Albion House
61, New Oxford Street
8th July 1910
HAWLEY HARVEY CRIPPEN states : –
I am 48 years of age.
After being questioned by Chief Inspector Dew as to the statements made by me that my wife, known as Belle Elmore is dead, I desire to make a voluntary statement to clear the whole matter up.
I was born in Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. in the year 1862, my father’s name being Myron Augustus Crippen, a dry goods merchant. My mother’s name was Andressa Crippen, née Skinner.
My mother is now dead, but my father lives in Los Angeles, Cal.
I was educated first at Coldwater, Indiana and California, and then attended the University of Michigan until I was about 20, and finished my education at the Hospital College at Cleveland, where I took the degree of M.D.
I came over to England in 1883 and attended various hospitals to see the operations, and returned to the States and was Assistant for three or four months to Dr Porter of Detroit. After that I went to New York and took a degree in special eye and ear work, at the Ophthalmic Hospital. This would be in 1885.
After that I returned to Detroit where I remained about two years as assistant to the same Doctor. I then went to San Diego where I practised as an eye and ear specialist for about 2 years. Before going to this place I was married to a lady named Charlotte Bell of New York and she accompanied me to San Diego.
We then came to New York. I had only one child by my first wife. He was born at San Diego about 1887 or 1888 and his name is Otto Hawley Crippen. He is now married and lives in Los Angeles.
My first wife died, so far as I can remember, in 1890 or 1891. We were living in Salt Lake City, where I was practicing as an eye and ear specialist. She was buried at Salt Lake City in my name.
After this my son went to live with his grandmother, my mother, until she died. I then went to New York and went as an assistant to Dr Jeffrey of Brooklyn, and I lived with him.
About 1893 while with Dr Jeffrey, I met Belle Elmore who was being attended by him. Her name at that time was Cora Turner. I forget where she was living, but she was living alone. She was only about 17 years of age, and I, of course, was about 30.
She, at this time, was living under the protection of a man named C.C. Lincoln, a stove manufacturer of Water Street, New York. She had been living with him, but he had given up his house and had taken a room for her and was paying all her expenses.
I took her to several places for some weeks as I was very fond of her, and one day she told me Lincoln wanted her to go away with him. I told her I could not stand that and would marry her right away, and a few days after this I married her at a Minister’s house at Jersey City. I forget his name and the name of the street.
I had been married to her some little time when she told me her name was not Turner, but Kunigunde Mackamotzki. She said her mother had been married twice and her name then was Mersinger and she was living in Brooklyn. Her mother had been dead some years. My wife told me her father was a Russian Pole and her mother was a German.
Her step-father, as far as I know, is still living and resides at Forest Avenue, Brooklyn.
Her parents were in rather ordinary circumstances, and she had a good education and spoke German well.
After getting married to her, we went to St Louis, where I practised as consulting physician to an optician in, I think, Olive Street. His name was Hirsch I think.
We stayed there about a year and we returned to New York, where I took a position as consulting physician to the Munyon Company. We lived in the office at East 14th Street.
I was in New York only a few months, when the Company transferred me to Philadelphia. I was there with my wife about a year, and was then transferred to the firm’s place at Toronto, where I managed their business. I forget where I lived, but we were there only six months and then returned to Philadelphia.
I was there for some time, and while there, about 1899 my wife, who had a good voice, went to New York to have her voice trained, as she thought of going in for Grand Opera.
I paid all her expenses, and occasionally visited her in New York and then in about 1900 I came to England alone, where I was Manager for Munyon’s at their offices in Shaftsbury, and I lived at Queen’s Road, St John’s Wood.
It was in April I came over and she joined me in August, as she wrote and told me that she was giving up the lessons in Grand Opera and was going in for Music Hall sketches. To this I objected, and told her to come over here. She came, and we went to live at South Crescent.
When she came to England she decided to give sketches on the Music Hall Stage, and adopted the name of ‘Macke Motzke’ but she did not make anything at it. She gave the sketch at the Old Marylebone Music Hall, but it was a failure and she gave it up.
