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Anyone familiar with the case and associated controversies?

Basically, found guilty of killing his wife and hanged in 1910. (Lots of intrigue involved, including his would-be singer wife who had loads of affairs; he himself was having an affair).

Anyway, it seems the body they "discovered" in his house was almost definitely male so likely planted by Inspector Dew (who apparently resigned the day Crippen was hanged - guilty conscience?) Also, it's suggested the wife simply ran away to America (she was American, as was he). And it's alleged Churchill (Home Secretary) had letters from her at the time of his appeal. They could well have been forgeries, obviously. Anyway, interesting story. One way of finding out if she was alive would surely to check passenger lists? I get that she would have used a fake name but, seeing as how there was no suspected murder at the time she is supposed to have done a runner, she was simply running away, she might not have done much to cover her tracks. 

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First person to be arrested thanks to the telegraph apparently.

He fled to the Canada by ship - posing as a woman - he was recognised on board and the authorities were tipped off and were waiting for him on his arrival.
 

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15 minutes ago, aaid said:

First person to be arrested thanks to the telegraph apparently.

He fled to the Canada by ship - posing as a woman - he was recognised on board and the authorities were tipped off and were waiting for him on his arrival.
 

Yeah, the telegraph thing is interesting. Ship's captain recognised him and contacted England. They sent Inspector Dew on a faster ship to get to Canada before him.

He didn't pose as a woman though. It was his mistress who went with him and posed as his son!

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1 hour ago, aaid said:

First person to be arrested thanks to the telegraph apparently.

He fled to the Canada by ship - posing as a woman - he was recognised on board and the authorities were tipped off and were waiting for him on his arrival.
 

I knew there was some element of cross-dressing involved.

To your point about passenger lists, a couple of things.

I've spent quite a bit of time looking at transatlantic passenger lists for genealogy.  The departure lists for the UK at this period hold very little information, essentially name, age and occupation.

Passports - or at least the requirement to have one to travel - are relatively new as well, so most people wouldn't have, or need one.  It'd be very easy to pass yourself off as someone else, as Crippen and his mistress did.

Also likely, if someone were to do a runner - for whatever reason - they would use a false name.

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