Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-21
BEREAvED HUSBAND ROLE
Forced Upon Him, and He Played It
Hard, He Admits.
COAXED ETHEL LENEvE AWAY
Expert for Defense Says Mark on
Victims Body Is No Scar.
Jury to Look at It.

wife. known TO the theatrical profession
as Belle Gilmore. matched wits today with
Richard Muir one OF the cleverest crimi-
nal lawyers in England.
The fact that the defendant was to un-
dergo a cross-examination by this repre-
sentative of the crown increased interest
in the proceedings.
Crowded in Courtroom.
When Lord Chief Justice Alverstons,
always punctual to the minute, entered
the New Bailey courtroom and the pris-
oner at the same time took his place in
the dock, the spectators were already In
their seats awaiting expectantly the Open
ing OF the contest between the keen law
yer and the cool doctor.
Crippen was under cross-examination
for practically four hours. He stood the
ordeal we'll
When the defendant was excused from
the box DIR. Turnbull. director of the
Pathological Institute of the Gordon Hos
pital, was called for the defense. He
bluntly declared that the so-called scar
on the body of the victim could not pos
sibly be a scar
Before Crippen re-entered the Witness
box from which he gave his direct testi.
mony yesterday the lord chief justice an
nounced that, at its own request. the
jury would be allowed, later in the day, to
examine. microscopically, the skin from
the part found in the Hilldrop-Crescent
cellar.
This bears. il is alleged by the prosecu-
ton, scar. such AS Belle Elmore received
from surgeons knife twelve years ago.
The defense claims that there is no scar.
but that what appears to be such was
caused by fold in the skin.
Although the steamer Montrose 10 ~
sea, the Quartermaster who. Crippen tes-
titled yesterday. entered into q conspiracy
to hide him during the fight to Canada, u
now in London. Mr. Muir had long talk
with him last night.
Crippen Under Cross-Fire.
When Crippen was escorted TO the wit
ness-box today he assumed the same
characteristic attitude as he did when he
faced his own counsel He rested his el.
bows on the railing, casped his hands and
look inquiringly about the courtroom.
Mr.. Muir. losing no time in prelimi-
naries, asked Crippen whether he had
seen or heard anything OF his wife since
early on the morning Of February l. The
witness replied in the negative.
In answer to further questions. rapidly
fired at him, he said that he could not
prove any fact showing that she left the
house alive. He supposed that she had
gone to Bruce Miller. her professional ac-
quaintance. who lives in Chicago.
That was the only guess he could make.
He had made no inquiries
The witness said that he last saw his
morning of February 1, wheh they re-
tired, usual. That morning he prepar-
ed his own breakfast.
Returning home in the evening, he
found that Mrs. Crippen had disappeared.
as she had threatened to do. He made
no inquiries regarding the passengers
listed on vessels sailing for America. nor
had he since suggested that inquiries re-
gardng the whereabouts OF his wife
should be made.
Mr.. Muir suggested that. IL the witness
wife were alive. she would call upon her
sisters In the United States. Crippens re-
ply to this was that as his wife had gone
with another man she would not have
.'the face to go to her sisters.
This opinion from the witness box drew
forth a chorus of Obs from the spec
tators.
The doctor could not say whether his
wife took any OF her furs with her. or II
she had any quantity of furs and dresses.
Disposition Of Her Effects.
Regarding the disposition of Belle El-
mores jewelry the witness said that he
considered that he was quite entitled to
tell Inspector Dew that he had not pawned
his wifes valuables, as these had been
purchased with his money and he con-
sidered them hts.
He had used the proceeds of the sales to
pay for advertising. He did not know
what cash his wife had a the time she
left him.
Il asked her. said the witness. 'if she
wanted any money. She replied, No. I
want nothing.
Counsel took UP the subject of the let
forS nd fofo fn
friends which the husband had made re-
garding her death. Crippen admitted that
all were lies. and smilingly assented to
the suggestion that he had to play the
role of bereaved husband.
When Mr.. Muir asked Crippen IL he
thought that he had played the part OF
bereaved husband well, the witness
smiled and replied:
That is for others to judge.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone and
Counsel Muir piled the witness with aues-
tons regarding his use OF hyoscin, Q
poison, which, the prosecution alleges.
was administered to Belle Elmore and
caused her death.
Crippen admitted that he had not pur-
chased any hyoscin before or after the
occasion proved by the crown, and on
which he admitted buying the drug. He
could not name any patients for whom
he had prescribed hyoscin.
The witness suggested that it was pos
sible that the human parts found In the
cellar of his home had been placed there
during a periodical absence of himself
and wife.
1t developed during the cross-examina-
ton that time was lost in establishing
Ethel Clara Leneve, the doctors typist,
in the Hildrop Crescent home. Crippen
admitted that Miss Leneve had slept in
the house the night of February 2. within
twenty-four hours after his wife had dis
appeared.
Why He Ran Away.
Witness seid that he resolved to 80
away July 8, after realizing that suspi-
cion had been directed against him. He
feared that he might be arrested and
Jailed until his wife was found.
He wished also to spare Miss Leneve.
whom he persuaded to disguise herself
and quit London, by explaining that the
statement which he had made to In.
spector Dew involved her as well as him.
self.
He told the girl there would be a scam
daI. and. il his wife was not located. that
there would be trouble. The only way OF
Escape was for both to start new homo
together abroad.
Experts Last Witnesses for Defense.
Dr.. Turnbull, the defense's s6pert said