Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-25
Ethel lie Neye Freed as
ElmOre Murder
Accessory.
TRIAL CONCLUDED in
LESS THAN ONE DAY
Strong Current of Sympathy for
Accused Girl Evident as
Her Trial Opens.

LONDON, Oct. M.-Ethel Clara lie
Neve, indicted as IN accessory after
the fact In the murder of Cora Belle
Crippen, the crime for which her hus-
band, Dr. Hawley H. Crippen, has been
convicted and sentenced to die on the
gallows, was arraigned, tried and ac-
quilted in the Old Bailey Court room
in at the forenoon session, and soon
after the afternoon session began the
verdict of acquittal was announced.
Miss LIE Neve was in love with Or.
Crippen, and slept In his house on the
night of the day following the day
upon which the doctor murdered his
wife and buried the dismembered parts
in the cellar of his Hilldrop Crescent
home. She accompanied Crippen in his
flight to Canada, and with him was ar
rested and indicted.
From the first she has maintained
innocence of any knowledge of the
crime, but the crown alleged that her
! behavior subsequent to the disappear
ance of Mrs. Crippen. of Belle Gilmore,
as she was known on the stage, was
of the murder.
When arraigned today Miss LIE Neve
pleaded not guilty, and witnesses were
introduced by the prosecution to show
that she had experienced periods of
great mental distress folio wing Belle
Llmore's death. The crown prosecutor.
Richard Muir. introduced only such
evidence as had been brought out in
the earlier hearings.
Court Room Crowded.
AS upon the occasion of the physi-
clans trial, the courtroom was crowded
with members of the legal profession
and as many others as could secure a
place by right or influence. There was
this difference in the audiences: If
Crlppen had any well-wishers they kept
IN the background, while there was a
noticeable sentiment of sympathy for
the girl who for love of a man nearly
twice her age had sacrificed her reputa-
ton, deserted home and friends and re-
NAMED true to him, even when their
association made her liable as an acces-
sorry to brutal murder.
Miss lie Neve was capably represented
ly counsel who took advantage CT
every technicality Of the law to ,rotect
their client.
Miss LIE Neves counsel. Frederick E.
Smith, M. p. asked the jury to bear in
mind that his client had been under
the influence of Crippen. one of the
most dangerous criminals of recent
years, since she was 16 years of age.
This. he asserted, accounted for her
flight in the doctors company. There
was no proof that she had guilty
knowledge of the crime. Counsel said
that he took upon his own shoulders
the responsibility for not putting Miss
lie Neve in the witness box
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, who
presided, in summing UP for the jury,
said that he saw no reason why DIR.
Crippen should have told Miss LIE Neve
story different from that which he
told to others.
AS Miss LIE Neve sat in the prison
er's dock today she was a pathetic fig
ure. She Is 27 years of age. of medium
build. light brown hair, gray eyes and
excellent teeth. Her face is pretty
and she is trim. She wears good
clothes becomingly, and, naturally
buoyant and affable, she Is a preposs-
ing woman
Wears Blue Costume.
Today she was attired in the same
neat blue costume which she wore at
the preliminary hearing in the police
court She entered the dock between
two wardresses and remained standing
during the few minutes occupied by
the swearing in of the jury
Miss LIE Neye was an object of keen
scrutiny on the part of the women who
composed the majority of the specta-
tators. In reply to the formal charge
of being an accessory after the fact to
the murder of Belle Elmore the girl
pleaded mot guilty in a voice that
was scarcely audible.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone there
upon called Richard D. Muir, the crown
prosecutor who outlined the case
against the accused. 1t was clear, Mr..
Muir said, that the intrigue between
DR.. Crippen and Miss LIE Neve consti-
tuted the motive for the murder Of
Crippens wife. He particularly dwelt
upon the evidence given by Mrs Jack
son. Miss lie Neve's landlady. at the
preliminary hearing and which will be
introduced at the trial The Illness OF
the accused on the night of her inter-
view with Mrs. Jackson was not, the
prosecution said, an ordinary illness,
but a condition of horror, the explana-
tion of which was the knowledge that
had come to her that Crippen had muir
dered his wife.