The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-24
CRIPPEN'S LIFE PAYS
 PENALTY FOR CRIME
American Dentist Is Hanged in
 London Prison
NO CONFESSION MADE
To the Gal1ows and the Fatal Drop Ends His Mental
 Agony

London, November 23.-Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen today paid the penalty for the murder of his wife, Belle Fillmore, | the actress, within a few minutes of the stroke of g. the morning hour fixed for | the execution.
 The hanging was in Pentonville prison, where the prisoner had been confined since his return to this country, follow ing his arrest in Canada.
 The condemned man, who throughout his trial and even until Home Secretary Churchill had refused petition for his I reprieve, had maintained an imperturba- ble calmness, presented a pitiable ap- pearance as he was litelnlly led through out the short corridor from his cell to the scaffold.
 The mental anguish had been too great to be covered up by outward bravado, and 1t was a broken man the wardens ! were obliged to assist up the steps to the drop, upon which once reached the shrinking figure all but collapsed
 The first report that Crlppen had met his fate calmly was contradicted by per sons who were present in the prison dur ing the mans last hour.
 The doomed man passed restless night and appeared haggard and worn when awakened from a fretful sumber. He seemed to lose all fortitude as the end I approached. A breakfast was brought I to him, but he left it untouched. His face l was coloreless as he was escorted bare | headed to the gallows. The gruesome work was soon done. The black cap was l quickly drawn over the face, the moose adjusted and the bolt drawn. Dp yyh l was given a drop of seven feet. Death l was instantaneous.
 l From the time that his reprieve was re- fused, the physicians condition had been 1 one of agonized mental prostration. He would see only Clara Ethel Leneve, love l for whom, the crown asserted, was the compelling motive in the murder of his | wife; Solicitor Newton, who had made l game fight for his client, and Father | Carey, to whose ministratons he paid 1 respectful attention.
 | The final interview yesterday with Miss Leneve was most painful, and already in | the shadow of death, the convicted mur- derer made no effort to suppress his emo tions upon parting with the girl During 1 the remainder of the day he was in a state of complete nervous collapse, retir- ing to this bed utterly Respondent 1 Some time after the crowd at the Jail had dispersed a notice was posted on | judgment of death has this day been executed on H. H. Crippen' in the pres
 ence of the governor of the prison, un-
 der sheriff and Father Carey. The cer- tificate of death was also displayed.
 Father Carey, who has been much with l Crippen at Pentonviie, remained at the prisoners side throughout the night and l accompanied him to the scaffold. l The streets in the neighborhood of the prison were we'll filled by the time the
 hanging took place, although the fog was so dense that the outlines of the prison could scarcely be seen in front. There
 was public police guard on hand which kept the crowd from approaching closely to the building.
 Following the execution the inquest re-
 ouired by the law was held. the jury re- | turning a verdict to the effect that the sentence of the law had been duly car ried out. The proceedings were held in
 the prison.
 pr. Wilson, an official witness of the | hanging, t} dified that death was caused I by a frac, re of the yertebrae. There was no re. stance or struggle on the | part of the condemned man and the
 whole proceedings from the entrance of the cell by the executioner until Crippen was dead occupied only 50 seconds. Death
 was instantaneous, the physician said The foreman of the jury inquired of the l coroner If he might ask whether any | confession had been made and received the reply: NO, that does not concern you"