Doctor Crippen: The Infamous London Cellar Murder of 1910

by Nicholas Connell

In 1910 Cora Crippen, an unsuccessful music-hall artiste known as Belle Elmore, was murdered by her husband, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen, an American quack doctor, at their London home. During a search of the house, Scotland Yard found the remains of her body under the cellar floor. The crime was probably the most famous murder of the twentieth century. Crippen s attempt to escape across the Atlantic, with his young mistress Ethel Le Neve disguised as a boy, fascinated the world, as did his subsequent Old Bailey trial and execution. It became the most famous British murder case of the twentieth century and has retained its fascination to this day.

Nicholas Connell provides a meticulously researched account of the notorious North London Cellar Murder, compiled from official files, contemporary newspapers and the autobiographies of many people connected to the case.

Recently discovered material (including several long-forgotten memoirs by Ethel Le Neve) contains significant new information that shatters modern myths about the murder and popular beliefs about the characters involved. Stories that have persisted since 1910 of Crippen s innocence are also examined in this new, accurate and detailed account of the remarkable story of Dr Crippen."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2013

Reviews

[Amanda Borys]

I have a fascination with Dr. Crippen's story as it connects to that of the Empress of Ireland, so I have read a few book about the case. I really enjoyed this one as it was a well written overview of the case, including more recent 'discoveries'. I feel the author was trying to be impartial and present the case fairly, especially based on the feelings of the actors and public at the time, rather than 21st Century hindsight. He shows his bias a bit strongly when discussing the 2008 documentary that claimed Crippen was framed by the police and that DNA proved the body in the cellar wasn't Crippen's wife, Cora. But his arguments are sound and, as someone who obviously did do their research into the case, I understand why he would be annoyed at someone who wasn't so diligent, but makes a big splash about what they did.

But I think the thing I like best about this book is that the author, Nicholas Connell, defends Cora after over 100 years of her reputation being dragged through the mud by people who never met her. Cora Crippen has be described as cheap, gaudy, unfaithful, a shrew, and everything nasty stereotype for women under the sun. But as Connell points out, all of her friends described her as a funny and vivacious woman that endeared herself to those that met her The negative descriptions of Cora are based on accounts provided by Crippen, her murderer and a known liar, that were added to over the years by other authors and commentators. I am happy that Connell devotes a chapter to trying to reclaim who Cora really was and correct the wrong to a woman who history seems to forget is the victim in this case. If Crippen really wanted to be free of Cora and marry his mistress, he should have divorced her. A messy divorce couldn't have been worse than the outcome of Cora's murder.

[Kerry Henderson]

An interesting retelling of the case and it features everything following Crippens arrest and subsequent execution. Also explains what happened to all involved in the case.

A good read with lots of detail.

[S]

Raises very interesting points

[Matthew Eyre]

Fascinating look at a case we all think we know. This side of the pond's very own Lizzie Borden. I would love to know just what Ethel Le Neve really knew. As it was she died in obscurity during the 1960s. My last book of the Easter Hols. Back to school tomorrow :-(

[Ellen]

As a basic retelling of the crime this book is ok but nothing more.