St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-10-29
MISS LENEvE
IS ACQUITTED
Said to Have Been Under
Control oil Crippen.
: Infatuated With Him from
Time She Was Sixteen.
NOT Believed She Was a.
Party to the Crime.
Trial Lasted But a Few
Short Hours.
Miss Leneve Did Not Take
Stand I'm Her Behalf.

LoAuOn, Oct. 25.-After a trial
lasting only few hours, in the New
Bailey Criminal Court to-day a Jury
round Ethel Clara Leneve not guilty
as an accessory of the the fact in the
murder OF Cora Belle Crippen, for
whose death her husband, DR.. Grip
pen, will die on the gallows on No
vember 8.
MISS Leneve was in love with DR..
Crippen, and slept in his house on
the night Of the day following the
day upon which the doctor murdered
MS wife and buried the dismem ber-
cd parts in the cellar of his Hildrop
Crescent home. She accompanied
Crippen in his flight to Canada, and
with him was arrested and indicted.
From the first she has maintained
her innocence of any knowledge of
the crime. but the crown alleoed that
her behavior subsequent to the dis
appearance Of Mrs. Crippen, or Belle
Elmore. as she was known on the
stage, was such as to betray a guilty
knowledge of the murder.
When arraigned to-day Miss Le-
neve pleaded not guilty, and witness
es were introduced by the prosecu-
tion to show that she had expert
enced periods of great mental dis
tress following Belle Elmore's death.
The crown prosecutor, Richard Muir,
introduced only such evidence as has
been brought out in the earlier hear
ings.
Miss Leneve's counsel, Frederick
Il. Smith, M. p, asked the jury to
bear in mind that his client has been
under the influence of Grippe, one of
the most dangerous criminals of re-
cent years, since she was 16 years
OF age. This he asserted, accounted
for her flight in the Doctors COM
pany.
There was no proof that she had
knowledge of the crime.
Counsel said that he took upon his
own shoulders the responsibility for
not putting Miss Leneve in the wit
ness box.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, who
presided, in summing up for the jury,
said that he saw no reason why DR..
Crippen should have told Miss Leneve
different story from that which he
told to others.
AS upon the occasion of the ply
sician's trial, the courtroom was
crowded with members of the legal
profession and as many as could Sc
cure q place by right or influence.
There was this difference in the au-
diences: III Crippen had any well
wishers they kept in the background,
while there was a noticeable senti-
ment of sympathy for the girl who
for the love. of man nearly twice
her age. had sacrificed her reputa-
tion. deserted home and friends and
remained true to him, even when
their association made her liable as
an accessory to a brutal murder.
Miss Leneve was capably repre-
sented by counsel, who took advan-
taPe of every technicality of the law
to protect their client.
According to the prosecution, Miss
Leneve's relation to the crime as
accessory began very soon after the
death of Mrs. Crippen.
IN the case made out against the
doctor, Mrs. Crippen, or Belle Ell
more. as she was known on the stage, |
was murdered on the morning of
FEBRUARY l., and her dismembered |
hndv buried in the celler of the |
crinpen home, at 80 Hildrop Cres-
cent. Miss Leneve slept in the Grip |
nen home on the night of the day |
followin
AS Miss Leneve sat in the prison
ers' dock to-day she was a pathetic
figure. She is 81 years old, of medl-
nm build, light brown hair, gray
ayes and excellent teeth. He face
Il pretty and she is trim. She wears
rood clothes becomingly, and being |
naturally buoyant and affable, she
q 4 prepossessing woman.
4 She was attired in the same neat
hIne costume which she wore at the
hearing in the police
court. She entered the dock between
two wardresses and remained stand
ND during the few minutes occupied
I'M the swearing in of the jury.
Miss Leneve was an object for
keen scrutiny on the part of the
women, who composed the majority
III the spectators. In reply to the
formal charge of being an accessory
aftar the fact to the murder of Belle
fillmore, the girl pleaded mot guilty"
N 4 voice that was scarcely audit
ible.