THE GRIMES CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1930, Page 20

THE GRIMES CLUB

Four times a year sixty "criminologists," many of them famous in the world of literature, law, and medicine, foregather in a London restaurant to discuss a paper read by one of their number on some notable ■ crime. Their somewhat ominous name of "The Crimes Club" (founded by Mr. Arthur Lambton and Mr. Ingleby Oddie, the Westminster Coroner, since tho war) has sometimes misled the uninitiated as to their objects. In "Thou Shalt Do no Murder," Mr. Lambton himself quotos an amusing instance:— A certain train set out for Buckinghamshire from either Marylobone or Baker street. One compartment was completely full, but there were only two men in it. (Incidentally both very distinguished in their respective professions.) Just as tho train was entering one of the many tunnels one man bent forward and remarked to the other in a more or less sepulchral voice:— ."I think I've met you at 'The Crimes Club'." Shortly afterwards the train stopped at a station, and, like lightning, every woman got out of the compartment. Mr. Lambton's book is full of familiar villains. ! In 1871 the personality of a waiter iu a Paris restaurant so impressed wealthy Mr. Cotton that tho Englishman promptly engaged him as travelling companion, says Mr. Lambton. Two years later Cotton had disappeared and "Count Henri do Tourville" was practising as a barrister in the Temple, equipped with funds the source of I which eaa hardly, be ia doubt,

Then came upon the scene a widow, Mrs. Eamsden, as eager to: net a Count for her son-in-law as do" Tourville was for the £30,000 which would revert on her death to her daughter. The wedding followed' with almost indecent haste, de Tourville borrowing the'fundß for the honeymoon from Mrs. Ramsden. Later he called on his mother-in-law for another loan. A shoV rang out, and do Tourville emerged, proclaiming that Mrs.'Eamsden had killed herself. Although the bullet had entered the back of her neck, and although Scotland Yard sent a detective to investigate, no criminal charge was preferred. Mr. Lambton suggests that both surgeon and detective (who was afterwards implicated in the Great Turf Frauds) were bribed. When, as the next item on the programme, his wifo "passed away in her sleep," tho Count - learned to his disgust that she had left everything to their infant son. Undaunted, however, ho set fire to the room in which tho child was sleeping. Happily his plan miscarried; yet, although the insurance company refused payment, no criminal proceedings resulted. De Tourville next married i a widow worth £.70,000. Having made a will in his favour, she "accidentally" fell down a chasm near the Stelvio Pass in Austria. But this time suspicions were aroused, and do Tourville fled to London, wlieuco ho was extradited to be j sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in a fortress. i There he died in 1884, having no opportunity to enjoy tho fortune which I his murdered wife had left him.