by Erik Larson
The law required: Minutes. Executions at Pentonville. NA-HO 45/10629/200212.
One immediate neighbor: Cole to Churchill, November 11, 1910. Executions at Pentonville. NA-HO 45/10629/200212.
“I do not think”: Davies to Prison Commission, November 22, 1910. Execuions at Pentonville. NA-HO 45/10629/200212.
“Gee. You have got a hoo-doo”: Trial, xvii.
“Mrs. Crippen was strictly economical”: Ibid., xviii.
“Mrs. Crippen disliked”: Ibid., xix.
“I followed her”: Ibid., xix.
“They always appeared”: Jane Harrison Statement. Witness, 103. NA-DPP 1/13.
“Mr. and Mrs. Crippen”: Rhoda Ray Statement. Witness, 139. NA-DPP 1/13.
“somewhat hasty”: Trial, 12.
At one point: Trial, xviii.
He told his story: Karl Reinisch Account, “Dr. Crippen on Board.” Black Museum. NA-MEPO 2/10996. This document was off-limits to researchers until 2001.
Another tenant, however: Trial, xix.
“He had to rise”: Trial, xviii–xix.
In June 1906: Cora Crippen to Reinisch, June 23, 1906. Black Museum. NA-MEPO 2/10996.
“He was a man”: Trial, xviii.
Soon after the move: Ibid., xviii.
On January 5, 1909: Ibid., 108.
“His eccentric taste”: Ibid., xviii.
“I have always hated”: Paul Martinetti Statement. Supplemental Information, 27. (The bulk of the master document, Supplemental Information, is housed in NA-DPP 1/13, but portions, including the Martinetti Statement, appear in NA-CRIM 1/117.)
“The rooms which Frankel”: William Burch Statement. Witness, 160–61. NA-DPP 1/13.
DISASTER
“At 1 p.m.”: Kemp Diary, September 17, 1901. Also, see Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 34–35; Baker, History, 65; Fleming, “History,” 39–40.
“please hold yourself in readiness”: Kemp Diary, November 4, 1901.
The balloons and kites: Hancock, Wireless, 32.
It fell, he wrote: Vyvyan, Marconi and Wireless, 28.
“masts down”: Flood Page to Marconi, November 29, 1901. Cape Cod National Seashore.
THE POISONS BOOK
In September 1908: Emily Jackson Statement, 44. Coroner’s Depositions. NA-CRIM 1/117. Also, Emily Jackson Statement, 31. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I never saw the baby”: Emily Jackson Statement, 9. Supplemental Information. NA-DPP 1/13. Also, Emily Jackson Statement, 39. Witness, NA DPP 1/13.
“I thought him quite”: Emily Jackson Statement, 47. Coroner’s Depositions. NA-CRIM 1/117.
“He was the financier”: Gilbert Rylance Statement, 81. Coroner’s Depositions. NA-CRIM 1/117.
Crippen continued to concoct: William Long Statement, 84. Coroner’s Depositions. NA-CRIM 1/117. William Long Statement, 17. Supplemental Information, NA-DPP 1/13.
On December 15: Trial, 32.
“I didn’t think”: Louie Davis Statement, 101. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13; Melinda May Statement, 11. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
Belle “did not seem to know”: Maud Burroughs Statement, 97. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
Over the previous year: List of Dr. Crippen’s Orders. Exhibit 49, p. 44. Exhibits, NA-DPP 1/13.
But Hetherington could not: Charles Hetherington Statement. NA-DPP 1/13; Trial, 75–76.
Hetherington relayed: Alexander Hill Statement. NA-DPP 1/13.
His company had no problem: Ibid.
Crippen “did not raise”: Trial, 76–77.
First the form asked: Sale of Poisons Register Book. Exhibit 38. Exhibits, NA-DPP 1/13.
THE SECRET OF THE KITES
To mask the true purpose: Marconi, My Father, 104.
“He reasoned”: Vyvyan, Marconi and Wireless, 29.
“BEGIN WEDNESDAY”: Fleming Notebook, December 9, 1901. UCL, Fleming Collection, 122/20.
the newspaper reported: Marconi, My Father, 105.
In his diary: Kemp Diary, December 11, 1901.
“I should have gone”: Ibid.
“disappeared to parts unknown”: Hancock, Wireless, 33.
