Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-10-21

BY CRIPPEN
Quits the Witness Stand
After Testifying In His
Own Behalf.
PROSECUTION is WEAK
Spectators Believe that The
Doctor Will be Free of
the Charges.
Special by United Press wire.

SPOStuf W OWftcQ (T6SS NFc.
London, Oct. 21:-After he had
undergone a severe cross-examina-
tion at the hands of Kings Counsel
Muir, DR.. H. H. Crippen left the wit
ness stand today with apparent con-
hdence that he had convinced the
jury of his innocence. Despite the
circumstantial evidence adduced
against him by the crown, it is un-
Questionably true that Crippen made
favorable impression.
Spectators who have attended the
trial declare the belief that it will be
impossible to convict Crippen of
wife-murder. Crippen was cool and
self-possessed today and adhered to
every point in the sensational story
he told yesterday and showed ready
wit in foiling Muir's attempt to trap
him.
After the testimony OF the medical
experts, Barrister Tobin began sum-
ming up for the defense. Tomorrow
Kings Counsel Muir will address the
jury, following which the lord chief
justice will deliver his charge. A
verdict is expected tomorrow night.
Crippen made an important admis-
sion during his testimony, and one
which may be used against him by
the prosecution, to the effect that his
wife had scar on her body.
lie also declared that his wife, Belle
Elmore, after many quarrels had sud
denly left him, as he believed, to join
an admirer. He conveyed the impress
sion that he knew nothing of her
whereabouts and consequently Of her
fate, whatever it was.
The prisoner declared that he had
never administered the poison hyoscin
to his wife. He had no idea whose
was the body unearthed In the cellar
of his Hilldrop crescent home. In
fact, he was not aware that a body
had been buried there until he re-
turned to England
1t was dramatic moment when the
d1minutfVe figure of the American
emerged from the comparative isola-
ton of the commodious dock and took
q position where he was stared at
with intense interest by the curious
throng that filed every foot Of avail
able space In the New Bailey court
room. Crippen was pale, but his COM
posure, that has remained since he
was first charged with the murder of
his actress wife, Belle Elmore, did not
desert him.
He stepped quietly but quickly into
the box and, holding the Bible in his
hand, took the oath quite calmly. I'm
der the tactful guidance of his counsel
Crippen gave sketch of his career
and then, with much detail, told his
story of the quarrels with his wife,
naming Bruce Miller of Chicago spe-
cifcally in the recital. This led to his
assertion of her parting from him and
his ignorance of her fate.
Warned of Pursuit.
Crippen corroborated a statement
made by Lawyer Tobin, his counsel,
in the opening address for the defense
that he had been warned by a mem
Der of the crew of the steamer Mont
rose, on which he was arrested, that
he was being pursued and that he had
planned to escape from the vessel hid
den in the cargo. The suicide letters,
he declared, he had written as a
blind" to serve his purpose in the
event of his escape.
He acknowledged he had loved Eth
ell Leneve three years and that they
had lived together as man and wife.
The girl, he said, was to have left the
steamer Monhose openly In case he
got away and was to join him later on
shore.
"After my wife disappeared, Miss Le-
neve lived with me as my wife in the
Hilldrop crescent home. I had fire.
quently stayed with her at hotels, but
was never away from home at night
After told people my wife was dead
Miss Leneve and | went to Dieppe for
five days and stayed at hotel there
"My firm belief is that my wife went
to Chicago to join Bruce Miller. He
often sent her presents and wrote her
lowing letters, in some of which he
signed himself; With love and kisses
to brown eyes. Bruce"