The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-29
SUICIDE WAS
 VERDICT FOUND Wright Was Intent on Self
 Destruction TOOK CYANIDE TABLOID Last Words Before Death Were to Call for Cigar. Which Was
 Handed to Him By
 Friend.
TOOK CYANIDE TABLOID

London, January 2S.-"Suiclde" was the verdict passed by the eoroner's jury to- day in closing chapter of the tragedy of Whitaker Wright. His death was caused by suffocation in consequence 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 de- liberate suicide. From the evidence at the inquest, 1t 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 cyanide tabloid in his possession while in his hip pocket was revolver fully loaded and even cooked. After the sentence Wright went to the lavatory while the tlpstaff in at- tendance on him remained outside There he swallowed the tabloid, returned 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 coroners court at Westmlns- ter was so crowded that Whitaker Wright, Jr, son of the dead man, had to stand up. throughout the proceedings. He and other witnesses in the main bore out the facts already cabled Neither the son nor the deceased's closest friends, so they testified today. ever heard Wright even intimate that he contemplated sul- eide
 His solicitor, George Lewis, Jr, said the deceased all along implicitly believed that he would be acquitted, or that, at the worst, he only contemplated a disagree If l,n tf1rx tence Wright showed only indignation.
 In talking with MT Lewis, MT. Eyre, one of his sureties, and MT. Waters, the accountant of the London and Globe cor poration. Wright said:
 q really think I am the most composed of you a11.''
 As regards an appeal Wright said he would do exactly as he was advised
 Asked if some one had not better tele- phone the verdict to Mrs Wright MT. Wright said "No, there is plenty of time for that
 Taking out his watch and chain, Wright handed them to MT. Eyre, saying; T shall not have any use for this in that. place., meaning the prison. T give It to you, Eyre. Keep it for me-"
 This was all that occurred.
 After Wright had taken the poison, holding a glass in his hand and still sip ping it's contents he said:
 ''Waters, give me another cigar"
 MT. Waters took up MT. Wright's case, which was lying on a table, and Wright deliberately cut the end of 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 indicating poison, but the official analysst, pr. Freyberger, who conducted the post mortem examination. testified that from every organ of the body exuded the peculiarly penetrating smell of prnsslc acid, and there was not the slightest doubt that Wrlghts death was due to that poison in its cyanide of potassium form The deceased had not suffered from any other disease; there were no lesions of the brain and the heart was healthy, though twice the nor nal size.
 It transpired at the inquest that Wright was only searched after his death. A tabloid found in his pocket id not ap- pear to be poisonous. The revolver was recovered by the police after the law court officials had previously searched Wright. The coroner commented on this and indicated that action would probably be taken by higher authorities.