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Albion House
New Oxford Street
London
Crippen had an office in Albion House and much of the Prosecution case against him was based on his interactions with others in the same building and, in particular, members of the Music Hall Ladies' Guild.
At his Trial
His friend DR JOHN H BURROUGHS testified:
I last saw her [Mrs Crippen] in the beginning of January last at a meeting at Albion House, Oxford Street, of the Music Hall Ladies' Guild, of which I am honorary physician.
CLARA MARTINETTI, wife of Paul Martinetti, a retired music-hall artist, testified:
I first made the acquaintance of the Crippens about 18 months ago. Mrs. Crippen was Hon. Treasurer of the Music Hall Ladies' Guild, which had an office In Albion House.
Prisoner had his business in separate offices in the same building.
Mrs. Crippen was a regular attendant at the weekly meetings of the Guild.
On March 23 I saw him at Albion House, when he said he had had a cable to say that Belle was very dangerously ill, and he expected another cable every minute to say that she had gone; he added that if anything did happen he should go to France for a week, as he wanted some change of air. On the morning of March 24 I received a telegram from him from Victoria Station, saying, "Belle died yesterday six o'clock. Shall be away a week." On March 30 I called at his office, and, after condoling with him, asked where his wife had died …
MELINDA MAY, Secretary of the Music Hall Ladies' Guild testified:
On March 23 I saw him at Albion House, when he said he had had a cable to say that Belle was very dangerously ill, and he expected another cable every minute to say that she had gone; he added that if anything did happen he should go to France for a week, as he wanted some change of air. On the morning of March 24 I received a telegram from him from Victoria Station, saying, "Belle died yesterday six o'clock. shall be away a week." On March 30 I called at his office, and, after condoling with him, asked where his wife had died …
MARION LOUISA CURNOW, manageress, Munyon's Remedies, Albion House testified:
Miss Le Neve was employed in the same building with the Yale Tooth Specialists. I do not know where she was at Easter time.
He had a room of his own in Albion House, where he was generally alone. I do not know what he kept there. I did not notice any cupboard; I do not think there was one. I do not know that he had a general medical practice; but I knew he was a specialist in the eyes, ears, throat, and nose. He continued compounding prescriptions after he ceased to be agent for Munyon's, but I do not know if he had to buy drugs for the purpose. He then became connected with the Yale Tooth Specialist business; he used to come in almost every morning to see me; it was on the same floor as Munyon's, but it had nothing to do with it. In the first week of February and the following fortnight he came …
GILBERT MERVYN RYLANCE, Crippen's Partner, testified::
I now carry on business in my own name as a surgeon-dentist at Albion House. About the middle of 1907 I met prisoner for the first time. In 1908 we started business at Albion House in the name of "The Yale Tooth Specialists". Between March and April this year there was an agreement by which he put £200 into the business, I contributing my experience and skill, and we were to share profits.
WILLIAM LONG, dental mechanic, testified:
I have known prisoner since 1896, and have been in various businesses with him since then. It was about 1901 or 1902 that I first met Miss Le Neve; she was then a typist at the Drouet Institute, to which prisoner was the consulting specialist. As far as I know she has been in the same employment as prisoner ever since.
The police sent the French maid back to France. On two occasions between February 1 and that date I moved things from there to Albion House in a van. Amongst other things there was a wooden box in which I saw found after prisoner had gone away this ermine jacket and this white fur. About two or three months before he went away prisoner gave me some of his clothing, some old theatrical clothing, and a few feminine vests and stockings.
Chief Inspector WALTER DEW testified:
On June 30 a Mr. Nash called at Scotland Yard and made a statement, and I was instructed to make inquiries with reference to the disappearance of Mrs. Crippen. On July 8 I went to 39, Hilldrop Crescent and there saw Le Neve; prisoner was not in the house. Le Neve accompanied me to Albion House and I there saw prisoner; he was then wearing a heavy moustache.
HAROLD KIRBY, assistant at Lewis and Burrows (Chemists), testified:
On January 19 prisoner called, and he handed him the five grains; it was in the form of crystals, in a tube or bottle. He signed the following entry in the poisons book: "Name of purchaser, Munyons, per H. H. Crippen; address of purchaser, 57-61, Albion House; name and quantity of poison sold, five grains hyoscine hydrobromide; purposes for which required, homeopathic preparations; signature of purchaser, H. H. Crippen".