Richmond planet., 1904-01-30
WHITAKER WRIGHT I
DIES SUDDENLY
London Promoter Was Convicted OF
Fraud and Sentenced to Seven Yesrs.
PROBABLY POISONED HIMSELF

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London, Jan. 27.-Whitaker Wright
was sentenced to seven years penal
seryitude, and an hour later he lay
dead on the floor of a small room In,
the law courts. Whether he took hiss
own life by poison, or whether death
in its natural course robbed tn Law
of its fulfillment. will not be knowa unr-
til a postmortem examination is held.
the indications. however, point TO pos
soning.
The career of this man, who was
known on three continents for his stu
pendous financial operations, closed irs
startling tragedy. Even In his life.
which. with his rise from poverty to
enormous wealth, was full of dramatic
incidents, there was nothing that could
compare with the manner of his death.
All London is thrilled with the news
oil IT. No such human tragedy has beer
enacted in England for many a year
Mrs. Wright, the dead mans wife
is an American. She now lies fIi lat
the magnificent country home which
Wright had in Surrey. Dispatches from
there say, with a certain ingenious
pathos, "the news Of Whitaker
Wright's death has caused much sor~.
row"
When the jury filed In. wrighe
showed his first signs of nervousness
Peering through lis glasses. he leaned.
forward to catch the foreman's an.
swer. At the word guilty" which.
broke the tense and expectant silence
Wright did not even finch. but. stick
Ing his hands deep down into his pock-
cts and gazing rather grimly at his
judge. he stood up to receive sentence
To the cry of woman that came from
the back OF the court. and to the reali-
zation that his career as a man or
business and honor was ended. Wright
seemed utterly oblivious.
Whitaker Wright" said Justice
Bigham, 'in my opinion the jury could
not have arrived at any other conciu-
sion than that which they have ex-
pressed in their verdict. I confess (
see nothing that in any way excuses
the crime of which you have been
found guilty, and l cannot conceive OF
worse case than yours. do noe
think that / have any option save to
visit you with the most severe penalty
which the act permits, and that Is that
you go into penal servitude for seven
years."
The crowd in court gasped In sur
prise. Wright was almost the only per-
son present who appeared to be pu-
moved. Then, turning to the re porters
In the room. rather than to his Judge.
he cried out in a firm voice: "All
can say is that am as innocent OF any
intention to deceive as anyone In this
room"
said more. but two tipstaffs took him,
by the arms and led him out of court
A friend pressed forward to offer him
coincidence. "Oh, never mind" saif
Wright. 81 don't mind bit" and wit
firm step and looking in perfect
health, the convicted man strobe tc,
the consultation room to take far ewe!.G
Of his solicitors. For some 90 min
utes Wright discussed his family a. -
fairs and the disposition of his remain
Ing moneys. He frankly expressed
his amazement at the verdict. and stia
more so at the sentence.
ouuoeniy wright Ieil DacKwaru, aS ~
he had tainted. The officer who was
waiting to take him to Brixton prison.
ran to Kings College hospital, which
Is nearby, for a doctor. In the mean
while the unconscious man was prop
ped up on two chairs. The doctor
came quickly. His first thought was
that Wright had fallen in an ordinary
apoplectic fit. but it was noticed that
his heart began gradually to give Oat
and before another doctor could ARRIVE
Whitaker Wright, within one hoar Of
the time he had been sentenced. was
dead.
An examination of the body points
strongly to the fact that death was
due to poisoning.