Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-23
American Execute d at
London Without Max
ing a Confession.
DROP BREAKS HIS NECK
Gives Evidence of Enduring
Terrible Mental Torture
in Last Hours.

CrtpDen today paid the penalty for tha
murder OF his wife, Belle Elmora, m
actress, within a few minutes OF the
stroke of g. the morning hour onichrly
fixed for the execution The hanging
was in Pentonvtlle prison.
Near Collapse at End.
The condemned man, who, through
out his trial and even until Home Sec.
retary Churchill refused his petition
for reprieve. had maintained impertur.
able calmness. presented a pft1abls
appearance as he was literally led
through the corridor from his cell
to the scafrold. His mental anguish
had been too great to be covered up
by outward bravado, and # was a
broken man whom the warders were
requested to assist up the steps to the
drop, where the shrinking figure all
but collapsed.
Passed Bad Night.
The doomed man passed a restless
night, and appeared haggard and worn
bers. He seemed TO lose all fortitude
as the end approached. His breakfast
was untouched. His face was color
less as he was escorted bareheaded to
the gallows.
The grewsome work was soon done
The black cap was quickly drawn over
the face. the moose adjusted. the bolt
drawn, and the body dropped seven
feet, death being instantaneous.
In Grent Mental Agony.
Prom the time the reprieve was re-
fused the physicians condition was
one Of agonized mental prostration.
He would see only Clara Ethel Leneve.
love for whom. the crown asserted, wa
the compelling motive in the murder
Of his wife; Solicitor Newton. who had
made a game fight for his client. and
Father Carey, to whose ministrations
he paid respectful attention.
Did Not Suppress Emotions.
The final interview with Miss Le-
neve yesterday was most painful, and
already in the shadow of death the
convicted murderer made no effort 20
suppress his emotions upon parting
with the girl. During the remainder
of the day he was in a state Of COM
plete nervous collapse, retiring TO his
bed utterly respondent
Some time after the crowd had dis.
persed notice was posted on the prison
gates announcing that "the Judgment
of death has this day been executed
on H. II. Crippen. in the presence of
the governor of the prison. the under
sheriff, and Father Carey" The ply.
sicians' certificate of death was alsc
displayed.
Confession Denied
An evening paper yesterday caused
a sensation by flooding the city with
placards that Crippen had made a writ
ten confession. Every one in a posi-
tion to know denied this. Ethel lie.
neve said:
Il was the last person to see DR..
Crippen. So far as my knowledge ex
tends he has not made such a state
ment."
II also was reported that Cripper
yesterday wrote a statement for a Sun.
day paper, which bought a previous
story of his. The paper. however, de.
nies il has his confession.
Miss Leneve at the request OF the
prisoner paid a farewell visit to Grip.
pen in the afternoon. She arrived in
a closed cab and was accompanied by
an elderly man. who remained outside
Miss Leneve remained for a halt
hour in the visitors room with the
doctor. During her stay the warders
watched the condemned man closely
She PROBABLY will sail for Montreal on
Saturday.
wireless Hts TndOInE.
DR.. Crippen, who is an American, is
to die for the murder OF his wife. also
an American. who was known on the
stage as Belle Elmore.
interest attached to the
tragedy because Of a remarkable chase
across the Atlantic I'm which wireless
telegraphy brought about the capture
in Canada of the doctor and Miss lie.
neve, with whom he had fed.
DR.. Crippen and his wife lived at 80
Crescent. North London He
was born in Cold wafer, Mich. and was
graduated from the University of
With the Crippens lived Miss Le
neve, a young typist, who served as
secretary to the doctor.
Wife Missing I'm February.
Mrs. Crippen disappeared last Feb
ruary. Her husband said she had gone
to America. An advertisement later
80 Oh 10 F-T4