Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-24
cALMNEss DISPLAYED BY AMER
!. IcAN DURING TRIAL GAVE WAY
TO PANIC AS LAST HOURS ON
EARTH DREW NEAR.
LED TO THE SCAFFOLD
IN NERVOUS COLLAPSE
DOOMED MAN PASSES A REST
LESS NIGHT AND LEFT BREAK
FAST UNTOUCHED; PRIEST AND
LAWYER AND TYPIsT SEE HIM.

London, Nov. 23.-Dr. Crippen TO-DAY
paid the penalty for the murder OF MS
wife. Belle Gilmore, the actress, with
in few minutes of the stroke Of y
o'clock this morning, the hour officially
fixed for the execution. The hanging
was in Pentonville prison. Ehe con
demned man, who throughout MS trlai
and even until Home Secretary
Churchill refused his petition for q
reprieve had maintained imperturable
calmness, presented pitiaDle appear
anceS as he was literally led through
the corridor from his cell to the
scaffold. His mental anguish had been
too great to be covered up BY outward
bravado and it was broken man that
the warders were obliged to assist up
the steps to the drop where the shrink
ing figure all but collapsed.
The doomed man passed restless
night and appeared haggard and worn
when awakened from his ftful slum-
bers. He seemed to lose all his fort1-
tude as the end approached. Ills
breakfast was untouched. His face
was colorless as he was escorted bare.
headed 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
was instantaneous.
From the time the reprieye was
refused his condition was one ct
agonized mental prostration. He
would see only Clara lie Neve. lov for
whom, the crown asserted, was 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.
His final interview with Miss
LIE Neve yesterday was most painful,
and, already in the shadow OF death.
the convicted murderer made no effort
to suppress his emotions upon parting
with the girl. During the remainder
Of the day he was in state Of COM
plete nervous collapse, retiring to his
bed utterly despondent.
Some time after the crowd had dis
persed notice was posted at the gates
announcing that "the Judgment OF
death has this day been executed on
H. H. Crippen in the presence OF the
governor Of the prison, the under
sheriff and Father Carey. A physicians s
certificate of death was also displayed.
Priest is. crippen's Comforter.
Father Carey, who has visited Grip
pen frequently. entered the prison last
evening to spend the night with the
condemned man.
An evening paper caused a sensation
by flooding the city with placards that
Crippen had made written confess
Tvxyn~ ~ n a RI
denied this. Ethel lie Neve said:
II was the last person to see DR..
Crippen. So far as my knowledge ex-
tends he has not made such state
ment."
1t also was reported that Crippen
wrote statement for Sunday paper,
which bought previous story Of his.
The paper. however, denies 1t has his
confession.
Miss LIE Neve 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 LIE Neve remained for a half
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.
Hangs for Murder OF Wife.
DR.. Crippen; who Is an American,
was executed for the murder of his
wife, also an American, who was
known on the vaudeville stage as Belle
Elmore. Worldwide interest attached
to the tragedy because OF remarkable
chase across the Atlantic IN which
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 SO
Hilldrop crescent. North London He
was born in ColdwaHe,, Mich and was
graduated from the University Of
Michigan.
With the Crippens lived Miss LIE
Neve, young typist, who served as
secretary to the doctor.
Mrs. Crippen disappeared in last
February. Her husband said she had
gone to America. An advertisement
later stated she had died IN California.
were aroused and the doe
tor fled. Then the woman's body was
found buried in the cellar of the Hill
drop crescent house. 1t was identified
with difficulty.
Crippen on his fight disguised his
as boy. The captain of
the ship he embarked in became sus-
picious and wireless warning
brought about the arrest of the fugi-
tives. Miss lie Neve was tried as an ac-
cessory and acquitted.