The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-25
ETHEL CLARE LENEVE ACQUITTED BY SPEEDY
 JURY VERDICT TODAY
Lord Chief Justice Aver stone Sets Girl Free After Brief Trial In Old Bailey Court
Charged with Being Access sory After the Fact to Murder of Wife of Dr. Crippen, Who Is Now Un- der Sentence of Death,
Especial from United Press. )


 l London, Oct. 25-After a, trial of 11n- expected brevity. today. Ethel Clare Leneve was acquitted of the charge of being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Belle Elmore Crippen. The speedy and favorable verdict by the jury was a big surprise for, fol- lowing the sentencing to death, last Saturday, of Dr. H. H. Crippen, for the murder of his wife, it was be- neved that Miss Leneve, his former stenographer and sweetheart, would receive a brief prison sentence. The jury was out only 19 minutes, and Judge A1verstone immediately or dered her release.
 Only few witnesses were called by the prosecution. and the examination was begun to bring out damaging evi- dence. Lord Chief Justice A1verstone, who arraigned Crippen in such merci- less terms, summed up the evidence before the jury. and his every word and action clearly indicated that his sympathies were with the unfortunate prisoner whose delicate condition was pa athetic point in her favor.
 Within twenty minutes after retiring the jury announced that it had reach ed a. verdict The jurors then filed handed to Judge Alverstone. When he read the announcement, a cheer started in the courtroom, which was quickly suppressed.
 and wept and laughed hysterically. Her aged father and mother were last to reach her and their emotion was as great as that of the girl.
 Ethel did not take the stand in her own defense. Pale and trembling and apparently fearful of an adverse yer charge that she "did afterward feIon- iously receive, comfort, harbor. assist and maintain" Dr. Crippen. Richard D. Muir, the Crown prosecutor. start oh he int dRd fT1-I cute the girl vigorously as he did Crippen, and in his opening statement he urged that the prisoner undoubted- ly knew of the murder of Mrs. Grip pen.
 Miss Leneve's appearance was such as to excite the sympathies of the crowd that packed the courtroom Her former debonair bearing has complete ly vanished and she answered the courts questions in a startled voice that was hardly audible ten feet away.
 The gist of the prosecution's argu- ment, as disclosed in Muir's statement, was that as Miss Leneve was the in spiration for Dr. Crippen's crime, she must have known of it's commission; thereby becoming an accessory after the fact.
 'It is inconceivab1e," Muir declar- ed, that Crippen should have killed his wife in order to be free to live with the prisoner without revealing. to her the crime''
 
 Leneve, pleaded with the jury that his client was unduly influenced by pr. Crippen, whom he characterized lone of the most astute and dangerous criminals in all England" He said this influence had been exerted over Miss Leneve since she was a girl and accounted for her willing flight with him. He declared that his client was willing to go upon the stand, but that he refused to permit this. Inspector Dew who arrested Miss Leneve and Crippen, board the Montrose. was one of the witnesses. He repeated much of his former testimony. de- scribing Miss Leneve'S appearance in boys clothing when arrested.
 Among the witnesses subDoenaed by the court were Bruce Miller, of Chi cago, a friend of Mrs. Crippen, who was charged by Crippen with undue intimacy with Mrs. Crippen. and Mrs. Sigismund Hum, of Brooklyn, who is said to be Mrs. Crippen's oldest sis ter.
 The parents of the prisoner were in court today.
 The larger part of the audience in the Old Bailey courtroom was of wo- men, scores of fashionably attired so- ciety leaders being recognized in the 
 Miss Leneve was accompanied to the courtroom by the two wardresses who have been her constant companions since her incarceration.