This morning I noticed on the BBC News that some of Dr. Crippen's last letters were coming up for auction and I was reminded of a connection between Crippen and the silverware industry.
Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, it will be remembered, was the notorious poisoner who murdered his wife, Cora, and hid her dismembered remains under the cellar floor at his London home. Crippen, an American, then fled England, via Antwerp, with his mistress, Ethel "Le Neve" Neave, aboard the Canadian Pacific liner SS Montrose bound for Canada and was the first criminal to be apprehended thanks to the Marconi telegraph. Crippen was hanged at Pentonville prison at London on the 23rd November 1910.
The connection with the silverware industry is his cousin, Edwin R. Crippen, who's life is best explained in his obituary that was published in The Jewelers' Circular on the 7th September 1921:
DEATH OF EDWIN R. CRIPPEN
Prominent New York Member of the Watch Case Trade Succumbs to Heart Trouble
EAST ORANGE, N.J., Sept. 5. - Edwin R. Crippen, manager of the missionary, material and repair departments of the Keystone Watch Case Co. 15, Maiden Lane, New York, and one of the founders and ex-presidents of the Jewelers' 24 Karat Club of New York, died last Saturday evening at 6 o'clock, at his home, 132, N. Grove St., this city. Death is attributed to heart trouble from which Mr. Crippen had been suffering for the past two months. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, after which burial will take place.
Edwin R. Crippen was born in Coldwater, Mich., Nov. 5, 1858, where he went through the public school and then finished his education at the Wilcox Military Academy, Stamford, Conn. In the Fall of 1878 Mr. Crippen came east and settled in New Jersey where he entered the iron mining business in Dover and vicinity. He stayed there until 1886 when he went to New York where he became affiliated with the Brooklyn Watch Case Co. whose office was at that time located at 40 Maiden Lane. He handled the jobbing trade in New York for this concern, and also assisted in the management of the factory, which was then in Brooklyn. It was while acting in the latter capacity that he gained a thorough knowledge of the watch case business.
After remaining with the Brooklyn Watch Case Co., for six years he accepted the position as manager of the Bates & Bacon Co. in August 1892. His executive ability, combined with a thorough knowledge of the business and his untiring efforts brought this concern to the front and made it one of the leading concerns in the watch case industry in this country. When the Bates & Bacon business was sold Jan. 1. 1901 to the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Mr. Crippen was made manager of the New York office of the latter concern and was also placed in charge of the trade in the eastern States with an office at 9 Maiden Lane.
Upon the consolidation of the Philadelphia Watch Case Co., with the Keystone Watch Case Co. Mr. Crippen still maintained the management of the New York office which was then located at 23 Maiden Lane. In January, 1912, when the New York sales offices of the Keystone Watch Case Co. were moved to 15 Maiden Lane, Mr. Crippen assumed management of the missionary, material and repair departments of this concern, which position he held until the time of his death.
For 30 years Mr. Crippen had been a resident of this city and occupied a number of important positions in the local Government. He was at one time a member of the City Council and until two years ago was also affiliated with the Sinking Fund Commission of East Orange. He had the pleasure,—and he always looked upon it as a pleasure and privilege—to serve on the latter commission for over 25 years and it was with regret that he finally retired, about two years ago.
Mr. Crippen was a staunch Republican and was a member of several local Republican clubs and was at one time a member of the Republican County Committee of Essex County. He was also a member of the Essex County Golf Club and was at one time a director in the Jewelers' Mutual Agency and a member of the Jewelers' League. He was one of the organizers of the Jewelers 24 Karat Club of New York and was its fourth president, having been elected to the office in 1905.
After the death of his wife three years ago, Mr. Crippen lost interest in many of the local activities and had practically retired from public life.
He had enjoyed excellent health until the early part of July when he was suddenly stricken with a heart ailment. Since then he suffered a number of attacks and on Saturday finally passed away.
Deceased is survived by one daughter and four sons.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippen
Trev.
