The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-17
CR|PPEN SCORES
Expert Admits Sex of Vic
tim Can't be Proved.
DISSECTFD BY MASTER HAND
Pathologist For Prosecution is Sure
Body Had Been Buried For
Months Crippen Jokes With
Miss Leneve.
DISSfCTFD BY MASTER HAND

London, Sept. 1J.-Ihe deIehbe IA
the case OF DR.. Hawley II. Crippen al
the court inquiry now going on here'
scored a point when an expert pathoi
ogist called as a witness for the crown
admitted having failed to determine
whether the body found in the house
at Hllldrop Crescent was that OF
man or q woman.
The police have cOntended ali along
that evidence would show the body TO
have been that OF woman. IN all
likelihood Belle Elmore, the American
actress, with whose murder DR.. Grip
pen is charged The expert witness
was professor Augustus J. PETER. oil
the University of London.
lie said that his examination had
convinced him that the parts OF body
found In the cellar OF the Hilldrop
Crescent home were severed by
hand skilled in surgery and directed
by mind that possessed a real knowl
edge Of anatomy.
ILCnkfTcQ FdTk5 OSNJ.
Professor Pepper described the ex-
animation which he had made OF the
body and then set forth his conclu-
slons. The witness said he had identi-
fed pieces OF flesh as belonging to
various parts of the body. except the
head. hands. forearms, feet and legs
below the knees. He could say that
the members found were undoubtedly
from a human body No bones were
discovered
The whole viscera was intact and
the only wound was a cut in the upper
part OF the windpipe Other parts
were left undisturbed by the one who
did the cutting. and the way In which
the parts had been separated con-
Weed the expert that whoever was
guilty OF the mutilation did his work
with an exactness born OF familiarity
with the human body.
Professor Pepper said that the hair
discovered included a short strand OF
fair texture wrapped up in hand
kerchief Of the size commonly used
by men The witness identified partic-
ularly a piece OF flesh six by seven
inches in size as coming from the alb
dominal wall and which bore a scar,
which, in his opinion. was undoubt-
eddy left by an incision from an oper'
alton.
The witness said that the scar was
in a vertical direction and more than
four inches long. II was old. and might
have been on the body for many years.
The condition OF the organs recovered
was healthy and in Professor Peppers
Judgment indicated that they had be-
longed to a stoutish person in middle
life.
The witness then made the state
ment that he had found no evidence
as 10 the body being that OF a man
or woman. II had been buried not
less than four months and for not
more than eight months.
No Trace Of SEX.
At this point Mr.. Newton took the
witness in hand and asked him to be
more specific The professor agreed
with counsel that 1t was impossible
for him in any manner TO determine
the sex from the parts Of the body
found and examined by him.
This was considered as OF great I'M
portance to the defense. as II had
been generally believed that sufficient
evidence would be introduced to es-
tablish that the body was that OF a
woman.
Solicitor Newton suggested that a
man specializing In the ear, nose and
eye, like DR.. Crippen. would not nee
essarily be able to separate so adrolt.
~ the members Of body. but Profes-
sor Pepper thought that such spe-
cialist as counsel described would
have A general anatomical knowledge.
Miss Leneve showed little interest
in Dr. Peppers testimony. She seemed
bored and permitted herself to yawn
several times.
Nobody would think by DR.. Grip
pens demeanor In court that the grav-
est of all criminal charges was hang
ing over his head. He soon recovered
his composure after his early uneasi-
ness at DR.. Peppers testimony to the
effect that Mrs. Crippen's murderer
must have possessed considerable
anatomical knowledge. During the
magistrates absence from the court
be joked with his warders and made
humorous remarks TO Miss Leneve,
with the object Of cheering her up. She
remarked these efforts with a wan
smile.
The hearing was then adjourned un.