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Consistency and Inconsistency in Stories: The Case of Dr Crippen Sheer hypocrisy? It is already admitted, sir.1
Dinner with the Crippens On the evening of Monday, 31 January 1910, Clara and Paul Martinetti were invited for dinner at the home of Peter Crippen and Belle Elmore at 39 Hilldrop Crescent, in Holloway, North London. They had got to know each other through the music hall business: Clara and Belle were both members of the Music Hall Ladies Guild (MHLG), and Belle was also its treasurer. ‘Belle Elmore’ was a stage name, used for her (not very successful) singing career. Like Crippen, she hailed from the United States, and when he married her in 1892 she was called Cora Turner. But ‘Cora Turner’ was not her real name either, for she was born Kunigunde Mackamotzki, the daughter of European immigrants. For that matter, ‘Peter’ was not Crippen’s real name; he was born Hawley Harvey Crippen in Coldwater, Michigan, in 1862. And although he generally signed himself as H.H. Crippen, among those associated with the MHLG he went by the name of Peter (Smith, 2005). According to the Martinettis, they had a pleasant evening with the Crippens. Belle was a lively person and something of a socialite, while Peter was quiet but very courteous and hospitable. When they left the house at about 1 am (1 February), this would be the last time that anyone, except Crippen, saw Belle. On 2 February, Crippen sent notes, apparently dictated by Belle, to the MHLG, one of which was addressed to its president: 39, Hilldrop Crescent, N. Feb 2/1910 Dear Miss May,
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