SECRETS IN MURDER CASES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1930, Page 3

SECRETS IN MURDER CASES

AN j UNAUTHOKISEI.) BOOK

f . . PUBI A CATJO N Wmi 11 E1 - D

LONDON, A lay 2

Sir Bernard Spilsbury, Liu* famous Home Office pathological expert, lias taken legal action to stop the publication'of a book which gives the impression that it is an authorised account of murder cases with v. hi h lie lias been associated.

‘..‘Until the proofs were sent to me a short time ago 1 had no knowledge of the existence of the book,” Sir Bernard said- to- a- representative of the “Daily Chronicle.”

“It has” been compiled' without any authorisation on my part.”

Albert E. Marriott, Ltd., of Golden Square, W. 1., are the publishers, and the authors are two young Yorkshire men, Walter and Leonard Ttnvnsend, who were responsible for a life' of the Prihce of Wales', issued lit the"'saiiie rirm, which caused some cbinhient on its publication a few months ago. The book was offered to a provincial newspaper for serial publication, but' an assuthince'was asked for that it had been compiled from Sir Bernard Spilslnify’s case books and "had liis full approval.. ( .. , fvV'v No 'such .assurance was given, and Sir Bernard Spilsbury denied that liehad authorised the preparation of the book.

CASES INVKSTIG A TED

' Sir Bernard Spilsbury. was fjrst brought into ,thi; limelight, qf criminal investigation-, during tin; Crippen case.; As a young- assistant to. f rofesspr Pepper,..the Home. Office expert-of. his day,.,,lie was instructed to. make, a m:orosepp ici.il .OA'gmi 11 ation -of the rema ips afterwards proved to. he those of Bolle Elmore.

Dr Spilsbury found that a-fragment bore the mark of an old operation Avar. This decided, the identity of the victim, and set the seal on Crippen’s fate.

Among cases lm investigated have booin' .those of George . Smith, who drowned three wives in a hath ; Armstrong, the solicitor, who murdered his wife; and Scddon, the poisoner. In the Grumbles'-.trial, and in'the trial of•; 'Robinson for the - murder "01, .Mrs Bonati, whose reniai’ns Were fPlinth in a-trunk-at Char-i'it'g Grots'''station'; Sir'Bernard was' a deadly ''witness' for the'Crown. ' ' >? - • • • ;; - ”' •••• •

NEW BOOK PLANNED

Sir Bernard Spilsbury’s threat to take iniliieilia te-lcpjg 1 afcjtioir*;|d .pxeVent the pt/lilicatmir (if a hook' jimqVortirfg to deal with a number of murder cases with which lie has liehVf associated hat! an immediate effect. Air A. E. Marriott lias had a consultation with Sir Bernard Spilsbury’s solicitors with reference to Sir Bernard’s objection to the. hook which was shortly to he issued by Messrs Albert E. Marriott, Ltd., and which dealt with himself and the murder cases with which ho had been connected, written by W. and L. Townsend. '

‘‘.ln view of the position in which Sir Bernard would lie placed with the British Medical Council should this hook be published, Air Marriott has agreed to withhold publication of this actual work, and a new book is; being planned, to hear the title of ‘Alurder Will Out,’ 'with which Sir Bernard Spilsury will he in no way connected.”

‘‘Some of the passages are absurdly flattering,” Sir Bernard said, ‘and others are quite inaccurate.” He stated that lie would demand an immediate assurance that the book would be withdrawn.