs guidance. the prisoner showed
intense interest. yet when the jury re-
tired Wright still retained confidence 81
bis acquittal. lie reiterated that DE haC
done nothing which was not done ever5
Jay in the city.
For an hour Wright awaited the YER
dict meanwhile talking Cheertuiiy viii
his counsel. while the city magnateS
members OF the aristocracS and the Other
spectators who crowded the room KEPT
their eyes rivitcd upou the man whoss
fate hung IN the balance
When the Jury filed in at Q o'clock
Wright showed his first signs of uervou
ncss. Peering thruugn his glasses