Edwardian society was to witness what was dubbed the crime of the Century.
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| Newspaper of the day |
London wasn't short of murders or horror stories so what made this murder in particular the
crime of the century?
The vibrant
American music hall performer Cora Crippen disappeared in 1910 and Dr Crippen her
American husband was tried and found guilty of murder before being executed at
Pentonville prison the same year.
The new century was only ten years old. Why
was the title of crime of the century so eagerly embraced? Did people not
believe a more grisly crime could ever take place? Or was it perhaps that this
crime in particular ticked all the boxes; something for everyone?
I believe a
concoction of four key elements raised interest in the Dr Crippen Cellar murder
case to levels not previously experienced in Edwardian society.
The contributory key elements are:
The contributory key elements are:
Criminological firsts: making history in the present
Dr Crippen
was the first criminal ever to be captured by means of wireless. The SS
Montrose’s skipper, Captain Henry Kendall, became suspicious of two passengers
after he had read about the crime in a newspaper report. He also believed he
recognised Crippen’s photograph.
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| Arrest of Dr Crippen |
The couple
had been travelling as Mr John and Master Robinson, father and son with Crippen
being the father and La Neve the son.
The ship was
one of the few which had been equipped with new radio technology and so Captain
Kendall was able to telegraph his concerns to authorities ashore.
Captain Kendall's message read:
“Have strong
suspicion that Crippen London Cellar murderer and accomplice are amongst saloon
passengers. Moustache shaved off, growing a beard. Accomplice dressed as a boy,
voice, manner and build undoubtedly a girl.”
I am
surprised the couple chose this disguise if Ethel’s sex was so obvious.
Passports were not required in 1910 unless travelling to Russia and so why not
travel under the guise of a Mr & Mrs Robinson?
This was the
first ever use of radiotelegraphy for police purposes. Chief Inspector Dew who
was in charge of the case was able to board a faster vessel (SS Laurentic) and
catch up with the SS Montrose when it was in Canadian waters before it had
reached its destination. The fugitives had tried to escape to America, perhaps
the story would have ended differently.
On 31 July, Chief
Inspector Dew boarded the SS Montrose at Father’s Point and arrested both Dr
Crippen and La Neve. The chase was over and celebrated across the Atlantic;
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