After this she did not do anything in it for 2 or 3 years, until I had to go to America about two years after coming here. My firm sent for me and I became Manager in Philadelphia.
When I left England my wife and I were living at, I think 62 Guildford Street, and she remained there while I was away. I remained in Philadelphia from November till the following June and sent my wife money regularly.
When I returned I found she had been singing at Smoking Concerts for payment, and that an American Music Hall Artiste named Bruce Miller, had been a frequent visitor to her at her house.
She told me this man visited her, had taken her about and was very fond of her, also that she was fond of him.
I must say that when she came to England from America her manner towards me was entirely changed, and she had cultivated a most ungovernable temper, and seemed to think I was not good enough for her, and boasted of the men of good position travelling on the boat who had made a fuss of her, and indeed, some of them visited her at South Crescent, but I do not know their names.
I never saw the man Bruce Miller, but he used to call when I was out, and used to take her out in the evenings.
When I returned to this Country I did not take up my position at Munyon’s, but went as Manager to the ‘Sovereign Remedy Co.’, 13 Newman Street.
They failed about 8 months afterwards, and then I went as physician to the Drouet Institute, Regents Park, and afterwards at 10 Marble Arch, and they also failed.
From there I took a position with the Aural Clinic Co. 102 New Oxford Street, where I remained till they failed in about 6 months.
I then went back to Munyon’s 272 Oxford Circus, as manager and advertising manager.
I removed to Albion House as Manager about 18 months ago, after which I took it in as an Agency, but as it did not pay. I, in February last, handed it over to the Company again, but for the past two years I have been running ‘Yale Tooth Specialist Co’ with Dr Rylance as partner, and am still doing so.
I ran, what I termed the Imperial Press Agency, in connection with Munyon’s because by so doing I got their advertisements inserted at a reduction.
At the present time I am interested in an ear-cure business, called the ‘Aural Remedy’, at Craven House, Kingsway, and I work at an address in Vine Street.
I did not think anything of Bruce Miller’s visiting my wife at the time.
After returning from America we went to live at 34 Store Street for about a year. During this time she adopted the stage name of ‘Belle Elmore’ although she had it in her mind when she came over, but I persuaded her to use the other name.
She got an engagement at the Town Hall, Teddington, to sing, and then from time to time she got engagements at Music Halls. She went to Oxford as a Comedienne and was there about a week.
She also went to the Camberwell, and also at a Hall at Balham. She also sang at the Empire, Northampton, and various towns.
She would probably go away for about two weeks and return for about six weeks, but used to earn very little.
We remained at 34 Store Street for some time, and went to 37 Same Street for about two years, and, about 5 years ago, in, I think, 1905, removed to 39 Hilldrop Crescent, for which I pay £50 a year.
It is quite four years since she ever went out to sing at all and although we apparently lived very happily together, as a matter of fact there were very frequent occasions when she got in most violent tempers and often threatened she would leave me, saying she had a man she could go to and she would end it all.
I have seen letters from Bruce Miller to her, which ended ‘with love and kisses to Brown Eyes’.
About 4 years ago in consequence of these outbursts, I discontinued sleeping with her, and have never cohabited with her since.
She did all the housework herself with the exception of having a charwoman in occasionally.
About 2 years ago she became the Hon. Treasurer of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild, and was here every Wednesday.
I never interfered with her movements in any way, she went in and out just as she liked, and did what she liked; it was of no interest to me.
As I say, she frequently threatened to leave me, and said that if she did she would go right out of my life, and I should never see or hear from her again.
On the Monday night, the day before I wrote the letter to the Guild resigning her position as Treasurer, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Martinetti came to our place to dinner, and during the evening Mr. Martinetti wanted to go to the lavatory. As he had been to our house several times I did not take the trouble to go and show him where it was. After they had left my wife blamed me for not taking him to the lavatory and abused me, and said ‘This is the finish of it. I won’t stand it any longer; I shall leave you tomorrow and you will never hear of me again’.
She had said this so often that I did not take much notice of it, but she did say one thing which she has never said before, that I was to arrange to cover up any scandal with our mutual friends and the Guild the best way I could.
