Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-30
HANGED IN BRITISH PRISON.
without COnfcssing Crime DR.. Grip
pen AsccndS Scaff0ld.

London, Nov. 23.-Dr. Hawley H.
Crippen to-day paid the penalty for
the murder Of his wife, Belle Ell
more, the actress, within few min
utes Of the stroke of 8, the morning
hour fixed for the execution. The
hanging was in Pintonville prison,
whore the prisoner had been confined
since his return to this country, fol-
lowing his arrest in Canada. The
condemned man, who throughout his
trial, and even until Home Secretary
Churchill had refused a petition for
his reprievc, had maintained an i'm
pcrturbable calmness, presented a
pitiable appearance, as he was lite
rally led through the short corridor
from his cell to the scaffold
Assisted to Scaflold.
The mental anguish had been too
great to be covered up by outward
the warders were obliged to assist
up the steps to the drop, upon which,
once reached, the shrinking figure
all but collapsed
The first report that Crippen had
met his fate calmly was contradict
ed by persons who were present In
the prison during the mans last
hour The doomed man passed a
restless night and appeared haggard
and worn when awakened from a
fretful slumber. He seemed to lose
all forttude as the end approached.
"A breakfast was brought to him, but
he left it untouched
Death Instantaneous.
His face was colorless as he was
escorted, barehcaded, to the gallows.
The gruesome work was soon done.
The blackcap was quickly drawn over
the face-the moose adjusted and the
bolt drawn. Dr. Crippen, who weigh
ed 40 pounds, was given drop of
seven feet. Death was instantaneous.
From the time that his reprieve
was refused, the physicians condi-
tion had been one Of agonized men,
tai prostration. He would see only
Ethel Glare LeNeve, love for whom,
the Crown asserted, was the compel
ling motive in the murder of his
wife, Solicitor Newton, who has
made game fight for his client, and
Father Carey, to whose ministrations
he paid respectful attention.
Parting with Miss LcNcvc.
The final interview yesterday with
Miss LeNeve was most painful, and
! already in the shadow Of death, the
convicted man made no effort to sup
| press his emotions upon parting with
| the girl. During the remainder Of
| the day he was in state of COM
plete nervous collapse, retiring to his
bed utterly Respondent.
Now that DR.. Crippen's lips are
forever scaled, the usual post NOR
! tenn rumOrS OF an eleventh hour con-
! fession are anoat. These should be
| read in the knowledge that on Sun
day last the condemned man issued
! signed statement in which he pro-
tested his innocence, and that since
that day, as for several days before,
he had positively refused to see any
one other than his keepers, Solicitor
Newton, Miss LeNeve and Father
Carey. Accordingly, the testimony
OF only these persons would appear
to be OF great matter in throwing
light on the condemned mans last
hours.
Made No Confession.
This morning, following the exc
cution, the prison authorities issued
an official statement declaring that
no confession had been made. Miss
LcNcvc denies that Crippen confess
ed. Ills attorney says that 80 far as
he knows, his client maintained his
innocence to the end. What was
said to the priest preceding absolu-
ton cannot, OF course, be known
Threw Knife Away.
The only alleged new facts
brought out are that Crippcn was
treating his wife for indigestion and
substituted poison for the proper
medicine, and that he purchased, in
a shop in lIolborn, dissccting knife,
which after it had been used to dis
member the body, the murderer
threw into a ncighbors garden.
IN spite Of this careless disposition
OF the tell-talc weapon, it has never
been recovered by the police.
With these exceptions the alleged
confession is a recital Of the we'll