Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-29
IT WAS SUICIDE.
Coroner's Jury Determines
Cause Of Wright's Death.
Promoter Poisoned HimseIfby Taking
Cyanide Of Potassium
.1hie Is British Justice" One Of Last
Things Re Said.

London. Jan. os.-"Suicide" was the
,.ordict paescd by the coroAers jury,
.ol,,. in the closing chapter of the
,rag.dv Of Whitaker Wright. His
l,oa,b was caused by poisoning by
e,.onide Of potassium. The jury found
49, Wright was perfectly sane and
49, ,bcre was nos the slightest doubt
.hat bis death was due to most delib-
49, .1iridr From the evidence at
the inquest it was shown that Wright
tad determined to take his own life
n ,ha e,.cnt of an adverse verdict and
,bo. he went to court with a cyanide
,,bIoit IN MS possession While IN his
hin rocket was new revolver fuliy
inadrd aud even cooked.
,e,.- the sentence Wright went to
.hI iavatnrv while the tipstaff in at
tendance on him remained on the out
eido Tbere. he swallowed the tabloid,
satr,nad 10 the consulting room wash
"a Down the poison with whiskey and
s,.ato,. and died. One o. the last things
Wright said was:
This; is British justice,
Tine coroner's court at Westminster
,yae. en- crowded that Whitaker Wright
r. ca, ri the dead man had to stand
~, throughout tn" proceedings. lie
and other witnesses bore out the facts
.,raadv cabled. Neither the son nor
the closest friends Of the deceased 50
,bry testified, today. ever heard Nr'Sho
avon intimate that he contemplated
spiciie His solicitor. George LeAis.
r. said the deceased al along impli-
,,,v believed that he would be acQult-
led or that at the worst he only con-
tculpiated Il disagreement OF the jury.
Even after his sentence, Wright snow :
ed Only indignation.
In talking with Lewis Eyre, one Of
hi, sureties and Mr.. Waters, the ac-
couutanl If the London and Globe
/ Corporation. Wright said
Il really think | am the most COM
posed Of you all
As regards an appeal. Wright said
he would do exactly as he was advis-
cd Asked if someone had not better
telephone the verdict to Mrs. Wright,
Wright said:
NO. There is plenty of time for
that"
Taking out his watch and chain
Wright handed them to Mr.. Eyre, say
Ing:
Il shall not have any use for those
in that place meaning the prison. Il
give ii to you, Eyre. Keep it for me.
This was all that occurred.
After Wright had taken the poison
holding the glass in his hand and still
y sip,irg its contents. he said:
Waters give ne another cigar"
Mr. Waters took up WriGht's cigar
ease which was lying upon Il table
and Wright deliberately cut the end
Of cigar and struck Il match. Just az
he was gong to !ight the cigar Wright
flung the match from him. sank back
INTO mcouScicusness and died without
uerng another word
The doctor. who was called in to at
tend Wright said he had not detected
any smell or sign indicating poison
hut the official analysis. DR.
Freyherger. who conducted the posi-
mOrtem examination. testified thai
from every organ of the body exudeC
the peculiarly penetrating odor o
lrussc acid and that there was not tht
SiShdSt doubt tnat wright uetti
was due to that poison in its cyanide
Of potassium form. The deceased haC
net suffered from any disease: Their
vrr" ~ LESSONS of buain and the hear
was @c''lthy, thoughR vice the norma
Si:". ~
1t TRANSFERRED at the inquest tina
Wright was ONLY searched after hi
death, n tabloid found in his poke
did rot alpcar to be poisonous. The Re
Folve" WAS discovered by the police af
ier the law court officials had previous
se"Tcaed Wright$s,rhe coroner com
ksnted on this and indtcated that AZ
sn would probablyshe taken by Il,
eher authorities. $40