The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-14
CR|PPEN CASE MAY
Be ORAMAT|zEO
Eminent English Playwrights and
Actors Are Attending Trial and
Taking Copious Notes.

LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE case Oh
DR.. III. II. Crippen, charged with the
murder Of his wife, Belle Elmore, the
actress. is attracting much attention
from stage folk. In fact, the dra-
matte features are appealing TO the
actors and playwrights as no other
case in the history OF English Grim
inality, and the case will undoubt-
eddy find its way onto the stage. This
was evidenced today by the appear
anCe in the Buw-st. courtroom of Sir
John Hare and II. B. Irving, leading
English actors, and Of Sir William
Gilbert, the playwright. They had
seats close to the witness stand and
made frequent notes. On two previ-
GUS occasions Gilbert was honored
with a seat by the side OF Judge De
Rutzen.
The latest Developments appear to
be against the defendant.
Under shrewd and merciless cross
examination by Attorney Arthur New
ton, DR.. Pepper. the government
analyst, practically repudiated much
OF his former testimony and admit
ted that IL was impossible TO deter
mine the sex of the remains supposed
TO have been the body of Belle Elmore
Crippen from an anatomical study.
Dr. Pepper admitted that when he
first saw the remains Of the woman
supposed to have been Belle Elmore
Crippen, he thought they were animal
remains. 1t required close inspec-
ton, he said, To determine that they
were remnants of q human body.
Attorney Newton, who il now APP
pearing for both DIR. Crippen and Miss
Ethel Clare Leneve, made the most Of
Peppers admission, for 1t was Pepper
who first claimed TO have identified
the body as that Of woman who had
undergone an operation and to have
found evidence OF hyoscin poison.
You mean to tell the court" New
ton said sharply, that you were able
to arrive at these conclusions after
first having mistaken the pieces or
flesh for those OF an animal?"
"Oh, quickly saw my mistake"
Pepper replied. There was NO Ques-
ton after a close inspection that the
remains were those OF a middle-aged
woman of rather heavy build. We
the operation and OF the hyoscin poi
SON."
isn't this the only way to deter
mine the sex OF body with certain
typ" Numbered Newton. when he saw
that he had the governments star
witness in bad corner.
"Yes." was Peppers reluctant reply.
Difficult to Determine Sex.
"You agree with DR.. Marshall, the
other government analyst, when he
declared at the inquest that 1t was
impossible to determine the sex of the
remains?" asked Newton, drawing
nearer 10 the perturbed witness.
"Tll admit that II was impossible
TO determine the sex by anatomical
study" replied Pepper.
Newton paused significantly after
this startling admission. The whole
courtroom was surprised at the sensa-
tional turn In the case, all believing
that II marked an early collapse OF
the prosecution.
Peppers admission leaves the ques.
ton of the body's identity dependent
upon a few strands OF hair found In
curriers' near the body, another lock
OF ndlT kHOtleu III mai hahuht'-
chief, and the remnant OF woman's
undervset.
The evidence OF the hair. however.
was rendered practically valueless by
Peppers admission that the hair
found i'm the curriers' was dark while
that In the handkerchief was light and
much shorter than that in the curriers'.
Pepper said the remains occupied
a space under the cellar floor Of The
Crippen home, about the length OF a
human body.
Dr. Marshall. the other analyst, was
with him at the time. He said the
soil where the body was found con-
sisted OF clay and loan mixed and
that lime had been sprinkled over
the remains.
Pepper sought to remove all doubt
as TO the correctness OF his conclu-
sions by declaring that the next day.
July Is. he and DR.. Marshall held
postmortem which eliminated the last
doubt az TO the remains being those
OF a woman.
Newton attempted TO show that
Pepper got all OF his facts from In
spector Dew before he made an ex-
animation of the body. His question
ing grew SO sharp. that Humphreys,
the opposing counsel, cautioned Pep
per not TO mind his insults"
Dannar admitted that he might