CRIPPEN COINCIDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 944, 21 January 1911, Page 3

CRIPPEN COINCIDENCE.

A very curious coincidence in connection with the now notorious Crippen case is described in London Sketch (October 26th), by Mr J. K. P. Muddock (“ Dick Donovan), the well-known novelist. More than a generation ago Mr Muddock wrote a novel, “The Wingless Angel,” which, first published in 1876, was re-pub-lished in 1877, and again in IS7B. Between this novel and the Crippen case there are certain features in common, which are most peculiar from the point of view ol coincidence. Briefly summarised, they are, says Mr Muddock: (1) A murder by means of the mysterious narcotic poison, hyoscyamiue, concerning svhich it should be noted that, at the time of my novel, hyoscyamiue alone was known ; since then hyoscyamine had been divided into 'nyoSLyame and syocine ; (2) a lady who figures prominently and proves to be the wife of the man who committed the murder, is named Belle Klmore (the stage name of Crippen’s victim'' ; (3) the person charged with the crime escapes from Kngland ; a reward is offered, he is arrested on a steamer at sea, brought back, tried, and convicted.’’ Mr Muddock gives a very interesting account, too long to be quoted here, how, when he wrote the novel, he asked a friend Dr (afterward) Benjamin Ward Richardson, to tell him of “ some vegetable narcotic, which would set up symptoms identical with a well-recognised disease, and leave little or no post-mortem effect,” so that he might make his villain use such a poison.