The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
All Doubts Regarding Cause of
Whitaker Wright's Death
Set at Rest by Evidence at
C0roner's Inquest.
TOOK PRUSSIC ACID.
Had a Revolver Ready Cooked
in His Pocket.
Some Features of the PrOmot-
er's Remarkable Career.

verdict passed by the coroner's jury to-
day in the closing chapter of the trag-
edy of Whitaker Wright. His death
was caused by poisoning by cyanide
OF potassium. The jury found that
Wright was perfectly sane and that
there was not the slightest doubt that
his death was due to most deliberate
suicide. From the evidence at the in
quest it was shown that Wright had
determined to take his own life in the
event of an adverse verdict and that
he went to court with a cyanide tab
loid in his possession while in his hip
pocket was new revolver fully loaded
and even cooked. After the sentence
Wright went to the lavatory while the
tip staff in attendance on him remain
ed outside. There he swallowed the
tabloid, returning to the consulting
room washed down the poison with
whisky and water and died One of the
last things Wright said was, This is
British justice"
The small coroner's court at West
minister was so crowded that Whitaker
Wright Jr., son of the dead man, had
to stand up throughout the proceed
ings. He and other witnesses in the
main bore out the facts already ca
bled. Neither the son nor the deceas-
eds closest friends, so they testified to-
day ever heard Wright even intimate
that he ever contemplated suicide.
His solicitor, George Lewis, Jr., said
the deceased all along implicitly be-
lieved that he would be acquitted, or
that, at the worst he only contempla-
ted a disagreement of the jury. Even
after his sentence Wright showed only
indignation.
In talking with Mr.. Lewis, Mr. Eyre.
one of his sureties, and Mr.. Waters, the
accountant of the London & Globe cor
poration, Wright said: Il really think
L am the most composed of you ALL"
AS regards an appeal, Wright said
he would do exactly as he was advised.
Asked if some one had not better tel
ephone the verdict to Mrs. Wright.
Wright said: There is plenty of time
for that" Taking out his watch and
chain Wright handed them to Mr.. Eyre,
saying. 81 shall not have any use for
this in that place." meaning the prison.
me. give TO s0u' Eyre Nee' It lo'
This was all that occurred After
Wright had taken the poison, holding
a glass in his hand and still slipping
another cigar"
Mr.. Waters took up Wright's cigar
case which was lying on a table, and
Wright deliberately cut the end off a
cigar and struck a match. Just as he
was going to light the cigar Wright
flung the match from him. sank back
unconscious and died without uttering
another word. The doctor who was
called in to attend Wright said he had
not detected any smell or sign indicat-
ing poison, but the official analysist,
DR.. Frederberger, who conducted the
post mortem examination, testified
that from every organ of the body
exuded the peculiarly penetrating smell
of prussic acid and that there was not
the slightest doubt that Wright's death
was due to that poison, in it's cyanide
of potassium form. The deceased had
not suffered from any other disease;
there were no LESSONS of the brain and
the heart was healthy, though twice the
normal size.
It transpired at the inquest that
Wright was only searched after his
death A tabloid found in his pocket
did not appear to be poisonous. The
revolver was discovered by the police
after the law court officials had prev
iously searched Wright. The coroner
commented on this and indicated that
action probably would be taken by the
higher authorities
Whitaker Wright's life reads like a
romance with the beginning of it torn
away and intermediate chapters omit
ted. Where he was born, or just who
lie was, may always be mystery He
is quoted as saying he was born in
England and educated there. So far as
can be ascertained no one knows any
thing of his history beyond what he told
of his own accord. In the world Of
money makers he had been known for
a good many years, appearing at differ
ent times in Australia, Canada, the
United States, and in London
Money making by gambling and spec
ulation was an instinct with him, and it
is known that he made and lost millions
during his career He had prospected
in Australia and America, and always
showed a fondness for mining ventures
and the promotion of enterprises of
which mines were the basis 1t was not
until he ventured away from his famil-
lar field and sought to promote an un-
derground railway in London that he
failed.
The promoter spent his money freely
and the millions he acquired did not al
ways stick to his fingers. He boarded
nothing and had no investments of a
substantial nature.
During the high tide of his prosperity
he built palace in Surrey that cost
more than million dollars. 1t had
huge artificial lakes and in one of them
was a conservatory under the surface
of the water He put in marble foun-
tains, parts of which were so large the
railroads could not carry them, and spe-
cial traction engines had to be secured
to move them.
The place at Lea Park was a grand
affair. and while he was prosperous it
to keep the place in order. Nothing that
luxury and lavish expenditure could
suggest was omitted.
Whitaker Wright leaves a wife and
three children. son just out of Eton
and two girls. They are said to be
practically penniless.
Beside his own death. which closed
his strange career, one other death
that of Lord Dufferin, is charged to
Whitaker Wright's schemes. How many
others, ruined by investment in his bal
loon enterprises. killed themselves or
died never can be known.
The affair which marked his down.
fall, ruined Lord Dufferin and smirched