Before this she told me frequently that the man she would go to was better able to support her than I was.
I came to business the next morning, and when I went home between 5 and 6pm I found she had gone.
I realised she had gone, and I sat down to think it over as to how to cover up her absence without any scandal.
I think the same night, or the next morning (Wednesday) I wrote a letter to the Guild saying she had gone away, which I also told several people.
I afterwards realized that this would not be a sufficient explanation for her not coming back, and later on I told people that she was ill with bronchitis and pneumonia and afterwards I told them she was dead from this ailment.
I told them she died in California, but I have no recollection of telling anyone exactly where she died.
Someone afterwards asked me where my son lived, and I told them.
I then put an advertisement in ‘The Era’, that she was dead, as I thought this would prevent people asking me a lot of questions.
Whatever I have said to other people in regard to her death is absolutely wrong, and I am giving this as an explanation.
So far as I know she did not die, but is still alive. It is not true that she went away on legal business for me, or to see any relations in America.
I did not receive any cables to say she was ill, and it was not true that she was cremated at San Francisco and that her ashes were sent to me, or that she sailed from Le Havre.
So far as I know she has no claim to any title.
I have no recollection of telling anyone my son was with her when she died.
We had a joint account at Charing Cross Bank, subject to the signature of either, but it pleased her to think she was signing cheques, and she also did so, and several blank cheques were already signed by her, and some of these have been changed by me since her departure, and there is one here now (produced).
When my wife went away I cannot say if she took anything with her or not, but I believe there is a theatrical travelling basket missing, and she might have taken this with some clothes.
She took some of her jewellery, I know, with her, but she left four rings behind – three single stone (or solitaire) diamond, and one of four diamonds and a ruby also a diamond brooch.
She had other jewellery, and must have taken that with her.
I have never pawned or sold anything belonging to her before, or after, she left.
Everything I have told you is true.
I do not know what clothes, if any, she took away; she had plenty.
Whenever we quarreled and she threatened to leave me she told me she wanted nothing from me.
I have bought all her jewellery and, so far as I know, she never had any jewellery presents, and I do not know that she ever had any money sent her, except that Bruce Miller used to send her small amounts on her birthday, and at Easter and Christmas, to purchase a present.
She suffered from bilious attacks, and I have given her medicine for that – homeopathic remedies.
It is true that I was at the benevolent Fund Dinner at the Criterion with Miss Le Neve and she wore the brooch my wife had left behind. She also wore my wife’s furs.
Miss Le Neve has been in my employ, and known to me through being employed by my firms I have worked for, for the past 8 years, and she is now living with me as my wife at Hilldrop Crescent. I have been intimate with her during the past 3 years and have frequently stayed with her at Hotels, but was never away from home at night.
After I told people my wife was dead Miss Le Neve and I went to Dieppe for about 5 days and stayed in a hotel there, (I forget the name, but the Proprietor’s name was Vacher) in the names of Mr. and Mrs. Crippen.
My belief is that my wife had gone to Chicago to join Bruce Miller, whose business on the Music Hall Stage is a musical instrument turn, but I think he has now gone into another business, and has speculated and made money. Mr. Didcot was his Agent when he was over here.
I shall of course, do all I can to get in touch with her so as to clear this matter up.
She has a sister named Louise, whose name is Mills, living with her husband, who is a soap maker living at Brooklyn. They live with my wife’s step-father, Mr. Mersinger.
I do not know where any of her other relations live. I cannot tell you how you can find or trace her, except as I have already said.
I will willingly go to my house with you to see if I can find any letters which may throw any light on the matter and I invite you to look around the house, and do whatever you like in the house.
This is all I can tell you.
Any notes that I have changed through anyone in this building were in connection with my business.
This statement has been read over to me. It is quite correct and has been made by me quite voluntarily and without any promise or threat having been held out to me.
(sd) Hawley Harvey Crippen
(sd) Walter Dew
Chief Inspector
Witness. Arthur Mitchell,
Sergt.
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