Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-26
Verdict Of Not Guilty as
Accessory to Murder.
Shown 10 Have Been Under In.
huence Of Crippen.
Lord Chief Justices Summing VI
to Jury In ner Favor.

London, Oct. 25.--After trial last
ING hut few hours in the New Bailey
criminal court today. jury founo
Ethel Clara lie Neve not guilty as an
accessory after the fact in the muroer
of Cora Belle Crippen. for whose death
her husband. DR.. Crippen. will die on
the gallows on Nov. 8.
Miss lie Neve was in love with DR..
Crippen and slept in his house on the
night of the day following that upon
which the doctor murdered his wife
and buried the dismembered parts In
the cellar. She accompanied Crippen
in his flight to Canada and with him
was arrested and indicted.
From the first she has maintained
innocence of any knowledge of the
crime. but the crown alleged that her
behavior subsequent to the disappear
ance of Mrs. Crippen was such as to
betray guilty knowledge of the muir
der.
When arraigncd today Miss LIE Neve
pleaded not guilty. The crown prose-
cutor, Richard Muir. introduced only
such evidence as had been brought out
in the earlier hearings.
Miss LIE Neves counsel. Frederick
r. Smith, M. r., asked the jury to bear
in mind that his client had been under
the influence of Crippen. one of the
most dangerous criminals of recent
years, since she was 16 years old. This.
he asserted, accounted for her flight in
the doctors company.
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone, who
presided, in summing up for the jury
said that he saw no reason why DR..
Crippen should have told Miss lie
Ncvc story different from that which
he told to others.
Lcndon. Oct. 25-Ethei Clara LIE
Neve was placed on trial today as an
accessory after the fact in the murder
Of Cora Belle Crippen, for which
crime her husband, DR.. Hawlev Fl.
Crlppcn, has been convicted and sen.
tence to die on the. gallows on nov. 9.
AS upon the occasion of the ply
sician's trial the courtroom was
| crowded with members of the legal
profession and as many others as
could secure a place by right or in
fiu6nce. There was this difference in
the audiences. If Crippen had any
well wishers they kept in the back
ground. willie there was a noticeable
! sentiment of sympathy for the girl,
VINO for love of man nearly twice
her age, had sacrificed her reputation.
deserted home and friends, and re-
manned true to him even when their
associa ton made her liable as an ac-
cessory to a brutal murder.
Miss LIE Neve was capably represent
ed by counsel. who took advantage
of every techniC atty of the law to
protect their client.
According to the prosecution. Miss
| lie Nevc's relation to the crime as an
| accessory began very soon after the
death of Mrs. Crippen. In the case
| made oct against the doctor. Mrs.
Crippen or Belle Gilmore, as she was
known on the stage, was murdered
on the morning Of Feb. 1. and her
disnenLered body buried in the cell
lar of the Crippen home at 80 Hill
drop Crescent on that day. Miss LIE
Nevc slept in the Crippen home on the
night of the day following
| IS Miss LIE Ncve sat in the prison.
er's dock today she was a pathetic
ngure. She is u years old, Of medi-
UNI built. light brown hair, gray eyes
and excellent teeth. Her face Is pref
" and she is trim. She wears good
clothes becomirgly. and, naturally
hucyant and affable, she is a prepos
s"ssing woman. Today she was at
tired in the same neat blue costume
| which she wore at the preliminary
hearing in the police court. She en-
tered the dock between two ward
rcsscs and remained standing during
| the few minutes occupied by the
swearing in Of the Jury,
Miss LIE Neve was an object for keen
scrutiny on the part of the women.
who composed the majority Of the
spectators. In reply to the formal
charge of being an accessory after
the fact to the murder Of Belle Ell
more. the girl pleaded mot guilty"
in voice that was scarcely audible.
Lord Chief Justice Olverstone
thereupor called Richard D. Muir.
the crown prosecutor who outlined
the case against the accused. 1t was
clear, Mr.. Muir said, that the intrigue
between DR.. crippen and Miss LIE
Neve constituted the motive for the
murder Of Crippen's wife. He partic-
IIlarly dweit upon the evidence given
by Mrs. Jackson. Miss LIE Neves land
lady. at the preliminary hearing and
which will be introduced at the trial
The illness Of the accused on the
might Of her interview with Mrs. Jack
son was not, the prosecution said
an ordinary illness, but a condition Of
horror. the explanation of which wa!
the knowledge that had come to he
that Crippen had murdered his wife.
Inspector Dew Of Scotland Yard, VIII
arrested Crippan and Miss lie Neve
and the other witnesses for the crow
CONTINUED on Page Two.)