Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-19
.CRIPPEN ON TRIAL
|. FOR KILLING WIFE
American Tells of FOndness for
Doctors Wife and Admits
Tender Letters
MISS LENEVE NOT IN COURT
Physician Pleads Not Guilty-De-
Tended by Member of
Parliament
MISS LENEVE NOT IN COURT
Associated Pressl

LONDON, Oct. 1S.-Dr. Hawley H.
Crippen was put on trial today for his
life, charged with the murder of Cora
Belle Crippen, the American actress
known in the profession as Belle FL
more.
The Jury, a typical body of middle
class tradesmen and clerks, was select
ed with but little trouble, objection
having been made in but three IN
stances. Crippen pleaded not guilty
The trial, which is being held in the
new Bailey, promises to be one of the
most historic in the annals of that
famous court. No less a parsonage
than Lord Chief Justice Alverstone is
presided. Ho was accompanied into
court today by Sir John Knollys, lord
mayor of London; Sir Thomas Vesey
Strong, lord mayor -elect, and the sher-
iffs in their robes of office.
Richard d. Muir, K. C.,conducted the
prosecution. with the assistance of So
licitor Travers Humphreys, who rep
resented the crown at the preliminary
hearing. Crippen Is represented by AL
fred Aspinall Tobin, X, c., Unionist
member of parliament, and Huntley
Eugene Jenkins.
TYPIST NOT PRESENT
Ethel Claire Leneve the doctors typ
list, who has been indicted as an acces-
sorry after the fact, was not in court
today. Her trial will follow In the event
of Crippen's conviction.
The American witness, Bruce Miller
of Chicago, and his wife were present.
Crippen entered the dock wearing a
black frock coat and light trousers, and
was escorted by two policemen. 1t was
we'll on toward noon when Lord Chier
Justice Alverstone took his seat, and
from that moment the proceedings
proceeded rapidly. The indictment was
read at once, and Crippen, standing,
replied to the usual question and plead
ed mot guilty, my lord"
A hush fell as Solicitor Muir arose
and made the opening statement for
the crown. He related the familiar sto-
ry of the tragedy, so far as 1t has been
learned by the prosecution and the pub
lie.
The taking of testimony was then
begun. The most interesting of this
introduced before the luncheonNinterval
was given by Mrs. Paul Martinetti, who
repeated the evidence she had given In
the police court. The witness and her
husband had dined with the Crippens
at the home of the latter on the even
ing of January 81 and played cards
until 1:30 o'clock in the morning.
CRIPPENs SEEMED HAPPY
The Crippens seemed perfectly happy.
This occasion was the last on which
Mrs. Crippen was seen by any one so
far as the police have learned. 4
The feature of the afternoon session
was the testimony of Bruce Miller, in
which he told the story of his acquaint-
ance with Belle Elmore.
Miller admitted his fondness for Grip
pens wife, but denied that their rela-
tions were other than those Of propri-
ETY..
The witness said he had last seen
Belle Elmore in 1904 in London. There
had never been a proposition made that
she join him in Anne The two ex-
changed letters three or four times .
year. On cross examination Miller ad-
mitted that he had been in the habit
of visiting the actress very often in the
absence of her husband.
Mr.. Tobin Piled Miller with questions
on the subject of his correspondence
with the woman. The witness admit
ted that he had written her affection
ate epistles concluding with love and
kisses to brown eyes,"
Miller said Crippen knew all about
the affair. He was not Belle Elmore's
suitor He had kissed her and that
was all. Asked whether the actress
letters were couched In the same affec-
! tionate terms, the witness said:
Perhaps; my wife read my letters"