INEVITABLE ANTI-CLIMAX.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 386, 12 August 1911, Page 6

INEVITABLE ANTI-CLIMAX.

THE PROSAIC ARRRSTS OF FAMOUS CRIMINALS. "I want you." In this commonplace way Inspector Dew took into custody the man Crippen, who was eharsrod with committing one of the most horrible murders on record. It was not exactly what the man in the street expected ; in fact, it was rather a (lull denouement of what has been one of the most sensational cases for years. So much stress has been laid on the revolver in the hip pocket that, we expected something dramatic. And yet we drew our conclusions without considering the type of man he is. Now, take it this way. The man Crippcn is not a burglar or an armed desperado, but a man who is accused of murdering a woman. Do you remember deeming, of Rainhill, wdio murdered his wife and children, and buried them in the kitchen of the ultra-respectable villa which he had taken for that very purpose, to serve as a graveyard ? Didn't he coolly cement over the floor where his victims were lying, smoking a cigar and, with a bottle of wine upon the mantleshelf, joking the while with a casual caller-in. Then ho sailed for Australia, where he committed a similar crime, and so the second crime connected him with the first. Did this Deeming give much trouble when he was arrested ? What did he do when he was lying under sentence of death ? Didn't he write sickly sentimental little hymns, to quote which would be an outrage on good taste ?

SENTIMENTALISM. Now, take the case of Lefroy, who murdered Mr. Gold in a first-class railway compartment. All England waited with brethless interest until this criminal was captured. And when he was finally taken, what did he do whilst awaiting the extreme penalty of the law ? He wrote short stories of stage life—nothing sensational, just sentimental stories ol dying clowns in garrets, etc.

This sentimental trait in the murderer is something to make one wonder at. Many of these appear to suffer from the artistic temperament. There was Devcreux, a cold-blooded monster, with a tender spot in his heart. He killed his wife and infants packed them in a trunk with cement, and yet all the time showed the utmost devotion to the elder child, a little boy, to whom he appeared to act as a model father. Now, Dougal, of the Moat Farm mystery, who, you will remember, murdered a woman and buried her in a ditch, was a rather different type of man to these others. He was really arrested at a bank, where he was charged with forging the name of Camille Holland to a cheque and he replied—'"lt's quite right. I understand perfectly well what you mean." When Detective-Inspector Cox, of the City of London Police, was taking Dougal to the Old Jewry his prisoner broke away,, and ran towards Cheapside. The Inspector caught him in Frederick Place. They both fell to the ground, and other assistance had to be obtained to convey Dougal back to the detective's office.

THE INTOLERABLE SUSPENSE

But the majority 0 f murderers have not offered resistance when suddenly and unexpectedly charged. Perhaps it was a relief to the intolerable suspense, which must have been unbearable. Think of it ! Walking the streets, or pacing the dJeck. of a liner, mowing that everywhere every man's hand is against one. What must it feel like? One man against an outraged world—perhaps oven the gal:ows is preferable. Remember those lines which were penned in Reading Jail in memorium of a murderer who also killed a woman. The writer saw the spirits dancing in the night, and this is what they say to him : Oho ! they cried, the world is wide, But fettered limbs go lame. ! I And once or twice to throw the dice Is a gentlemanly game. i3i:t he does not win who plays with sin In the secret house of shame. "IS THIS THE MAN ?" Charles Peace, that Napoleon of crime, was a different class of criminal. It didn't bother him that, an innocent man was lying in jail, charged with the crime that lie, Peace, had committed. And he was only captured after a most desperate struggle, when he had a revolver strapped to his wrist ; and yer at his trial (the most sensational thai has ever taken place at Reeds) ci itreads that two warders almost tenIcrly carried into the dock a limp, ittle, yeilowfaced man, who caused tiie crowd to gasp ami e>:e!aim--"ls this the man ?" And what did Peace do mi the s.eaf"old ? lie prayed for the reporters! -"Yorkshire Eveniiur Post."