Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-28
ETHEL LENEVE GOES
FREE OF MURDER CHAGE
Jury Finds That Pretty TypiSt
Was Innocent of the Killing
of Mrs. Crippen

LONDON. Oct. sS-After a trial lasting
only a few hours. in the new Bailey GRIM
inal court today. a jury found Ethel
Claire Leneve not guilty as an accessory
after the fact in the murder OF Cora
Belle Crippen for whose death her hus-
band. DR.. Crippen. will die on the gal
lows on November
Miss Leneve was in love with DR.. Grip
pen and slept in his house on the night
OF the day following the day upon which
the doctor murdered his wife and buried
the diSnembsred parts in the cellar of
his Hilidrop Crescent home. She &C
companied Crippen in mis- flight to can
ada and with him was arrested and in
dicted.
From the first she has maintained in
nocence OF any knowledge of the crime.
but the crown alleged that her behavior
subsequent TO the disappearance IF Mrs.
CrIppen. or Belle EImore. as she was
known on the stage. was such as to be-
tray a guilty knowledge OF the murder.
When arraigned today Miss Leneve
pleaded not guilty. and witnesses were
introduced by the prosecution TO show
that she had experienced great mental
distress following Belle EImore's death.
The crown prosecutor introduced only
such testimony az has been brought out
in the earlier hearings.
Miss Lensve's counsel, Frederick Z.
Smith. NJ. p. asked the jury to bear in
mind that his client had been under the
influence Of Crippen. one Of the most
dangerous Of criminals of recent years,
since she was sixteen years Of age This.
he asserted. accounted fos her flight in
the Doctors company.
There was no proof that she had
knowledge Of the crime.
Counsel said that he took upon his
oxn shoulders the responsibility for not
putting Miss Leneve in the witness box.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone. who pre-
sided IN summing up for the jury. said
that he saw no reason why DR.. Crippen
should have told Miss Deneve a story
different from that which he told to
others
AS upon the occasion Of the physi-
clans trial. the court room was crowd
ed with members OF the legal profession
and as many as could secure a place by
right or influence These was this diff
ference in the audience: II Crippen had
any well-wishers they kept in the back
ground while there was a noticeable
sentiment Of sympathy for the girl who
for love of a man nearly twice her age
had sacrificed her reputation. deserted
home and friends and remained true to
him, even when their association made
her liable as an accessory to brutal
murder.
Miss Leneve was capabIy represented
BY counsel. who took advantage OF ev-
cry technicality Of the law 10 protect
their client
Aeeording to the prosecution. Miss
Leneve's relation 10 the crime was as
an accessory began very soon after the
In 80 =
out against the doctor, Mrs Crippen, or
Belle EImore. as she was known on the
stage. was murdered on the morning of
February /. and her dismembered body
hurried in the cellar Of the Crippen home
az 80 HflldTOp Crescent Miss LeneNe
slept in the Crippen home on the night
OF the day following.
AS Miss Leneve sat in the prisoners
dock today she was a pathetic figure
she is 81 years OF age. OF medium build.
light brown hair. gray eyes and excel
lent teeth. Her face is pretty and she
f. trim She wears good clothes be-
comingly and being naturally buoyant
and affable. she is a prepOseessihg wo-
man
WAS DRESSED NEATLY.
She was attired in the same neat blue
costume which she wore at the prelim-
mary hearing IN the police court She
entered the dock between two wardresS-
Is and remained standing during the few
minutes occupied by the swearing of
the jury.
Miss Leneve was an object for keen
scrutiny on the part Of the women, who
composed the majority OF the specta-
tors. In reply to the formal charge Of
being an accessory after the fact to
the murder OF Belle Elmore. the girl
pleaded mot guilty" IN voice that was
scarcely audible Lord Chief Justice
AIverstone. thereupon called Richard ID.
Moir. the crown prosecutor. who out
lined the case against the accused 1t
was clear Mr.. Muir said. that the in
trigue between DR.. Crippen and Miss
Leneve constituted the motive for the
murder OF crippens wife He dvelt
upon the evidences given by Mrs Jack
son, Miss Leneve's landlady. at the pre-
urinary hearing and which will be in
PRODUCED at the trial. The illness OF
tbs accused on the night Of the inter
view with Mrs Jackson was not the
prosecutor said. an ordinary illness. but
a condition Of horror. the explanation OF
which was the knowledge had come to
her that Crippen had murdered his wife.