The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-27
BY HAND OF GOD
OR BY HIS OWN
whitaker WRIGHT LAID LOW.
HE WAS GIVEN SEVEN YEARS, hut
THE LAW WAS CHEATED.

The FnmOus Promoter, Stricken by
Heart Failure or n Victim of Pot
son SeIf-Administered,D Died One
Hour After Receiving His Sem
nOccnt of Any Intent 10 Deceive.
All London Thrilled.
London, Jan. 26.-At o'clock this
afternoon Whitaker Wright was sem
fenced to seven years penal servltude.
At o'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 it's natural course
robbed the law of it's fulfillment, will
not be known until a post mortem ex-
animation 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. All London to-
night is thrilled with the news of it.
No such human tragedy has been en-
acted in England for many year.
Until nearly o'clock tonight the
body of the man who formerly had
kets and who had been courted by roy
atty remained upon the floor of the
room where he fell, for, as a convicted
felon, Wright's person had become the
property of the crown.
The Home Office finally gave permits
| al he
given over to the jurisdiction of the
coroner.
| 1t now lies at Westminster mortu-
airy, where almost all the corpses taken
| from the Thames are laid out. The in
quest probably will be held on Thurs
| day.
| Wife an American.
Mrs. Wright, the dead mans wife,
is an American. She now lies i'll at
the magnificent country home which
| Wright had in Surrey.
| An examination of the body, made at
a late hour tonight, points strongly
| to the fact that death was caused by
| poison. The post-mortem examination
will be held Wednesday.
After twelve days trial the jury in
|
Court of Justice to-day found Whita-
ker Wright guilty of fraud on all the
counts, and he was sentenced to seven
| years penal servitude, the severest
| sentence the law allows.
Standing with his hands in his pock-
cts and looking very pale, but not so
anxious as during the judges severe
summing up, Wright heard the judges
| condemnation and sentence without APP
| parent excitement. He quietly protest.
| ed his innocence in a firm voice, au-
| dible throughout the room, left the
| court in company with his solicitor,
| and was arranging for the future of
| his wife and family when he suddenly
| fell and expired without another word.
| According to court attendant, who
was in the ante-room when Wright
was stricken, the latter was talking
to Solicitor Lewis about his family and
| giving instructions regarding their fu-
| ture, while jailers were awaiting out
| side to take him to prison, when
| Wright suddenly stumbled and fell
/ forward. Mr.. Lewis and the court at
tendant caught him and put him in a
chair, placing his feet on another chair.
! They then summoned a doctor.
Never Spoke Again.
Wright almost Immediately became
unconscious and never spoke again.
/ Ine QOClOTt WIlGH ne dIIlNGuy Sdlu DOlIk~
| ing could be done, and by 1856 o'clock
the financier was dead. His body was
covered with a sheet and laid on the
/ floor. The corpse retains it's normal
appearance, the face being little
| changed.
Justice Bigham, in passing sentence,
| said he could see nothing to excuse the
crime of which Wright had been con-
victed, and he could not conceive OF a
He fharafnra olInf
| the most severe punishment the law
permitted.
Wright, who had stood up to receive
his sentence, said in a firm voice:
"All / can say is that / am as inno-
cent OF any intention to deceive as any
| one in this court"
J The sentence was followed by a
commotion in the court, and the faint
| cry of a woman In distress was heard.
| One man shook hands with Wright as
| the latter left the court by the private
exit, accompanied by his counsel.
Dramatic Scene in Court.
When the jury filed in, Wright show
ed his first signs of nervousness. Peer
ing through his glasses, he leaned for
ward to catch the foreman's words. At
J the word, guilty" which broke the
J tense and expectant silence. Wright
| did not even finch. but sticking his
hands deep down into his pockets, and
gazing rather grimly at his judge, he
stood I'D to receive sentence.
Whitaker Wright" said Justice Big
ham, 'in my opinion the jury could
not, on the evidence. have arrived at
| any other conclusion than that which
| they have expressed in their verdict.
confess 1 see nothing that in any way.
excuses the crime of which you have
now been found guilty, and I cannot
| conceive of a worse case than yours.
| Under the sections of the act of Par
lament upon which you have been in
| dicted, and which define the offenses In
| these circumstances. / do not think
| that l 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
person present who appeared to be un-
moved. Then, turning to the report
ers in the room, rather than to his
| Judge, he cried out in a firm voice:
IAN 1 can say is that l am as inno-
cent of any intention to deceive as
any one in this ROOM"
1t was apparent that he would have
said more, but two Upstairs took him
by the arms and led him out Of the
| court.
A friend pressed forward to offer his
condolences. ooh, never mind" said
Wright. II don't mind a Bit" and
with firm step and looking In perfect
health, the convicted man STROBE to
the consultation room TO take farewell
of his solicitors.
Wright frankly expressed his amaze