Arizona republican., 1914-05-06
TRIAL OF WHITAKER WRIGHT

The life. trial and tragis death of Whitaker Wright is well remem- bered by most readers. The story of this promoters career reads like d page of fiction MT. Wright was an Englishman. who had long resid- ed in America, where he had accu- mulated quite fortune. At three o'clock in the afternoon of January PC. 1904, the famous promoter was sentenced to seven years penal ser Vitude and one hour later he lay dead on the floor of q small room in the law court, the result of poison ad- ministered by himself
 The astonishing career of Whitaker Wright, as promoter, began Tn Philadelphia. where he lived from 1880 to 1881. and where he made his first million as a broker in cotton. grain and petroleum. Shortly after he returned to England he became the friend and fleecer of those who sit in the seats of the mighty. When he was caught in the tolls of 1 justice for footing Englishmen of hundred million of dollars. he boasted | that he was immune from punish ment because "The King of England 1 is my friend
 Wright floated no less than eleven companies in England, financial. mineral and railway. When the fi- nancial crash of the Wright com panies came in December, 1902, Whit aker found that his hoasted friend ship with the king did not stand for ! as much as he expected it would and in February, 1903. he left Eng 1 land for America with his niece, Miss Browne, under the assumed name of Andreanoni When he reached New York on February 15. he was imme- diately arrested on an English order of prosecution for fraud which, had at last been issued after the House of Commons had taken the matter up.
 How much money Wright made out of his victims has never been fully known. but he was able to live in princely style at Park Lane, Lon don. in miniature palace which 1t took three years to complete. At Godalming he owned country seat in the beautifying of which eco work linen were engaged. His private yacht was fitted with the utmost luXuri- ousness
 Among the victims of Wright in London were the Marquis of Duff ferin. the Duke of Connaught a brother of King Edward: Right Hon. Arthur Balfour, premier of Great Britain: the Earl of Warwick, Lord William Beresford, and many others. The many companies he flOated rep resented grand total in money of $1l1.775OoO
 When Wright was arrested in New York he was held until eXtradition papers arrived on June I. 1903. and after long legal wrangles in the courts MT. Wright abandoned his re- sistance and on July extradition was granted.
 On August 4 he arrived in Eng land The next day he was charged al Guildhall with various crimes, the main one of which was with report ing certain material particulars with intent to deceive and defraud the members. shareholders and creditors and which the accused knew to be false" The court was timed to sit at II o'clock. and at twenty minutes before that hour Wright took hls place. He, with his solicitor MT G. Lewis, upon the arrival of Alder man SmallwoOd. took seat in front of the dock After various legal ar lguments. the outcome was that Wright was liberated on bail of $2O0, 900.
 The case dragged on for some time. with no further developments worthy of note. Sir Rufus lsaacs was the head of formidable array of counsel for the prosecution It was not until January II, 1904, that the English government was able to bring the greatest swindler and pro- moter of modern times before the bar for q final passing of judgment upon him. The case was continued for six days, and on the seventh
 Mir Wright appeared in the witness box and related the story of his life in America and of his promotions in England until the disaster of 1899
 He admitted that, while managing director of one company he would sell to himself as managing director of another When the crash came he held only 2,500 shares of the London X Globe Corporation.
 At no trial in recent years had the necessary papers been so large in quantity On benches, floors and seats were strapped in tall heaps documents of every hue and shape. The witnesses were a host which no man could number and represented all grades of society. from fashion able men about town to lads in corduroy and mufflers. For two days he was ss-examined, during which time he was mercilessly handled The jury was out but a short time when it returned a verdict of guilty When A Justice Bingham returned the verdict to the prisoner he said: Tn my opin- 1 ion the jury could not have arrived at any other conclusion. I can see nothing that in any way excuses the crime of which you have been found