Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-14
The Cripuen Case.

legal bungling," or, worse still, "a lie,
cal sacrifice" is the epitaph that might
properly be placed on the tomb OF DR..
n. II. Crippen, when he is hanged on
November % fer the murder Of his
wife, Belle Elmore, is the opinion Of
the big majority of English lawyers.
Nearly every one who followed the
famous murder case is convinced today
that somewhere along the line OF the
defense great scandal is concealed:
People everywhere are asking: Was
Crippen sacrificed that Ethel Clare Le'
neve might go free?"
Crippen was brought 10 England
from Canada; eminent English lawyers
who will bet on anything; were willing
to wager 5 to 1that he would be ac-
quilted. Crippen was found guilty 10
less than half an honr. 1t is hard to
find a parallel for such startling re-
versal and there was no development
during the trial, according to legal ex'
perts, that adequately explains it.
Solicitor Newton sent Barrister Tobll
into court with case but halfprepared
and the latter had but half mastered
even the slorenIy case presented to him
when the trial opened.
When the trial OF Miss Lencvc,
Crippen's typist, was called immed,
lately following the conviction OF Grip.
pen, Newton, still i'll charge, employed
F. E.. Smith, one of the ablest practi-
TONERS at the English bar. Smith 60,
Miss Leneye off with scarcely sn
effort.
What the public wants to know is
why Newton engaged all untried bar
rister for Crippcn. charged with muir,
der, and the best counsel that could be
obtained for Miss Lencvo, charged
with the less serious offense OF being all
accessory after TIE fact.
Nowton prepared Miss Leneve's case
for Smith just as lie had Crippcn's case
for Tobin.. And the first thing that
Smith did on the strength OF the case
Newton furnished him was to rcfor to
Crippcn, in the plaaest of terms, As a
murderer beyond the shadow OF ques'
ton"
Making all due allowances for thu
fact that Newton probably thought he
had done all be could for Crippcn and
might as we'll admit that be was a
murderer, if by SO doing lie could benc'
fit Miss Lcnevc, British lawyers say lac
acted peculiarly. DR.. Crippen's appeal
was still pending and it was not certain
but his own solicitor might be pre-
judicing his case.
When the court OF criminal appeal
sat TO decide on date for hearing
Crippen's appeal, Barrister Huntley
Jenkins, Crippcn's junior counsel,
asked for all the time the bench could
allow him to prepare his case because
his senior, Tobin, had unexpectedly
withdrawn from the case. " The court
was startled by this Information. For
barrister to withdraw from a murder
case" said Justice Darling, who was
presiding, after his client had been
convicted and has an appeal still! pend
lug is most unusal. / don't under
stand it," And the very next day The
London Afternoon Times announced
that Tobin was not only going to argue
the Crippen appeal but that he had
never withdrawn from the case at all.
What all this tangIe meant, no one has
yet been able to learn, but it is con-
sidered significant in connection with
the other peculiar features of the case.
Ore thing is clear there was trouble Of
some sort among Crippen's defenders
and that it proved most damaging &c
the unfortunate little DOCTORS interest.