The Death of Whitaker Wright

Southland Times, Issue 19263, 29 January 1904, Page 2

The Death of Whitaker Wright

POISON SUSPECTEDPer United Press .Association. By lUectric Telegraph,-»Copyrlght. LONDON. Jan. 27. Mr Justice Bingham's sutttmittg-up was strongly adverse to Wright. The jury deliberated an hour before returning a verdict of guilty. The Judge, in sentencing the prisoner, said he concurred With the verdict, and declared that he was unable to conceive a worse case of the kind. Wright was much surprised at the sentence, and remarked : ".I can, only say I am innocent of any attempt to deceive." When removed to the consultation room of the High Court, and while smoking a cigar and talking to a friend, dcclj-iing that a great injustice ' had been done hin, Wright suddenly collapsed, dying within half-an-hour, during which he remained unconscious. Throughout the trial his health was apparently good, excepting that he complained of insomnia. Many reports assert that he poisoned himself, and startling revelations are ex» pected at the iuquest. Tabloids were found in his pocket. Jan. '2^ Received 28th. 10.8 p.m. A post mortem showed that Whitoker Wright died of cyanide poisoning. While the Judge was passing sentence TYripht was observed to keep his hand in a pocket, where, subsequently, a phial v.as found containing capsules of this poison. After protesting his innocence he was s um to brush his mouth with a handkerchief, ami it is believed that he then swallowed the capsules. A loaded revolver, fully cocked, was found in his hip pocket. "Ho had told a friend that he had resolved never to serve a day of his sentence. H convicted. - .