Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-23
PREJUDICE Is STRONG
AGAINST SUCH EXECUTION
Believed That Jury Recommends Life
Imprisonment Instead of Death
Prisoner Is Scored by the Presiding
Justice. But Hears Words Sealing
His Doom Without Flinch-Ethel
Leneve Case Comes Up Next.

LONDON. Oct. zz.-Dr- naWleH
Harvey Crippen. after trial extend
ing over five days, and thirty min
utes deliberation by the jury, was to-
day found guilty of the murder OF
his wife, an American woman known
on the stage as Belle Gilmore. Lord
Chief Justice Alverstone, who presid-
ed at the trial. sentenced Crippen 10
he hanged on November 10.
There is, however. the strongest
prejudice in England against execut
ing a man on purely circumstantial
evidence. and an incident at the close
of Crippen's trial has caused the inn
preston that the jury may have
recommended a life sentence. After
crippen was sentenced to death, the
foreman of the jury handed to the
lord chief justice a note, after look
ing at which. the justice said:
THAT shall be forwarded to the
proper quarter
"The proper quarter might mean
the homie secretary who has juris-
Giction over such matters. The jurors
refused 10 discuss the incident.
A large crowd awaited the depar-
ture of Crippen from New Bailey.
There were few "bOOs" as he drove
away to the Pentonville prison. but
no other demonstration.
Jury Returns Verdict.
The jury was out just thirty min
utes. When ii returned and announc'
cd that it had found the defendant
guilty. Lord Chief Justice Alverstone
asked the physician if he had anything
to say. Crippcn replied in a low
voice: Il still protest my innocence.
The chief justice then donned the
black cap that has rested near him
throughout the trial and pronounced
the sentence of death.
Addressing the condemned man.
Lord Alverstone said:
You have been convicted on evil
denoe which can leave no doubt in
the minds of any reasonable man
that you cruelty murdered YOUR wife.
and then mutilated her body.
81 advise you TO entertain no hope
that YOU will escape the consequences
of your crime implore you to
make your peace with Almighty
Cod"
As the lord chief justice concluded.
I: policeman stepped forward and. in
the hush thar had fallen over the
court room. led Crippen from the
dOCk.
Ethel leneve Case Tuesday.
The triaIof Ethel Clara Leneve. as
an accessory after the fact in the
murder Of. Mrs. Crippen, will begin
on next Tuesday.
The trial lasted less than five DAYS.
having begun at 1890 O'Clock last
Tuesday morning. The jury retired
at 2:17 O'Clock this. afternoon and re-
turned the verdict at 2:f7 o'clock
CTippen received the death sen
tence with the apparent calmness thai
characterized him throughout the
trial
He appeared rather nervous during
the judce's summing up which was
strongly against him. AS Lord Aver
stone me-ciiessly portrayed his char
scfer. as developed during the trial
Crippen twirled his thumbs. crossed
and rccrosscd his legs aid occasion
ally shufied his feet. However. as
soon as the charge had been cOnclud-
ed the prisoner seemed to pull him
self together.
crippen, Doesn't Finch
When the verdict vas announced
Cripen did not finch
Richard Muir made the closing
sr.ccch for The prosecution ic de-
ciarcd that the Crown had proved
beyond a doubt that the body found IN
the cellar Of the Crippcn home was
that Of the doctors wife. No one
csc. h said. had chance 20 murder
the woman and bury che body. as It
.ras found TO have been buried.
Lord Chief Justice Alvcrstonc IN
rncdiaieIy began his. summing I'D 81
the case.
Scored By Judge.
The Justice described Cripren az
IN exfraordlnary man. whether gull
~ or innocent. n guilty nc had COY
cred up CHASTITY crime in ehastly
wav and u vas believed in a most
brutal and callous manner. " he was
fnrorrnf II vas impossible to f7fLom