The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-14
Physicians Attorney Batters
Down Prosecutions AL
legged Identification
COLOR OF TRESSES
WILL DETERMINE CASE
Accused Slayer and Typist Jub-
liant Over Success OF Their
Counsel-Crown's Witness
Aid Defendants

pens lite is to-day literally hanging
by hai-, Under shrewd and merci-
less examination to-day by At
torney Arthur Newton. who Is defend
ing the physician and hts typist, Clare
Leneve, DR. Pepper the government
analyst. practically repudated much
of his former testimony and admitted
that 1t was Impossible to determine
the sex of the remains supposed TO
have been the body of Belle Elmore
Crippen from an anatomical study Of
them.
Isn't this the only way TO deter
mine the sex of a body with certainty"
Numbered Newton that he had the
governments star witness in a bad
corner.
Yes" was Peppers reluctant re-
ply.
You agree then with Or. Marshall,
the other government analyst. when
he declared at the inquest thar it was
impossible to determine the sex Of the
remains? asked Newton. drawing
nearer to the perturbed witness.
IN admit that 1T was impossible To
determine the sex by any anatomical
study" replied Pepper.
Newton paused significantly after
this startling admission by Pepper
The whole courtroom was surprised
at the sensational turn in the case.
all believing that 1t marked an early
collapse OF the prosecution.
Peppers admission leaves the ques-
ton of the bodyts identity dependent
upon few strands of hair found in
curriers' near the body. another lock OF
hair found knotted IN q mans hand
kerchief and the. remnant of woman's
undervest.
Evidence Vaiueless.
The evidence of the pair. however,
was rendered practically vaiueless by
Peppers admission that the hair found
in the curriers' was dark, while that
in the handkerchief was light and
much shorter than that in the CURL
ers.
DIR. Pepper said that when he first
saw the remains OF the woman sup
posed to have been Belle Elmore Grip
pen he thought they were animal re-
mains. II required close inspection.
he said. TO determine that they were
remnants OF human body,
Attorney Newton made the most of
Peppers admission, for II was Pepper
who first claimed to have Identified
the body as that OF a woman who had
undergone an operation and TO have
found evidence OF hyoscin poison.
You mean to tell the court" New
ION SAAd Sloi PAsE titab va Wa t~S@~
to arrive at these conclusions after
first having mistaken the pieces Of
fish for those of an ANIMAL
"Oh. ! quickly saw my mistake
Pepper replied. There was no ques-
ton after a close inspection that the
remains were those of a rniddle-aged
woman of rather heavy build. We es-
| tablished beyond doubt the facts of
an, operation and of the hyoscin poi
! son"
| Pepper said the remains had prob
| ably been burned under the cellar door
| for from four to eight months. He
| could not determine the cause OF death.
1 he said, from a study Of the remains.
| Lime on Body.
| Pepper said the remains occupied
space under the cellar floor, OF the
Crippen home. about the length Of a
human body. DIR. Marshall, the other
analyst, was with him at the time,
| He said the soil where the body was
! found consisted of clay and loan
mixed. and that lime had been
sprinklsd over the remains.
| Pepper sought TO remove all doubt
as 10 the correctness OF his conclusions
by declaring that the next day. July
| Is, he and Dr. Marshall held a post.
mortem which eliminated the last
doubt az 10 the remains being Those
| of a woman.
| The dramatic features of the Grip.
pen case are appealing TO actors anG
! playwrights as no other case in ths
/ history of English criminality and
| features OF 1t VIII undoubtedly find
| their way onto the stage. This was
| evidenced to-day by the appearance
in the Bow street court room of Sin
John Hare and III. B. Irving. leading
| Wi and ~ 81 m
| Gilbert, the playwright. They had
seats close to the witness stand and
| made frequent notes. On two prev
| ious occasions Gilbert was honorec
with a seat by the side Of Judge De
| Rutzen.
! Changes Testimony.
| Until to-days resumption OF the
| hearing in the Bow street police court
| Pepper had stoutly maintained thai
| the Identity OF the remains as those
| OF a woman was established beyond q
| doubt. Even to-day. In his dtrec
examination by Travers Humphreys
the crown attorney. he maintained
that the remains were those OF :
woman and event went so far as Il
give 1t 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 sole question OF the Sc,
OF the body hinge upon extraneou,
evidence and the best legal opinion
is that this viii prove wholly insuffi
cient TO prove the corpus delicti'' OF
| the Identity OF the person FOR who's,
/ supposed murder Crippen is now fac,
| ing trial.
! Crippen appeared elated at ths
/ overthrow of Peppers testimony and
smiled exultfngly, Even Miss Ethe
Glare Leneve, who is charged with
being an accessory after the fact IL
the alleged murder OF Mrs. Crippen
became cheerful at this unexpected
/ development She had entered tn,
/ court. room with her every featur,
showing the utmost detection.
/ Miss Leneve Is rapidly hreakinf
| down. Her periods OF elation to-da,
were always followed by moments Of
| depression that she Ia on the verge
OF nervous collapse was shown B,
her convulstve actions, which sh,
made every EFFORT to hide. Her hand
lcaSfi.a1z a. 61Ss@s.1 R1711