“Today’s accident”: Marconi, My Father, 106.
“I came to the conclusion”: Hancock, Wireless, 33–34.
Despite his crucial role: Hong, Wireless, 80.
WRETCHED LOVE
She was, Jackson said, “rather strange”: Emily Jackson Statement, 45–46. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
Her fingers twitched: Emily Jackson Statement, 27. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
Ethel had a “horrible staring look”: Ibid.
“Go to bed”: Emily Jackson Statement, 46. Coroner’s Depositions, NA CRIM 1/117; Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 42. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
Ethel lay back: Emily Jackson Statement, 28. Brief for the Prosecution, NA DPP 1/13.
“I can’t let you go”: Ibid.
“For the love of God”: Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 43. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I told her”: Emily Jackson Statement, 46. Coroner’s Depositions, NA CRIM 1/117.
Mrs. Jackson assumed: Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 43. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Why worry about that now”: Emily Jackson Statement, 46–47. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“Don’t you think”: Emily Jackson Statement, 28. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
That night Ethel told: Ibid.
taximeter: Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, 1989.
“I would describe”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 22. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“always appeared to be very happy”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 22. Supplemental Information, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Oh make him”: Further Statement of Mrs. Clara Martinetti, 63. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I feel rather queer”: Ibid., 64.
“You call that seven o’clock”: Ibid., 64; Trial, 12.
Clara took off her own coat: Clara Martinetti Statement, 18. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
Paul had two whiskeys: Further Statement of Mrs. Clara Martinetti, 65. Winess, NA-DPP 1/13.
“a funny little bull terrier”: Ibid., 65.
Crippen carved: Ibid., 65.
“the little deadlies”: Forster, Howards End, 117.
Belle offered cigarettes: Further Statement of Mrs. Clara Martinetti, 66. Winess, NA-DPP 1/13.
Belle told Clara: Ibid., 66.
“I had got a chill”: Paul Martinetti Statement, 25. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“Mr. Martinetti wanted to go upstairs”: Trial, 90.
“He returned looking white”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 18. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
his hands were cold and he began to tremble: Further Statement of Mrs. Clara Martinetti, 67. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I don’t think”: Ibid., 67.
“Don’t come down, Belle”: Trial, 13. Some accounts, likely exaggerated, have Mrs. Martinetti telling Belle, “Don’t come down, you’ll catch your death!”
“On the night of the party”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 18, 22. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“Immediately after”: Trial, 90.
“This is the finish of it”: Ibid., 37.
“She had said this so often”: Ibid., 37.
“that I was to arrange”: Ibid., 37.
“I did not even see her”: Ibid., 91.
“his own calm self”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 13.
Clara asked, “How’s Belle”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 19. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117; Further Statement of Mrs. Clara Martinetti, 68. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
Belle had gone: Trial, 91.
The main question: Crippen Statement, 123. Statements of Crippen and Le Neve, NA-DPP 1/13.
THE FATAL OBSTACLE
“Unmistakably”: Hancock, Wireless, 34.
This configuration: Kemp Diary, December 12, 1901.
; Marconi wrote: Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 51.
During the brief periods: Baker, History, 69.
They began stringing: Kemp Diary, December 19, 1901; Baker, History, 69.
“Signals are being received”: Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 51.
That night, he released: London Times, December 16, 1901; Hancock, Wireless, 34.
That Sunday: Kemp Diary, December 15, 1901; Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 101.
the New York Times: Marconi, My Father, 104.
Over the next few days: Ibid., 104.
Shares of Eastern Telegraph: Indianapolis News, December 21, 1901. Indiana State Library.
Ambrose Fleming: Hong, Wireless, 80; Daily Mail, December 16, 1901. Fleming even clipped a copy and placed it, later, in his personal history. Fleming, “History,” 44.
Josephine Holman professed: Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 113.
who was headed there now: Indianapolis News, December 20, 1901. Indiana State Library.
TO THE BALL
“Shall be in later”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 14. 197 “I was, of course”: Ibid., 15–16.
“He was not in a mood”: Ibid., 16.
“Has Belle Elmore really gone away”: Ibid., 15.
“I could not pretend”: Ibid., 16.
Now Crippen surprised her: Ibid., 16–17.
“a real expert in diamonds”: Ibid., 18.
He showed a clerk: Ernest William Stuart Statement, 88. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
That night Ethel Le Neve slept: Trial, 101.
