Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-20
American Accused Of
Wife Murder Takes
Stand in London.
CROWN CLOSES CASE
AND DEFENSE OPENS
Will Endeavor to Show That
Flesh in Cellar Was Not
Belle Elm0re's Body.

Solicitor Tobin's opening address for the
defense, DIR. Hawley II. Crippen, the
American, on trial here for the murder
of his wife. Belle Elmore took the
stand as a witness in his own defense
and began to tell his story. In it he
denied that he murdered his wife and
disclaimed foreknowledge of the exist
ance of the remains found In the cellar
of his house in Hildrop Crescent.
1t was dramatic moment when the
diminutive figure of the American
emerged from the comparative isolation
of the commodious dock and took a
position where he was stared at With
intense interest by the curious throng
that filled every foot of available space
in the new Bailey court room.
Crippen was pale, but his composure,
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 quietly and calmly.
Sketches His Career.
Under the tactful guidance of his
counsel Crippen gave sketch of his
career. He had studied the theories,
but had not taken a practical course In
surgery He had performed post
mortem The drugs which he had pur-
chased in England, he explained. were
wholly for his own preparations. He
explained the purchase of hyoscin, the
poison which the crown alleges was
used to kill Belle Elmore, by saying
that it was required for use in the
treatment of nervous cases, and de-
scrlbed his formula in making UP
hyoscin taboids OF the hyoscin which
he purchased on January 49, the doctor
said he had used about two-thfrds.
The prisoner spoke slowly as he pro-
ceeded He admitted that there was a
scar on the body of his wife, four and
a half inches in length. 1t was caused,
he said, by an operation twelve years
ago. He had never administered
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 returned
to England under arrest.
Mr.. Tobin contended that the prose-
cution's claim that desire for money
and the wish to marry Ethel Clara lie
Neve formed a motive for the murder
was untenable. Crippen, he said, owed
j nothing, and he had not married Miss
LIE Neve since the disappearance of his
wife, although he had had chance to
do SO. No purchase of lime, in which
the parts had been buried, had been
traced to Crippen, nor had weapon
with which the deed could. be connect
ed been found. Counsel said that the
prisoners daily demeanor since Febru-
ary 1, the date of his wife's disappear
ance. and the absence Of an appear
ance of haunting care, disproved the
theory that he was q murderer.
wife Threatened to Leave.
Mr.. Tobin said that Belle Elmore had
threatened frequently to leave her hus-
= and and at last carried out her threat.
Who knew, he asked, whether Belle Ell
more was alive or dead? The jury,
however, must know before 1t could
condemn man to death.
The defense insisted that it was per-
fectly natural that Crippen should take
to flight in the company of Miss lie
Neve, and both in disguise, when he
realized that the lies which he had told
to cover up the scandal of his wife's
departure had served only to create a
mountain of prejudice against him.
Mr.. Tobin then made the surprising
statement that Crippen two days be-
fore his arrest on the steamer Mont
rose, arranged with the quartermaster
to hide him in the cargo and to land
him in the night time at Quebec.
The discriminating card suggesting
suicide which Inspector Dew found in
Crippen's cabin was declared by his
counsel to have been deliberately left
there by the fugitive with the object
of giving its finder the impression that
he had taken his life and so causing
any one who might be looking for him
to abandon further search of the YES
sci.
Crippen Hoped to Escape.
Mr.. Tobin said that Crippen had con-
cocted this deception because he had
been informed by the quartermaster
that he was to be arrested upon land
ing Mt Quebec. Crippen had hoped to
get safely into the interior of Canada,
where he planned to be joined by Miss
continued on Second Page.)
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