The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-13
(Ry Cassidy Cook.)

American tourists in London will
find a murder trial in the "Old Bailey
an extremely interesting sight. The
ancient legal spectacular ceremonies
and scientific administration of GRIM
inal jurisprudence ever devised by
mortal man. The trials gay and
grave scenes alternate in a seemingly
judicial comedy and drama which
once seen will always he treasured
among ones fondest "reminiscences of
the traditions of "Merrie Olde Eng.
land"
1t was my privilege to witness the
trial of DIR. Hawley Harvey Crippen.
The endishness of the crime Of the
American physician and the intricate,
purely circumstantial evidence made
it the most famous murder trial in
modern English history.
The learned lord chief justice OF
England presided. The scenic fea-
lures were unusually brilliant and i'm
pressive. All London seemed surging
to the odd Bailey" on the bright crisp
trial began. Twenty thousand jost-
ling. good-natured Britons filled the
narrow streets around the great stone
courthouse, vainly striving to see the
game little wife-murderer fight for his
life.
My lord" and smartly gowned lady.
eminent JuriStis. statesmen. and for
cign diplomats in handsome heraldic
coach are driven slowly through the
dense crowd to present Public Prose-
cutor Sir Charles Mathews engraved
card of admission to the trial. Buff
and gold buttoned livcried court at
tendants uslered the distinguished
guests to their seats in the courtroom.
The black frocked. solemn, divine,
well-groomed clubman. unkempt ar
tist. rotund, red-faced prosperous
merchant. typical John Bull p~ersoni-
fled. are CONSPICUOUS in the throng
odd Bailey" through a great central
blue marble corridor. Inscribed in
large letters Of gold around the base
of its lofty. mosaic dome of brilliant
hues. are the stern words, Moses
gave unto the people the laws of God,
certain as life and death, and thou
shalt not disobey them. Weigh the
cause in Justice equal scales"
Well might be added, Leave hope
here" Above is a heroic mural
mosaic portrayal of Jehovah's great
lawgiver on Mount Sinai. holding the
large tablets of stone: the Decalogue's
warning commands are easily read.
We pass to the high square court
room. it's walls of polished panel oak,
and fresco ceiling are surmountcd by
a glass dome. The sun streams
through. making bright the spectacu-
dazzles the eye. English aristocracy
is surely a CLASSY" lot. Undersheriff
Smythe, in black satin swallow-tail
coat, puffed out. iuted white shirt,
low-cut buff vest, great brown leather
belt. and silver sword hilt, black satin
knickerbockers. and black silk stock
ings, patent leather pumps, with sill
ver buckles. escorts me lord and
lady" and other dignitaries to their re-
served seats.
The white-wigged. black-gowned
barristers, a hundred strong. fill their
allotted benches. Civil and military
pomp are present in striking regalias:
feminine loneliness Is not wanting.
The solemn court crier. typical Mr..
Dombey, announces the lord chief JUS
tice; the great audience rises; the lord
mayor of London and two aldermen in
dark blue robes. and two sheriffs.
enter upon the high judicial dais.
A Hundred Barristers on Hand.
The sheriffs face each other and
bow al Lord Chief Justice Alverstone,
tall and impressive. slowly enters. In
brilliant scarlet robe. reaching almost
to his feet, and huge white wig COW
ering his large. head, he passes with
great dignity between them to the
high-back carved oaken judicial seat.
The lord mayor. aldermen. and sher-
IFS also occupy seats upon, the dais, at
his lordship's left. Their part in the
ceremonial proceedings il to usher the
lord chief Justice in and out Of the
courtroom and entertain him at lunch.
con.
The audience is seated again al his
lordship signifies to the clerk the
opening Of the court. Suddenly up
m spry little Crippen from a cell
lar cell under the courtroom into the
high central 15-foot square prisoners
dock. accompanied by two guards.
The Curious "Strcwing'' Custom.
Nattily array in gray diagonal frock
suit. the prisoner seats himself COM
fortably. Immediately he Is the star
attraction. From the dais, tho barris.