The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-25

Crippen and slept in his house within
as hours of the time the doctor muir
dered his wife and buried the dismen-
bered parts in the cellar of his Hill
drop Crescent home. She accompanied
Crippen in his flight to Canada and,
with him, was arrested and indicted.
From the first she maintained her
Innocence of any knowledge of the
crime, but the crown alleged that her
behavior subsequent to the disappear
ance of Mrs. Crippen, or Belle Elmore,
es she was known on the stage, was
such as to betray a guilty knowledge
of the murder. When arraigned today
Miss Leneve pleaded not guilty and
witnesses were introduced by the
prosecution to show that she had ex-
perienced periods of great mental dis
tress following Belle Elmore's death.
The crown prosecutor, Richard Muir,
introduced such evidence as had been
brought out in the earlier hearings.
Miss Laneve's counsel, F. +. Smith.
NJ. P, asked the jury to bear in mind
that his client had been under the in
fluence of Crippen, one of the most
dangerous criminals of recent years,
since she was 16 years old. This, he
asserted, accounted for her flight in
the doctors company. There was no
proof that she had knowledge of the
crime. Counsel said he took upon his
own shoulders the responsibility for
not putting Miss Leneve in the witness
box.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, who
presided, in summing up for the jury
said he saw no reason why DR.. Crippen
should have told Miss Leneve a story
different from that which he told
others.
As upon the occasion of the physf-
clans trial, the court room was crowd
ed with members of the legal profess
sion and as many others as could Sc
MIA hy ri oh n
There was this difference in the audi
ences: If Crippen had any well wish
ers they kept in the background, while
there was a noticeable sentiment of
sympathy for the girl VINO for love Of
a man nearly twice her age had sac
riffced her reputation, deserted her
home and friends and remained true
to him even when their association
made her liable as an accessory to a
brutal murder.
Miss. Ieneve was capably represent
ed by counsel, who took advantage of
every technicality of the law to pro-
tect their client. According to the
prosecution, Miss Leneve's relation to
the crime as an accessory began very
soon after the death of Mrs. Crippen.
In the case made out against the doc
tor, Mrs. Crippen, or Belle Elmore, as
she was known on the stage, was muir
dered on the morning OF February l,
and her dismembered body buried in
the cellar of the Crippen home at SO
Hilldrop Crescent Miss Leneve slept
in the Crippen home on the night of
the day following.
As Miss Leneve sat in the prisoners
dock she was a pathetic figure. She
is 27 years of age. of medium build,
light brown hair, gray eyes and ex-
cellent teeth. Her face is pretty and
she is trim. She wears good clothes
becomingly and naturally buoyant and
affable she is prepossessing woman.
Pleads ''NOt Guilty.
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 Le-
neve was an object for keen scrutiny
on the part of the women who com
posed the majority of the spectators
In reply to the formal charge of being
an accessory after the fact to the muir
der of Belle Elmore, the girl pleaded
mot guilty in a voice that was scarce
~ audible
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone there
upon called Richard D. Muir, the