The Trial of Dr Crippen: A Drop of Poison

A Trial of the Century witnessed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. International true crime with historical depth. Unfolding like a thriller. Full cast.

In the dock: a quiet American doctor accused of mutilation and murder. In 1910, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen stood trial for the murder of his wife, the music-hall performer Belle Elmore, after human remains were discovered beneath the cellar floor of their London home.

What followed was one of the first great media manhunts of the twentieth century: a transatlantic pursuit to Canada aboard a steamship, the revolutionary use of wireless telegraphy, and a trial watched by a public gripped by fascination and unease.

Drawn from the original Old Bailey trial transcripts and contemporary reporting, this edition recreates the key exchanges between prosecution and defence: the forensic examination of the remains, the testimony surrounding a troubled marriage, and the steady, methodical cross-examinations in open court.

The proceedings reveal not only the legal strategies deployed on both sides but also the atmosphere of Edwardian London as science, celebrity, and sensational journalism converged. A classic true-crime mystery thriller that caught the eye of Sherlock Holmes' creator - he sat in the public gallery, taking notes.

The Trial of Dr Crippen is the second title in the Trials of the Century series, following The Trial of Leopold and Loeb and preceding The Trial of Patty Hearst (released Summer 2026).

Ideal for listeners interested in historical true crime, Edwardian murder trials, forensic history, and famous court cases that shaped modern criminal justice.

Performed by acclaimed stage actors and award-winning producers & directors. Discover more Trials of the Century Audiobooks at classic-crime. com.