The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-28
AUTOPSY SHOWS
HOW WRIGHT DIED
Yankee SWindIer of British
Took Cyanide of Potassium.
DRANK DOSE BEFORE JUDGE
ALL LONDON AsToUNDED AT
REVELATIONS DEVELOPED.

4 ONDON, Jan IA post mortcm
/ examination has shown that Whit
I aker Wright committed suicide by
taking cyanide of potassium.
( The investigation made indicates that
Wright must have swallowed the poison
while standing before Justice Bigbaa,
after receiving his sentence. Tt is r.
called that Wright pulled a handker-
chief from his pocket and appeared 30
wipe his face. aud it is surmised that
under cover of this he took the fatal
dose.
The inquest ever the remains Of Whit
aker Wright, who dice suddenly yes
terday after being sentenced to seven
years penal seiNltude Tor fraud, viii be
held tomorrow. The tragic event is the
ono topic OF interest and everywhere is
discussed IN all its features. The pOssl-
bility of he prisoners escape from jus
uce by suicide was clearly foreseen By
Detective Willis. who brought Wright
from New York. Acting on hints dropped
by Wright during the voyage, Wills gave
the court officials SPECIAL warning 10
keep the closest guard over him Towards
the conclusion of the trial. especially
during Justice Bigham 5 severe criticism.
ii became evident that there could only
be one verdict. so If Wright was deter
mined on self-destructiou ia the event of
his conviction. he had time to prepare u
method for outwittiHE the jailers as he
must have tOrcseen that an adverse YER
dict was inevitable.
The Prisoners Writings
4 strange document was found on the
seat ina court which had been occupied
by Wright, showing that he had a pre-
monition Of his sentence. This was a
sheet Of biotting paper on which be had
scrubbed during the Justices SUNNI ng
up The Roman characters VII" were
thlclClEs scattered over the whole sheet.
This was before the verdict had been
rendered, but the number comedies with
me sentence he received. In the middle
Of the sheet appears the word intent
The last word Wright wrote
The opposition papers continue making
trenchant comments on the government.
which they say, declined 10 do its
duty for reasons now shown 10 have
been absurd IN law and which are al
WAYS repugnant to common sense.
The handling of this matter" says
the Westminster Gazette. has reflected
more discredit upon the government than
its other mistakes with even graver con
sequences. Distinguished people were
involved and some Of them have had
happy escapes.
The Financial News says: Wright
Inight have made disclosures VIII Oh
would have seriously discounted some
people, but be was loyal as well as cour-
ageous and be carried his secrets 10 the
grave. To prevent others from divu1ging
what he chose TO conceal he destroyed
many papers, thus completing his sacri-
It is reported that a six-chambeTed re-
volyer. fully loaded. was found in
Wrights pocket By the police.
Pistol Found in Pocket.
At the post-mortem Examination of the
body of Whitaker Wright his features
showed no trace of the suffering be must
have endured before death. Ills face
was calm and peaceful His brain vas
found 10 have been abuormaily large, ana
as the examination proceeded tie doctors
found evidences Of cyanide of. potassium
which confirmed their previous impress
sion OF the cause Of death.
Portions Of the deadly tabloids. stiI un-
dissolved, were found in the stomach.
Wright evidently having swallowed sew
cTal cf them. The report that a revolver
had been found on his person has been
confirmed. The weapon Is of American
make silver plated and OF a heavy
calibre. and was fully loaded 1t was
concealed in his hip pocket. and is an
evidence OF his strong determination TO
end bis life.
II is now supposed that Wright-s osten-
tatfous consumption of tablOids for indi-
gestiou and insomnia during the last
DAYS OF the trial was designed To dis
the fatal dose. According o the doctors
the dead man prolonged his agony bv tax
ing too many of the cyanide of potas-
SUM "a bets as smaller dose would
Wright g conVeTsat tons with his int mates
and attendants during his last days
proves that he hoped until the last for
acquittat- although he made such care
been convinced himself that conviction
was newt abics there was nothing TO pre-
vent his committing suicide previously,
tor he was never searched during his trial
WAYS shadowed BY detectives he had COM
piete freedom of movement.