The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-28
ENDED LIFE WITH
CYANIDE POISON
Whitaker Wright Took Fatal
Dose at Trial.
LONDON TALKS OF CASE
Conduct of the Trial and the Verdict
Reached Are Criticised BY the
English Press-Had Re-
Volver in Pocket.
LONDON TALKS OF CASE

London, January 27.-At the postmortem
examination of the body of Whitaker
Wright, his features showed no trace of
the suffering he must have endured prior
to death. His face was calm and peace
full His brain was found to have been
abnormally large, and as the examina-
tion proceeded the doctors found evidence
of cyanide of potassium which confirmed
their previous impression of the cause of
death.
Portions Of the deadly tabloids still un-
dissolved were found In the stomach,
Wright evidently having swallowed sew
eral of 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 cali
bre and was fully loaded. It was con-
cealed IN his hip pocket, and is an evil
dence of his strong determination to end
his life
Took Many Tablets.
1t is now supposed that Wrlghts' osten-
tatious consumption of tabloids for indl-
gestion and insomnia during the last few
days Of the trail was designated to dis
guise in case of necessity the taking of
the fatal dose. According to the doctors,
the dead man prolonged his agony by
taking too many of the cyanide of po-
tassium tabloids. as a smaller dose would
have brought death more swiftly.
All Wrights conversation with his in
mates and attendants during his last
days, proves that he hoped until the
last for acquttal, although he made such
careful preparations for the worst. Had
he been convinced himself that conviction
was inevitable, there was nothing to
prevent his suicide previously for he
was never searched during his trial and
with the exception that he was always
Swallowed by detectives, he had complete
freedom
Inquest to Be Held Today.
The inquest over the remains of Whit
aker Wright. who died suddenly yester-
Gay after being sentenced to seven years
penal seryitude for fraud will be held to-
morrow. The tragic event is the one topic
of interest and is everywhere discussed in
all its features
The possibility of the promoters es-
cape from justice by suicide was clearly
foreseen by Detective Willis, who brought
Wright from New York. Acting on hints
dropped by Wright during the voyage
Willis gave The court officials a special
warning to keep the closest guard over
him. Towards the conclusion of the trial.
especially during Justice Bingham's
severe criticism, 1t became evident that
fhna.n In tc
Wright was determined on self-destruc-
ton In the event of his conviction he
had time to prepare a method for out
whiting the jailors. as he must have
foreseen that an adverse verdict was in
evitable.
Strange Document Found.
A strange document was found on the
seat in court which had been occupied
by Wright showing that he had a pre-
monition of his sentence. This was a
sheet of blotting paper on which he had
scrubbed during the Justices summing
up. The Roman characters wi" were
thiclly scattered over the whole sheet.
This was before the verdict, but the num-
Der comedies with the sentence he re-
ceived. In the middle of the sheet APP
pears the word intent" the last word
Wright wrote.
The opposition papers continue making
trenchant comments ON the government
which, they say, declined to do its duty
for reasons now shown to have been alb
surd in law, and which were always re-
pugnant to common sense"
THE whole handling of this matter ;"
says the Westminster Gazette, has re-
| Elected more discredit on the government
than its other mistakes, with even graver
consequence. Distinguished people were
involved and some of them had happy es-
capes."
The Financial News on this point says:
Wright might have made disclosures
which may have been seriously discom-
forted some people, but he was loyal as
well as courageous. and he carried his Sc
crets to the grave. To prevent others
from divulging what he chose to conceal.
he destroyed many papers, thus complet-
ing his sacrifices
|