popen4 - get exit status

[Tim Johnson]

In bash I do the following:
linus:journal tim$ /home/AKMLS/cgi-bin/perl/processJournal-Photo.pl hiccup
-bash: /home/AKMLS/cgi-bin/perl/processJournal-Photo.pl: No such file or directory
linus:journal tim$ echo $?
127

In python, use os.popen4 I do the following:['/bin/sh: /home/AKMLS/cgi-bin/perl/processJournal-Photo.pl: No such file or directory\n', '127\n']

Well, I got the exit code as the last item in the results, but I'm wondering if
there is a better way. From help(os) - I don't find any variables dedicated to
holding exit status.

Any ideas?
thanks