MURDER OF MRS CRIPPEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 7

MURDER OF MRS CRIPPEN

ACCUSED BEFOBE THE COURT. EVIDENCE BY DETECTIVE DEW. CRIPPEN'S MENTAL TOBTUBE. WHAT THE DETECTIVE DISCOVERED. Pießi Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, 'August 29. Crippen and Le Neve appeared at Bow Street Police Court. Detective Dow slated that a card found on Crippeii bore tho following writing: 1 cannot stand every night's horror. As there is nothing bright ahead, and the journey is ending, I will jump overboard to-night. I have spoiled my life. Some day you may learn to forgive me. A second card in the same writing asked : "Shall we wait till 11 to-night?" Detective Dew added that when Crippcn was arrested he said : " I am not sorry : The anxiety has been too much." The detective then said: "As you have written you intended jumping overboard, I must fasten the handcuffs." Crippen replied : " I won't do that; my anxiety has bean 100 awful." He added: "It is only fair to say; that Le Neve knew nothing about the affair." Le Neve also had assured witness that she knew nothing. The hearing was adjourned. August 30. (Received August 3D, at 9.30 p.m.) Inspector Dew said he believed the cards were in Crippen's handwriting.

It is now definitely established' (says Lloyd's Weekly Nous) that tho murder of Bella Elmore took place on the morning of the first day of February. Up to halfpast, 1 that morning two friends of Mrs Crippen, the Martinettis, were-at tho Hilldrop crescent house, having dined. and spent tho evening with the Cripper.a No one else was in lira house then, neither a maid nor Miss Leneve, and when the Mar-tin-st-tis left the couple were apparently on tho best of 'affectionato terms. After the departure of tho gucfits the murder was committed, and that morning Criopen sent to the Music-hall Ladies' Guild the letter with Mrs Crippen'.-) forged signature, resigning her official position in tlio guild, and announcing tint she was hurrying by the no\t boat to America A statement has been made by the six-t-cen-year-old French girl Mite Leneve engaged as maid when installed in the house as Crippen's new wife. Thu maid says that on the , night the detectives called upon Crippen and _ with his consent searched the house Miss Leneve was in a condition approaching panic, and after the detective's' departure had a long interview in ' her own room with Crippen. After that camo tho terror-stricken (light o! both.

The fact that Crippen was allowed to escape, and that the police knew nothing of his flight till they called at the house again two days afterwards, led to criticism of tho detectives, The answer furnished is that no power is given the English police- similar to that possessed by the police of other countries—i.e., the power to detain suspects or to search a place without a warrant. No search could be made without Orippcn's permission until he gavo up posstssion of the house, under English lav.. In London the fact that accident alone was really at the root of the discover}' of tho crime has had a disquieting effect, as it shows that an individual may sink out of sight without interest or inquiry being roused. This is forced homo by tho knowledge that but for Bello Elmore's connection with th-2 Aritsts' Guild her murder would be yet unknown, and it is causing much unea?y comment. So effectively did Scotland Yard advertise tho persons of Crippen and Miss Lcnevo beyond the British coasts that the authorities expressed the confident belief that tho fugitives could not escape. " There is an army on their track," remarked an- officer, summing up their chances. "Wo havo received assurances from the police everywhere." The Scotland Ya.rd notice spread broadcast over Great Britain, the Continent, and America reads thus:—

Metropolitan Police. £250 Reward. HAWLEt I-lahvev Ckippes, alias Peter Crippen, alias Franckel, and Ethel Claha Lexeve, alias Mrs Crippen, alias Nea.ve, Wanted for Jlordeu and Mutilation'. The abovo reward will be paid by mft to any person (othov than a member of any police force in the United Kingdom) • who gives such information as will load to the apprehension of the above-nammd perrons. Information to be given at the Metropolitan Police Oflico, New Scotland Yard, S.W., or at any police station. E. R. HKNOT, Commiss : oncr of Police of the Metropolis. For tho purposes of tho. hunt Scotland Yard mapped out tho cntiro Continent-?-particularly France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal—into email districts. Messages conveying more or less valuable information poured into London. Mrs Giunstt, wife of tho well-known English artist. Mr Fred Ginnott. 'last year's chief of the Water Rats, assisted the New York police, at their request, to watch lira incoming boats. Mrs Gannett, a great friend of Belle Elmore, was well acquainted with tho appearance of Dr Crippen and dechrew she would recognise him through any disguise. With reference to the statement mentioned by Inspector dew at tho inquest as niado to him by Crippen—i.e., that his wifo left him in consequence of "an incident that occurred overnight at dinner with the Mantinettis," Mrs .Martinctti gave a full account of Belle Elmore's last hour of lifo. "There was no incident," said Mrs Marlinetti. "It is a fabrication to say there was. There- was not a semblance of a quarrel between Crippen and bis wife wltilo we were there. Wu all spent a nappy ovcuing, and when, at about hallpast 1 on the Tuesday morning Mr Martinctti and I got up to go, Mr Crippen said be would fctc't us a taxi. When ho left we put on our wraps in the hall and stood talking to Mm Crippen for somo time. She chatted in her usual bright and vivacious style, and her conversation certainly did not indicate that there was "any troublo on lier mind. When Crippen camo back after being absent somo minutes, he said, 'I have been right down the road 'and cannot find a taxi anywhere,' whereupon Mire Crippen asked, ' Cannot, you get a four whecleir. dear ' I distinctly remember her words, and the fact that sho used the word 'dear' demonstrates that there was no ill-feeling towards her husband, and that there could havo been no incident- such as Crippen seems to have implied in his statement to Inspector Dew. Crippen raid ho would fetch a fourjvhoolflf and I hen Mrs Crippen as k«l wont, you stay tho night here? It is a cold night' i replied, 'Oh, no, thank J'ou. It. will not tako us long to drive home.

