Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen was convicted of killing his wife in 1910. (Some evidence seems to say that he was railroaded. From what I’ve heard, there is room for reasonable doubt that he did it; and even a letter that suggests his wife was never killed at all – in which case, whose body was found?) Though the crime was committed nearly a century ago, I’ve still heard references to the case in recent shows. For example, in the first season (first episode?) of Coupling Steve brings up the Crippen case when he’s trying to break up with Jane.
Is the Crippen case still a common topic of discussion in England? If so, why is it, after nearly 100 years?
If it’s any help, I live in the U.K. and have never heard of it so I wouldn’t say it is a common topic of discussion, possibly just a well-known case (though not to me).
I think he’s England’s Lizzie Borden. The case had sex, violent murder, colorful characters, an exciting chase scene, and a pretty girl dressed as a man! It was also written about by some of the best crime writers, Edmund Pearson and Wm. Roughead.
But I think only crime buffs would know the name, even in England—I doubt any 25-year-old bloke in the pub would be familiar with it.
I’m a bit surprised at anyone in the U.K. having never heard of it, but it is certainly by no means a common topic of conversation.
One interesting aside-detail is the method of capture/arrest/whatever.
As for the doubt about whether Mrs. Crippen was killed or not, I hadn’t really heard of that, I admit, only knowing the Cripppen story as a bit of pointless inforatmion, not as a student of criminology.
The link does say that the femaile remains foudn in Crippen’s cellar were “identified” as those of Mrs. C., and that traces of the poison hyscene were found therein.
The main difference being Lizzie was acquitted by the jury, and Crippen convicted. There is also more doubt about whether Lizzie did it. The evidence points about as much to the maid having done it, and there is always the possibility of an intruder.
Okay, that makes sense. As Eve said, it sounds as if it’s like th Lizzie Borden case. People know about it, but no one really talks about it. That would explain the pop references.
Haven’t had time to read the link. I’ve heard that there was letter alledgedly written by the late Mrs. Crippen, in which she confirmed Mr. Crippen’s claim that she had run off to the U.S, which was never brought into evidence in the appeal. The alleged lover that she was supposed to have run off with was apparently paid for his testamony by the prosecution. The first pathologist said that an identifying mark was not a scar, but another one said it was. A modern pathologist said it was not a scar, and so could not be used to identify Mrs. Crippen. Besides, it was somebody’s body.
On the other hand, these allegations were made on a 2003 History Channel documentary. I have a low opinion of The History Channel’s accuracy. Also, a pyjama top was found with the body, which indicated the body was probably Mrs. Crippen’s. And why would an innocent man flee the country, with his paramour in disguise?
The continuing recognition of Crippen’s name is arguably anomalous. Consider this famous passage from Orwell’s “Decline of the English Murder”:
Of these names, only Jack the Ripper and Crippen could now remotely be used as a pop culture reference in the UK. While by no means a murder buff, I recognise about half of the other names, though I’d never assume that someone else was likely to. (Incidentally, I believe the last case Orwell mentions is the Green Bicycle Murder.) I suspect there’s still a need for us to have one easily referenced classic English murder from the early 20th century and Crippen nicely fills this cultural niche. owlstretchingtime’s point about the method of capture probably does go some way towards explaining why it’s Crippen in particular whose name has persisted. Though I wouldn’t underestimate the additional creepy frission from it being Dr. Crippen.
Incidentally, I live about half a mile from Hilldrop Cresent in north London, so the case is local history hereabouts. The original house has long gone and there’s now a block of council flats on the site, though there remain other houses of the same design elsewhere on the street.
For another well known early 20th century murderer,well, serial killer, in fact, there is also Christie, a case which led to the death penalty, (at that time still legal in Britain ) being given to an innocent man.
(Oh, 13 years later, Tim Evans was dug out of his grave in unconsecrated ground and reburied in a Catholic cemetary. So that’s all right then :rolleyes: )