The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-14
KILLED IN LONDON
Another American Woman Slain
by Her Husband.
Body Found in the Cellar Par
TALLY Destroyed.
SLAYER DISAPPEARS.
The Police Believe He Has Sail
ed for America.
Cable U. S. Officials to Watch
Incoming Steamers.
SLAYER DISAPPEARS.

London, July 14.-Scotland Yard is
engaged with the murder of an Amer
lean woman and today cabled the po-
lice of the United States requesting the
arrest of the woman's husband, DIR.
Hawley Harvey Crippen, also an
American who is believed to have sail
ed for New York on Saturday last.
The case is strikingly similar to that
or the Charlton murder at Lake Como.
Italy. Both women were actresses who
Iert their American homes to meet
oeath by violence in foreign land and
IN each instance the police pursued the
American husband to the snores of his
stlve land. Porter Charlton was ar
rested in Hoboken, but in the absence
or sn extradition treaty between the
United States and Italy, specifically pro-
Vid1ng for the return to either country
or citizen of the other country who
free.
In the present case no such compli-
cations are probable as the British
American extradition treaty leaves no
mole OF which suspected criminal may
take advantage. The London police
nave made a definite charge against
Dr. Crippen and propose to get him
with the cooperation of the American
authorities
DR.. Crippen, who is a dentist and so
years of age, has made his home for
sometime at 80 Hindrop Crescent,
North London. Sometime ago his wife,
Belle Elmore. vaudeville actress and
treasurer of the Music Hall Artists
guild' disappeared and subsequently no
tlce OF her death appeared in the local
papers. The fact of her demise was
generally credited but there were more
or less gossip and this finally reached
the ears OF the police. The latter Wis
lted DR.. Crippen and the interview ap-
peared to be satisfactory
Crippen Disappeared.
Saturday noon last DR.. Crippen dis
appeared and since then the police
have not been able to locate him. Yes
terday search of the Crippen house
was made and the battered body of a
woman was found buried in the cellar.
It had been placed in quicklime and
was burned beyond recognition, but
the finding of the body together with
other discoveries today has left no
doubt in the minds of the authorities
that the murdered woman was Mrs
Crippen.
Sir Melville MacNaughton. chief nf
the criminal investigation department
OF Scotland Yard, took the matter in
hand and developments followed rap
idly. The thing the police did today
was to cable to the police of American
steamers for Crippen, who was de-
scribed with the aliases of Peter Grip
pen and Franckel Crippen. The police
believe he sailed on Saturday for the
United States. They state that he is
accompanied by Ethel Lenve a French
woman he had recently introduced rs
his wife. This woman is believed 20
be dressed in male attire. Before leav-
ing Hilldrop Crescent, Crippen sent out
for boys suit and this the police sur
L. I-rT.- III
panion.
The indications point to a coolly
planned murder. Early in February
last, letter signed Belle Gilmore"
was received by the vaudeville artists
guild, stating that the writer had gone
to America on business. 1t was this
letter which the police say was intend
ed to cover up crime that, as it
turned out. finished an evidence of
name with one "1.''
The discrepancy was recognized and
aroused suspicion among members of
the guild and largely influenced them
in determining to bring the matter of
the woman's strange disappearance to
the attention of the authorities Then
the advertisement appeared announc-
ing that Belle Gilmore had died in
Los Angeles. Cal. An investigation
was begun and the advertisement was
found to have been untrue.
Tracing the Crime,
It was learned today that when the
officers visited Crippen they forced
him to admit that his wife had not
died in California. He then said. ac-
cording to the detectives that he and
his wife quarreled and following the
quarrel she disappeared. The police
refused to accept this explanation be-
cause of the fact that the woman was
found TO nave left her jewelry and
money behind. Pursuing their in
quiry the police discovered that DR.
Crippen was born in Coldwater Mich.
He was educated in Indiana and in Los
Angeles, and completed his medical
studies in Michigan. Cleveland
and New York City. He practiced in
Detroit. San Diego. Cal, Salt Lake ST.
Louis and Brooklyn as an eve and ear
specialist. At one time he managed a
patent medicine business in Phiiadel-
phia and in Toronto, Canada.
He married Belle Elmore. as she was
known on the stage. in New York The
woman's maiden name was Mackano
otski. The two came to London four
years ago. Mrs. Crippen is described
bv acQuaintances as about 50 years of
age.
The steamer Lusitania sailed from
Liverpool on Saturday and from
Queenstown on Sunday. She is due at
New York some time tonight The
urday and the st. Paul sailed on the
same day from Southampton, and the
Minnetonka from London.
Recently DR.. Crippen appeard in pub
lie with Miss Leneve who. according TO
the police was introdced by the doctor
as Mrs. Crippen-
Nefghbors of the Crippens speak of
them as quiet folk who appeared to
he in prosperous circumstances. They
occupied a well furnished and well
maintained senni-detached mouse of IL
rooms. They die not mingle with their
Immediate neighbors, but from the
number of callers at their home it was
Judged they had many friends.
Mrs Crippen was very well known
in vaudeville circles. She attended the
meetings of the Music Hall Artists