Reporting of Edwardian News

Edwardian society was to witness what was dubbed the crime of the Century. 

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:

SocietyTaboos: sex sells

Glamour: aworld of diamonds and furs

Criminologicalfirsts: making history in the present

Reporting ofNews: usage of photography

Reporting of News: usage of photography

The constant moving about of Society sparked the rise of photojournalism society columns, which fed the need of the less fortunate public to feast on the adventures, exploits, and activities of their “social betters” prior to the advent of Hollywood cinema stars.

The high seas drama of the Crippen London Cellar murderer caused a sensation in the press and, with daily coverage of events on board. Newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic said Dew had "effected the most sensational criminal capture of the century".

News Reporters reported on every stage of the police investigation including when the headless, ‘filleted’ corpse wrapped parcel-like in a piece of pyjama jacket was discovered by the police at 39 Hilldrop Crescent.

Surely the gruesome tale of a missing skeleton, including the skull, fanned the flames of intrigue? Everyone likes a taste of the unsavoury don’t they? By seeing the number of backpack carrying groups round the dark street of Whitechapel 120 years after the murders took place on one Jack the Ripper tour or another, certainly does seem to support this notion.

The availability of photographs contributed to the storytelling, encasing the policemen involved and fugitives in a validated snapshot in time. This story is believable because the people in the photographs are real. Jack the Ripper hadn’t been caught but Dr Crippen had. Look into the eyes of a wife murderer, see what Le Neve is wearing and is she pretty enough to explain the need for Crippen to dispose of his wife Belle Elmore?

Having Chief Inspector Dew in charge of the murder investigation certainly would have peaked media interest. Previously Dew was involved in bringing international jewel-thief William Johnson, known as 'Harry the Valet', to justice in 1898. The newspaper editors must have salivated at the prospect of details with which to fill their newspapers and in turn their pockets. 

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