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| Sunday, 4 September 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Famous trials that shook the world The trial of Harvey Crippen by Lionel Wijesiri The trial of Harvey Crippen is regarded as an important milestone in British criminal case history for two reasons. First, it marked the first time in the world that a fugitive had been tracked down by wireless telegraph. And second, it was one of England's most publicised crimes-and, definitely,one of the most colourful of the Twentieth Century.
The story begins in 1910 London, with 48-year-old American born, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen. He was married to Cora Belle, a mediocre theatrical singer in her early 30s. Belle supposedly had acquired a taste for alcohol and was persistent in nagging her husband. He eventually turned his interests to his 28-year-old secretary, Ethel Clare Le Neve. In the early morning hours of February 1, 1910, neighbours heard shouting and what sounded like a door slamming shut at Dr. Crippen's residence. Two days later, the Music Hall Ladies Guild received letters from Belle, stating that she was gong to California to visit a relative who was ill. Another two weeks later, a member of the Guild saw the doctor having a leisurely stroll with Le Neve. What shocked the member was that she was wearing a necklace and a coat that belonged to Belle. In mid-March, Le Neve moved into Dr. Crippen's house. At about the same time Dr. Crippen sent out black edged cards stating this his wife had died suddenly of pneumonia, in California. One of Belle's close friends, Mrs John Nash heard the news about Belle and asked Crippen where she had died. He replied that it was in a little town near San Francisco, but he could not recall the name. Not believing Crippen's story, the Nashs went to Scotland Yard with their suspicions. Chief Inspector Walter Dew was assigned to investigate the complaint. When Dr. Crippen was visited at his home by Inspector Dew, he confessed that his wife was really alive and had run off to Chicago to be with her lover, a prize fighter by the name of Bruce Miller. He stated that he had become ashamed and embarrassed by the situation and made up the story that she had died. When Inspector Dew asked Dr. Crippen if they could search the house, he allowed. The search turned up nothing and the Inspector was satisfied that Crippen was telling the truth. Meanwhile, Crippen told Ethel that he wanted to move out of town. He explained to her that he was not at ease with the surroundings. When the Inspector returned later to clear up a couple of minor details, he found Crippen's house empty. Dew called for a second more thorough search of the house, this time revealing the headless, limbless body of Cora Belle buried in the cellar floor. A warrant was issued for Dr. Crippen and Ethel Le Nerve. The story made the headlines in London and European newspapers. Getting nervous, Crippen decided to flee England for Canada and eventually hide in America. The couple hid at a hotel in Brussels and waited to board the Canadian Pacific steamer Montrose; scheduled to sail from Antwerp to Quebec. Attempting to disguise himself, he stopped wearing his glasses, shaved his moustache and grew a beard. He fitted Ethel with boys' clothes. Posing as father and son, he signed the passenger list as Mr. John and Master Robinson. What destroyed Crippen's charade was the curiosity of Montrose' captain, Henry Kendall who considered himself a sort of detective and was very observant. He watched this 'father and son' walking the decks from his wheelhouse and thought it was strange that a father and son would hold hands frequently. When the master made it his business to strike up a conversation with Robinson, he noticed that his mysterious passenger had not only recently shaved off moustache, but had also apparently discarded what must have been habitual spectacles, judging by a mark made by absent lasses across the bridge of his nose. Captain Kendall had also noticed that when the father and son walked the decks the father frequently squeezed his 'sons' hand. Acting on his shipboard observations, Kendall dispatched the following cable to his London office: Have strong suspicions that crippen, London cellar murderer and accomplice are among saloon passengers. Accomplice dressed as boy, voice manner and build undoubtedly a girls. Inspector Dew was given the information and he quickly boarded the Liner Laurentic. The Montrose had a three-day lead but was still 11 days out from Quebec. With a better speed Laurentic could easily overtake the Monotrose. Reaching the St. Lawrence River before the Montrose' arrival, Dew disguised himself as a tug pilot and boarded the Montrose. He walked up to Crippen shook his hand and removed his pilots cap saying "Good afternoon Dr. Crippen, remember Me" Waiving extradition, Dr, Hawley Crippen and Ethel Le Neve were taken back to London to face charges, Crippen maintained his innocence to the end. After a 5-day trial he was found guilty of murdering his wife and hanged on November 28,1910. Crippen's trial revealed the startlingly meticulous manner in which he had disposed of his wife. After killing her, he professionally removed her bones and limbs, which he then burned in the kitchen stove. Her organs were dissolved in acid in the bathtub, and her head was placed in a handbag and thrown overboard during a day trip to France. Laboratory analysis of the human remains in the Crippen's basement had turned up traces of hyosin, a sedative drug that is fatal in large doses. Dr. Crippen had never purchased hyosin until shortly before his wife's disappearance, when he had suddenly purchased a large quantity. The prosecution also presented the letters from Belle sent to Ladies Guild, about her visit to America and proved that the handwriting was not hers. Throughout the proceedings and at his sentencing, Crippen showed no remorse, only concern for Ethel's reputation. Ethel Le Neve was acquitted. There remains considerable controversy over whether Dr. Crippen had in fact murdered his wife. One theory is that it was an accidental overdose given to his wife who was having syphilis. |
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