The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-12
MAY FREE CR|PPEN
ON TECHNICALLY
Counsel for AccusedPhysician
Says Analysis of Remains
Was Impossible
PLIES MORGUEMASTER
WITH SHARP QUESTIONS
Use of Carbolic Acid in Exhum-
ing Body, and Presence of
Dirt and Gravel in Coffin
May Force Acquittal.

LONDON. Sept I2.-Becauss an
undertaken and a morgue keeper were
compelled to use enormous quantities
OF carbolic acid to counterfeit the
doors of decaying flesh while remoy-
ing the body from the cellar of the
Crippen home, the acquittal OF DIR.
II. II. Crippen for the murder of his
Wife may be forced.
When the inquest over the body
tkaen from the Crippen cellar was re-
sumed to-day. Attorney Arthur New
ton, counsel for Crtppen and the Lee
neve girl, grilled the undertaken and
morgue keeper who took charge of
the body with a series OF sharp ques-
tons. He tried to show that they
shoveled the remains into box. TAX
ing little care to keep dirt and stones
separate. Both men denied this. say
ing there was neither stones nor dirt
in the coffin when it was taken TO the
morgue. They admitted, however,
that there was a great deal OF caroolic
acid used and said they had to use
IL in order to approach the spot where
the body was buried.
No Analysis Possible.
II WAS plain from the questions
Newton put To these two witnesses
that he hopes to demonstrate that the
testimony of the chemists that hyosein
poisoning caused the death of the per-
son whose body. was taken from the
crippen cellar was q conclusion that
could not have been reached by an
analysis. He apparently was laying
the foundation TO impeach the posi-
bility that a satisfactory analysis could
have taken place and to show that
carbolic acid used ruined the body for
the purpose of analysis.
When the inquest was resumed to-
day Coroner Schroeder was In charge.
The interests of the crown We're looked
after by Inspector Dew. Detective Ser
geant Mitchell and Lawyer Travers
Humphreys. while Newton looked af-
ter the interest of the accused. Neil
Their Crippen nor Miss Leneve was
present.
After the morgue keeper and I'M
dertaker had told of the removal of
the body. Miss May. secretary OF this
music hall guild, told of the disap-
pearance of Belle Gilmore, as Mrs.
Crippen was best known. Early in
January. before Mrs. Crippen disap-
peared- the Witness said. she told her
of dream she had at Christmas
time. In 1t Mrs, Crippen said she i'm
agined she was being strangled by the
doctor.
Miss May told of hearing that Mrs.
Crippen had died in California, and
asking the doctor about it Because
she failed TO get any details Of the
cause of death, she wrote to Crippen' $
son. o. Fl. Crippen, in Los Angeles.
asking him to write her about II. In
reply she received q letter telling her
that the report OF the death was as
much surprise to him as 1t had been
to any one else. He had first learned
OF the matter from his father. he said.
The doctor had written him that Mrs.
Crippen had die dinS an Francisco.
An Intimate Friend.
Mrs. Paul Martieuni stated that she
considered herself one OF Mrs. Grip
penis most intimate friends. She last
saw Mrs. Crtppen at the party in the
Crippen home on January 81 At that
time. she swore Mrs Crippen was in
excellent spirits and discussed with
her the affairs of the music hall
guild. At no time did she refer to
America or to any intention OF MAX
ing trip to that country, On June
Is, she said Mr.. and Mrs. John Ed
ward Nash asked her about Mrs. Grip
pen. saying they were not satisfied
with the story about her death. She
said she suggested to the Washes that
tneN Gail the atteHtlUH oL SCptlAHu
Yard TO the case.
Body in Jars
Questioned on cross-examination BY
Newton regarding the cleanliness OF the
remains. Morgue Keeper Robinson said
the human remnants were placed in
jars, which were sealed and covered
with white paper The paper used
was the same kind I use to wrap my
childrens lunches In he said. Those
in the courtroom laughed 90 loudly
at this that the coroner threatened to
clear the room.
Mrs. Harrison. a theatrical friend Of
the dead woman. testified that Belle
Elmore told her the nature of the op-
Grafton that she underwent.