DR. CRIPPEN TELLS HIS STORY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 954, 22 October 1910, Page 5

DR. CRIPPEN TELLS HIS STORY.

-. —9 — CASE FOR THE DEFENCE. IDENTITY OF THE REMAINS MUST BE PROVED- - . THE PURCHASE OF POISON. By Telegraph—Press Association-Oopyricht. . London, October 20. The. trial of Hawley ■ Crippen and Ethol Le Neve, -..'the former 'charged with having murdered his wife at 39 Hilldrop Crescent, Camden, | and \-the latter with being anaccessory'after the fact, is being continued before the Lord Chief Justice and a jury. . The case for' the prosecution' has closed. The medical evidence 1 was to the effect that the absence' of sebaceous glands proved that the scar on a portion of the body found under the at the Camden Road house was an old operation mark. . CRIPPEN'S COUNSEL' OPENS. In opening the case for the defence, Mr. Tobin, K.C., counsel for Crippen, incidentally referred to cards with writing on found/on Crippen after his arrest, and which tended to indicate that the accused man contemplated suicide. Counsel explained that - there was a plot, in. which one .of the minor officers of the 'steamer'Montrose was, he alleged, involved,, to enable Crippen and Le Neve to escape *on reaohing' Quebec, and that the cards were 'to play a part in the plot. ,• . ■'■'; Mr. Tobin said he intended to , call eminent doctors to . controvert -. the '. evidence for the prosecution with; regard to. the time-the body had been buried, and also as to the presence of hyoscihe, an alkaloid poison, in the body. Orippen, he added, would be put on the witness-stand to. give evidence; in his own behalf. '' ; '■, Tho prosecution, continued Mr.Tobin, must prove that the.reiriains .were' those of Belle Elmore (Mrs. .Crippen), He discredited the suggestions. that 'Grip-; pen murdered the woman for. her money, and in order to marry his mistress. Neither suggestion had been bonne out by facts. : THE PRISONER'S•EVTDENCte ; '{;- Crippen then; went into the witnessbox, and gave evidence to the. effect that he had never made a-post mortem: examination"; he was' a specialist -in diseases of .the eye,: .ear,- ..nose,,; and: throat.'. Mrs,'. Crippen, on 'the , night before her flight, raged over a triviality,: and said she would,leave him, adding, that he might cover the' scandal in the I best; way he could.' .He'had (therefore i.lied to the woman's friends.. The story told by, him to. • Detective -".Inspector Pewwas'; true. '-'He', admitted'purchasing" hydgoine,' whicli; he"..dispensed., in jninuto doses;to,patients spasmodic, asthma, arid ■ also, in -nerve cases. He recounted the details' of. the plot for his and Le Neve's escape when tho .Montrose reached Quebec, his evV dence" in this: respect being :on ; the linesOutlined by 'his 'counsel.. ; •'-•.;.' •'"".'.•''■'■;"'.' : -'. f