, I wish now wo had stayed. Tilings "light have turned out verv differentlr > Crippen then wont out for a cab, and came •• wek in a little while. When he returned io came up to the door and conducted us to tile cab." On being asked whether there was a servant- m Cnppen's house at the- time of tliair last visit, Mrs Martinetti replied, Ao; and the Cnppcns ncvor had one, so ar u* I know. There was nobody in the lipiise to my knowledge except Mr and Mrs Crippen, Mr Martinetti,' and mjself." MISS LBNKVE'S TERROR. The French maid who was engaged from Eoulogiie after Mi« Lenevc had taken up nor abode- as Cnppen's wife- in Hilldron ! crescent lias remarkable r-scollecticiH. , throwing light on th? mvsterv of her master and mistress. Her description of the terror that followed the visit of detectives • loads anew to the question of how much Cnppen's companion know of the crime. Valentino (the maid) says 6 lie often \renf. down into the cellar to cut wcod or fetch coal, jn,d would fonietincs trip on the uneven bricks. "Onia day Dr Crippen came down to help mo to chop some wood. During all the time he was with mo his face did not change, and ho was very pleasant and kiiwl to me, as he and madame always \VDI»." The girl, who was eonfc back to her licnie in Boul"v>»o immediately the police look possession of Crippen's ' house, , was astounded when her interviewer told her of the orimo in the cellar. She was fully persuaded that Miss Lenevo was the doctor's wife. The- pair Kerned I to Iw remarkably fond of each other, and ! she never heard any dispute between them. , 1 Tlioy were very regular, and usually rose at!

7 in the morning. After breakfast, always of tea, eggs, and bacon, tho "doctor" left Hilldrop crescent about 8 o'clock and wont to his office in Oxford street. Miss Leneve would go cut shortly afterwards, and would return in the afternoon to get dinner, which was served' when Crippon camo back at 7 in tho evening. "It, was a. hico house, with beautiful furniture, and monsieur and madamo were always happy and laughing together. I did tho housework, and madame did the cook-, ing. •'Nothing happened till Iho day before they disappeared. On that morning Monsieur Crippan nad gone as usual to his office, and madams was dressing to go out when tha detectives called. She was so upset, but sho hurried her dressing to come down to see them. ■ Then sho went out with them. .

"All returned in the evening about 5 o'clcck-Hiionsieur a-nd madamo and the two detectives. They talked for two hours, and then tho detectives looked through the house and wont away, leaving madamo very much upset. She was very pale, and told mo sho felt ill. Sho went to her room, and Monsieur Crippon went after hsr, and they talked over so long.

"/Next morning madame came down more pale than over, and her eyes were red, and she started and said, 'Oh. oh!' at the milkman's knock. Sho must havo been crying a great deal in tlio night.

"But the doctor was just as ecol and calm os ho always was, only he went out without speaking to me. And then madame, who seemed in very great fear, got all her jewels—she had bsautiful jewel?;, and wore a lot cf them always, and she had such splendid drosses, too many for ono wife, I used to think,—and she came down dressed to go out hi her bluo costume and round turban hat, trimmed with roses. Sho was so nervous, and in such a hurry, and only carried her handbag, but just before ehe went'out she came into the kitchen and gavo mo five shillings for my week's wajes and a letter for her little brother, who was coming that day. and who camo later on.

" At half-past 7 I heard the postman, and »uu to tho door. It was a. letter for mo from Dr Crippen. written on his office'notcpaper, half in French and half in English.

" 'Don't be afraid,' was written in French, and then in English, 'Wo shall not I>3 back to-night j going, to theatre' " I never saw monsieur or madame again."