Evening journal., 1910-09-14
CRTPPEN'S LIFE
HANGSBY HAIR
His Lawyer Puts Government
Witness in Bad
Corner
IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL
SEX OF THE REMAINS

LONDON, Sept. 14-Dr II. II.
Crippeus life is to-day literally hang
ing by hair.
Under shrewd and merciless cross
examination today by Attorney Arthur
Newton. DR.. Pepper, the government
analyst practically repudiated much
of his former testimony and admitted
that Il was impossible TO determine
the sex Of the remains supposed to
have been the body of Belle Gilmore
Crippen from an anatomical study OF
them.
4 Isn't this the only way to deter
mine the sex of a body with GER
tainty?" Numbered Newton when he
saw that he had the governments
star witness in a bad corner.
Yes was Peppers reluctant
reply.
You agree then with DR. Marshall,
the other government analyst when
he declared at the inquest that it was
impossible to determine the sex OF
of the remains" asked Newton. draw
ing nearer to the perturbed witness
III admit that II was impossible
to determine the sex by any anatomi-
cal study" replied Pepper.
Newton paused significantly after
this startling admission by Pepper.
The whole court room was surprised
at the sensational turn in the case.
all believing that II marked an early
collapse of the prosecution.
Peppers admission leaves the ques-
tion of the bodys identity dependent
upon a few strands of hair found in
curriers' near the body, another lock
Of hair found knotted in mans
handkerchief, and the remnant Of a
woman's undervest.
Hair Evidence ValueIess.
The evidence of the hair, how
ever. was rendered practically value
less by Peppers admission that the
hair found i'm the curriers' was dark
while that I'm the handkerchief was
light and much shorted than that in
the curriers'.
Pepper said the remains had prob
| ably been buried under the cellar foo
for from four TO eight months. HI
could not determine the cause o
death, he said, from a study OF the re
mains.
Miss Leneve Is rapidly breakin
down. Her periods Of elation to-da
were always followed by moments {
depression. That she is on the verg
of a nervous collapse was shown b
her convulsive actions, which sh
made every effort TO hide. Her hand
twitched constantly and she turne
her head in startled manner at ever
noise i'm the court room.
During the recess Crippen and Mis-
] a ola Of
exchanged a few words
Until tO-day's developments of tn,
hearing in the Bow street police court
Pepper had stoutly maintained tha
the identity of the remains as thos,
of a woman was established beyond
a doubt Even to-day, lin his direc
examination by Travers Humphreys
the crown attorney. he maintained
that the remains We're those of Z
woman and even went so far as Il
give it as his opinion that the victim
was of middle age and robust build
His later admission coupled with
similar admission by DR.. Marshall
makes the whole question of the Sc,
of the body hinge upon extraneou
evidence and the best legal opinion
is that this will prove wholly insult
uNltuL " prove Aut NolpuS hcllIlAl
OF the identity Of the person 70
whose supposed murder Crippen j
now facing trial.
Crippen EIated.
Crippen appeared elated at tn
overthrow Of Peppers testimony an
smiled exultingly. Even Miss Ethe
Clare Leneve, who is charged wit
being an accessory after the fact
the alleged murder of Mrs Grippe
became cheerful at this unexpecte
CONTINUED on Second Page.)