Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-28
WRIGHT WAS
PERFECTLY SANE.
Jury so Found, His Death Being
Due TO Deliberate
Suicide.
he HAD A LOADED REVOLv YER.
Coroner Commented on This-Higher
Authorities May Take the
Matter Up.

London Jan. co. Suicide was the
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 sane and that there was not the
slightest doubt that his death was due
to most deliberate suicide. From the
evidence at the inquest IL was shown
that Wright had determined 10 take his
own life in the event OF an adverse yer-
dict and that he went to court with a
cyanide tabloid in his possession while
In his hip pocket was new revolver
fully loaded and even cooked, After
the sentence Wright went to the lava
tory while the tlpstnff in attendance on
him remained outside. There he swal,
lowed the tabloid, returning to the con.
sulting room washed down the poison
with whlskey 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 50 crowded that Whitaker
Wright. Jr., son of the dead man, had
to stand up throughout the proceedings.
lie and other witnesses In the main
bore out the facts already cabled.
Neither the son nor the deceased's clos
est friends, so they testified today, ever
heard Wright even intimate that he
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 contemplat.
ed disagreement Of the jury. Even
after his sentence Wright showed only
Indignation.
In talking with Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Eyre,
one Of his suretles, and Mr. Waters, the
accountant OF the London a Globe cor
poratIon, Wright said:
Il really think I am the most COM
posed Of you ALL
IA regards an appeal Wright said he
would do exactly as h. was advised.
Asked II some one had not bet ter tel
ephone the verdict 70 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 this
In that place, meaning the prison. Il
give Il to you. Eyre. Keep II for me-"
This was all that occurred
After Wright had taken the poison.
holding a glass In his hand and still
slipping It's contents, he said:
Waters, give me another cigar" Mr..
waters took up Wright's cigar case
which was lying on a table, and Wright |
deliberately cut the end of a cigar and |
struck a match, Just as he was going |
to light the cigar Wright flung the |
match from him, sank back uncon- |
sclous ana died without utterIng an. |
other word. The doctor who was called |
In to attend Wright said he had not de. |
tected any smell or sign indicating poi. |
SON but the Official analyst Dr. Frey |
burger who conducted the post norton |
examination, testified that from every |
organ OF the body eXuded the peculiar
~ penetrating smell OF prusslc acid and |
that there was not the slightest doubt
that Wrights death was due to that |
poison, IN its cyanide Of potassium
form, The deceased had not suffered
IRON any other disease, there were no
LESSONS Of the brain and the heart was
healthy though twice the normal size
IT tronspred at the inquest that |
wright was only searched after his
death A tabloid found In his pocket |
dld not appear to be poisonous The re.
volver was discovered by the police az.
ter the law court officials had previous.
~ searched Wright The coroner com. |
mented on this and indicated that ac-
tlon probably would be taken by the
higher authorities.