SinisterCrimes

Perpetrator

Hawley Harvey Crippen

Born
11 September 1862
Died
23 November 1910, aged about 48
Record
Wikidata Q1387957 · Wikipedia

Perpetrator in The Hilldrop Crescent Murder

American homeopath and patent-medicine seller; convicted of his wife's murder and hanged at Pentonville.

1910 · 39 Hilldrop Crescent, Holloway, London · Executed

In 1910 a mild American medicine seller fled London with his lover dressed as a boy, and a ship's wireless message brought him back to hang. Read the case.

Dated events

  1. Crippen, a widower, marries Cora Turner in New York.

  2. The couple move to London, where Crippen manages a patent-medicine office.

  3. Cora Crippen is last seen alive after a supper party at 39 Hilldrop Crescent.

  4. Chief Inspector Walter Dew interviews Crippen, who admits his story of Cora's death was invented.

  5. Dew, disguised as a pilot, boards the Montrose in the St Lawrence and Crippen and Le Neve are arrested.

  6. Crippen's four-day trial opens at the Old Bailey.

  7. The jury convicts Crippen of murder after 27 minutes and he is sentenced to death.

  8. Crippen is hanged at Pentonville Prison by John Ellis.