BEFORE THE ARREST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 896, 16 August 1910, Page 8

BEFORE THE ARREST.

THE CAMDEN ROAD MURDER. CRIPI'EN'S STRING OF EXCUSES. HANDSOME BELLE. ELMORE. . London, July 15. Though the murder of "Handsome Belle Elmore," an American/variety'actress, married to Hawley Crippen', the American dental practitioner, had only just been discovered when the mail which arrived to-day left London, public interest in the most sensational crime perpetrated in London.for years was widely stirred. The crime would probably have never been discovered but for the victim's connection with the Music Hall Ladies' Guild, of which she was treasurer. Early in' February the guild received a'letter apparently'in Jlrs. Crippen's handwriting, and signed "Belle Elmore," resigning her position on the ground that she'was obliged to go immediately to America on important business. Ten weeks later a report was circulated by Crippen that his wife had been taken ill, and later, that, she'had died of pneumonia. During MaTch and April obituary, notices in tie theatrical press announced her death in California.'. Suspicion was aroused by the fact that Mrs. Grippen's signature to the letter of resignation was written with two l's, whereas she always spelt' her name with one. ;It was ascertained that shp was Crippen's second wife, and that,a stepson was living at L'os Angeles. A gentleman who had known Crippen for several years wrote to the stepson .inquiring the circumstances of his mother's death. He received a reply elating that the report of his mother's death ' was news to him. Crippen had written to the stepson, informing him of his mother's death at San Francisco. ■' The following is the text of the letter sent by Crippen, to his relatives, in Mew York:—' ; •■ ■'■'■'■. My dear'Lonls Robert, —I hardly know how to write to you. My dreadful loss shocks me go dreadfully.'': My poor Cora has gone,- and-to make the shock more dreadful, <I'did not even see her at tho last. A few • weeks ■' ago' we had news that an old relative in California was dying, and to secure important.property it was necessary for' one. of us to go and put the . matter in the lawyer's hands. Cora proposed- that she should go straight through here, to ■:Californin, without. stopping, ! and then return, via Brooklyn, so. as , to pay all vou a long visit Unfortunately, my-poor 'Cora caught a severe cold, which, not having while travelling a chance ■ to: take Care of herself, settled on her lungs. , Later it developed into pneumonia. I heard by cable that she had been dangnrqusly ill, and cabled to know whether! should go to her, and received the dreadful news that she- had passed: away.• She' is being sent back to' niK, ,and I shall soon have what is .' left .of. her. .Of course.!'am giving. up my, house. In fact, it drives me mad.to bo in it alone. The fact that Mrs. Crippen had not died where and when her husband stated and that she had not sailed for America in the steamer which ho named caused further disquietude to her London friends, especially as he/was seen going about a great deal with his typist, Ethel Lβ Neve. One friend said: "We know her as mademoiselle, but she was not; French. She always wore, a tremendous lot of sham jewellery. Several times : Mrs. ..Crippen tried to. induce' her husband to get rid of her. All that is known of Ethel Lβ Neve's history is that she was English born and bred, though generally called mademoiselle and bearing a French-name. At the annual dinner of the Music-hall and Railway' Associations, on February 28, Crippen appeared .with his-."typist" ■who was very showily dtessed.- It was noticed that she was wearing a handsomo. sealskin coat, similar' to the one we had seen worn' by Mrs. Crippen', and abeautiful brooch,! which was exactly like the brooch Mrs. Crippen used to wear:at dinner. .The .typist sat at Crippen's right hand, and later he danced with her. It was given but in some quarters that, tho .typist was his, wife. . -,'"'. ■• ' . . '.!. lt ! n-as v no(V'howe've'rV'' : till June 30 that, the detectives of Scotland. Yard were put on the trail. Crippen then.said that his former stories were false, and that his wife had quarrelled- with him'. 'He 'declared that he would never see her again, and he had believed that she had gone to America. On July 9 Crippen and Ethel L<! Neve disappeared, and the house which the typist had kased was closely searched, but in vain.. Even the garden was dug up, but finding-some .bricks in the cellar floor loose, it was dug up, and the remains of tho body, which had been dismembered and buried in quicklime, were dug up. It had been : ascertained •that Crippen just before .his disappearance, bought'a boy's suit, and a police notification. was issued, describing the girl; as follows;— Ethel Clara Le Neve, will go as Crippen's wife, aged : 27, height sft. Bin., complexion pale,.. hair, light' brown, large grey eyes, good teeth, goodlooking, medium build, pleasant. appearance, quiet,. subdued . manner, looks intently when in conversation, walks slowly; reticent, may bo dressed as a boy in adark brown suit, native of London; shorthand writer and typist. ■-....-'. The; murdered, woman, Cora.-. Crippen,, was known in ; America . as "Handsomo Bello Elmoro." She had a mass of golden' hair, a fine figure, and was popular and clever. She was of Polish. descent, and told her friends that her, father was a nobleman. He is believed, hoivever. tt> have run a grocer's shop in. Brooklyn. After, his death the daughter discovered 'papers which led her to .believe that she was the heiress to, the title 'of Baroness Makomski, Poland. She employed counsel at one time to press .her claim. A London .neighbour says that Mr. and, Mrs. Crippen used , to spend a great part of their time in the garden. He always seemed exceedingly fond of her, and used; to follow her round in quite an adoring way. She was a handsome-looking woman with auhurn. hair,- apparently . .between 30 and 40. Hβ was a little older, a man of medium build, bald. - She was much bigger in build than he, and an-ex-tremely energetic woman.—"Sydney Daily Telegraph." •'.'..•.■■•