“Dear Miss May”: Ibid., 23.
The letter to the executive committee: Ibid., 23–24.
“He thought it would cheer us both up”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 19.
Lest this problem destroy: Ibid., 19–20.
The cat led her: Ibid., 20.
“Rich gowns”: Ibid., 20–21.
“I did not question”: Ibid., 23.
“There was scarcely anything”: Ibid., 21.
“From the first”: Ibid., 21.
“What is all this about”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 23. Supplemental Information, NA-DPP 1/13.
“proper engagement ring”: Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 47. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Do you know”: Emily Jackson Statement, 15. Supplemental Information, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Somebody has gone”: Ibid., 10.
Ethel began spending nights: Emily Jackson Statement, 45. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117; Emily Jackson Statement, 38. Witness, NA DPP 1/13.
She told Mrs. Jackson: Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 47. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13; Walter Dew Statement, 31. Coroner’s Depositions, NA CRIM 1/117.
Soon Ethel began giving: Caroline Rumbold Statement, 92. Witness, NA DPP 1/13.
To her sister Nina: Adine Prue Brock Statement, 78. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
Yes, Ethel agreed: Ibid., 82.
1 outfit of mole: Emily Jackson Statement, 24. Supplemental Information, NA-CRIM 1/117; Clothing Received by Mrs. Jackson from Ethel Le Neve, 71. Exhibits, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Neither of us”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 23–24.
Built in 1873: Baedeker, London, 16; Macqueen-Pope, Goodbye Piccadilly, 319–20.
“wore it without any attempt”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 9. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
John Nash said: John Nash Statement, 2, in letter, Seyd to Director of Public Prosecutions, April 29, 1911, NA-DPP 1/13.
Maud Burroughs saw it: Maud Burroughs Statement, 97. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
She recalled that Ethel: Clara Martinetti Statement, 9. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I noticed that Crippen”: John Nash Statement, 25. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
Mrs. Louise Smythson approached: Louise Smythson Statement, 31. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13; Louise Smythson Statement, 3. Supplemental Information, NA-DPP 1/13.
“After this”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 24.
It made her uncomfortable: Ibid., 24.
“The pack was turning”: Forster, Howards End, 246.
On March 12: Emily Jackson Statement, 38–39. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13; Emily Jackson Statement, 44. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“I DON’T BELIEVE IT”
“I doubt this story”: Associated Press dispatch quoted in the Sydney Daily Post, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, December 27, 1901. Beaton, MG 12, 214. G3. Scrapbook.
“Skepticism prevailed”: Hancock, Wireless, 36.
“the letters S and R”: Ibid., 36.
Two days later”: Electrical Review, 49, no. 1256 (December 20, 1901), 1031. Beaton, MG 12/214/A3.
“It is rash”: London Times, December 20, 1901.
Smith watched: For William Smith’s entire account see Smith to Prof. W. J. Loudon, March 10, 1931. William Smith Papers. Archives Canada, MG 30 D18 Vol. 1; also, in the same collection, see Notes and Transcripts. Marconi Papers. Memoranda, Printed Matter, Vol. 3, File 17.
“Best Christmas greetings”: Isted, II, 112.
NEWS FROM AMERICA
Dear Clara and Paul: Letter, Crippen to Martinettis, March 20, 1910. Exhibits, 21, NA-DPP 1/13.
Belle died yesterday: Telegram, Crippen to Martinettis. Ibid., 21.
PART IV: AN INSPECTOR CALLS
“DAMN THE SUN!”
At first: Marconi, My Father, 113.
Black signs at three points: Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 66.
“Potage Electrolytique”: Simons, “Guglielmo Marconi,” 51.
Bowls of sorbet: Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 110.
“I am sorry”: Isted, II, 112.
In his own account of events: Fleming, “History,” no page number.
“ENGAGEMENT IS BROKEN”: Indianapolis News, January 21, 1902. Indiana State Library.
Later, a News reporter: The following exchange appears in the Indianapolis News, January 22, 1902. Indiana State Library.
He added a tincture: Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 113.
