In this gripping episode of 'In Her Name,' host Susan Davies recounts the chilling true crime story of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, one of history's most notorious murderers who attempted to escape justice by fleeing London for Canada aboard the SS Montrose in July 1910. This narrative explores how Crippen, an American-born homeopath living in Holloway, murdered his second wife, Cora Henrietta Crippen (née Turner), and buried her remains in the basement of their Hilldrop Crescent home. The episode details the investigation led by Chief Inspector Walter Dew, the discovery of the torso, and the desperate flight of Crippen and his mistress, Ethel Le Neve, who disguised themselves as a bearded man and a young boy respectively.

The centerpiece of this episode is the revolutionary use of technology that brought Crippen down: wireless telegraphy. For the first time in criminal history, a suspect was identified and arrested at sea using a radio transmission sent from the ship to British authorities. Captain Henry George Kendall recognized Crippen and sent a telegram describing the fugitives' disguises, leading to an arrest on the North Atlantic. This segment highlights the intersection of early forensic science, including microscopic tissue analysis and toxicology reports detecting hyoscine hydrobromide, with emerging communication technologies that erased distance as a shield for criminals.

Beyond the mechanics of the capture, the episode delves into the social dynamics of Edwardian London, examining the power imbalance between Crippen, his vibrant but suppressed music hall singer wife Belle Elmore, and his ambitious mistress Ethel Le Neve. It discusses the sensational trial at the Old Bailey, the public fascination with the case, and the eventual execution of Crippen. Listeners interested in historical mysteries, the evolution of police work, and the stories of missing women will find deep context in how this case changed policing forever, proving that truth could travel faster than any ship. Join us as we uncover the facts behind 'Crippen' and honor the memory of those silenced by violence.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippen

More from In Her Name: https://humanitymedia.org/in-her-name

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippen

Topics: dr crippen murder, true crime history, cora crippen missing woman, ethel le neve accomplice, wireless telegraphy crime, ss montrose arrest, old bailey trial 1910, edwardian london mystery, forensic science history, scotland yard investigation, walter dew inspector, holloway hilldrop crescent

#truecrime #missingwomen #crimemystery #historicaljustice #drcrippen #forensics #victorianera #podcastshow #unsolvedmysteries #justiceforsusans #audiobook #storytelling

Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/in-her-name/2026-09-24.txt