“There have been disasters”: Ibid., 113. Early the following May, less than four months after breaking her engagement to Marconi, Josephine Holman stepped forward and announced that she had become engaged to a new man. The remarks that followed may have been made with the best intentions, but it is tempting to view them through the prism of love scorned, for Holman would have known well what other women in Marconi’s life also would learn, that one salient trait of his romantic character was jealousy. “I am perfectly happy, but for one little thought,” Holman wrote, “and that would vanish forever if Signor Marconi would find another love and be as happy in his choice as I feel I am in mine.” Halifax Herald, May 8, 1902. Beaon Institute, MG 12/214.E.: Envelop/Index Cards.
By the end of the day: Indianapolis News, January 22, 1902. Indiana State Library.
As the liner approached: Indianapolis News, February 10, 1902. Indiana State Library; Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 69.
details of the new Canadian arrangement: “How Marconi Came to Canada,” 9–10. William Smith Papers. Notes and Transcripts. Marconi Papers. Memoranda, Printed Matter. Archives Canada, MG 30 D18 III.
“Sir William Preece is”: Financial Times, February 21, 1902.
The Westminster Gazette suggested: Westminster Gazette, February 26, 1902.
The Electrical Times condemned: Electrical Times, February 27, 1902.
Two days later: Details of the Philadelphia episode come from Bussey, Marconi’s Atlantic Leap, 72; Marconi, My Father, 124–25; Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 124–26. Weightman quotes extensively from McClure’s account, published in McClure’s Magazine.
“daylight effect”: Marconi, My Father, 126; Vyvyan, Marconi and Wireless, 32.
“Damn the sun!”: Marconi, My Father, 130.
That summer the Daily Mail: Read, Urban Democracy, 475.
So things stood when: Baker, History, 95–96; Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 136–37.
“malignant Marconiphobia”: Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 137.
; “Marconi’s whining”: Thompson to Lodge, April 2, 1902. UCL, Lodge Collection, 89/104 ii.
At Glace Bay Richard Vyvyan: Vyvyan, Marconi and Wireless, 50; Marconi, My Father, 146.
En route, during a stop: Hong, Wireless, 83; Marconi, My Father, 131–32.
Marconi blamed Fleming: Hong, Wireless, 83.
“It should be explained to [Fleming]”: Quoted at length in Hong, Wireless, 83–84.
None of this, however: Bartram, I, 53; Hong, Wireless, 117.
“Knowing that experiments were in progress”: Maskelyne Incident, 2–3.
THE LADIES INVESTIGATE
“a model husband”: John Burroughs Statement, 4. Brief for the Prosecution, NA-DPP 1/13.
“kind and attentive”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 22. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“kind-hearted humane man”: Adeline Harrison Statement, 27. Ibid.
Even before word arrived: Michael Bernstein Statement, 90. Witness, NA DPP 1/13.
On March 30: Louise Smythson Statement, 32–33. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
It took him a month: Otto Crippen to Melinda May, May 9, 1910. Copy in Melinda May Statement, 37. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“The smell,” Jackson said: Further Statement of Emily Jackson, 45. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13; Emily Jackson Statement, 47, 49. Coroner’s Depositions, NA-CRIM 1/117.
“A night or two after this”: Further Statement of William Long, 55. Witness, NA-DPP 1/13.
“I have at last”: Le Neve to Jackson, “Sunday” (probably June 12, 1910). Leters from Le Neve to Mrs. Jackson, NA-DPP 1/13.
“Have been ever so busy”: Le Neve to Jackson, June 29, 1910. Ibid.
“Still,” she told Mrs. Jackson: Ibid.
“He used to come with me”: Le Neve, Ethel Le Neve, 26.
“So time slipped along”: Ibid., 26.
“Whilst we were talking to him”: Clara Martinetti Statement, 25. Supplemental Information, NA-CRIM 1/117.
On May 6, 1910: Of Edward’s funeral, André Maurois wrote, “The contrast of all the black with the gay spring sunshine lent a strange beauty to the streets of the capital.” Maurois, Edwardian Era, 354.
A DUTY TO BE WICKED
The first signals: Vyvyan, Marconi and Wireless, 36.
In the midst of it all: Weightman, Signor Marconi’s, 145.
“It is beyond the powers”: Details on Nevil Maskelyne and the Egyptian Hall come from the following sources: Bolles Collection. Thomas Allen, The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent (Vol. 4). Cowie and Strange, 1827, 303; Bartram, I and II, throughout; Macqueen-Pope, Goodbye Piccadilly, 78–81; Oppenheim, Other World, 25–27.
