A pair of letters by the infamous wife killer Dr Harvey Crippen realised ?�11,000 ($16,341) in a sale at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, UK.
The lot exceeded an estimate of ?�5,000 ($7,438) by 120% on May 28.
 Crippen wrote the letter to a supporter shortly before his execution |
Crippen was convicted of murdering his wife and eloping with his mistress, Ethel Le Neve, in a sensational 1910 trial.
One of the letters, the last he ever wrote, is addressed to the philanthropist and women's rights activist Lady Henry Somerset. She had offered Ethel a place to stay.
It reads in part: "I shall only be allowed to write you this one letter and to receive the one visit�Ǫ
"I have already told you I hope Ethel may have a little advanced her on my securities by Mr Newton but until I see him.
"I do not know how she will be situated, I have sent word to her by her sister ... she (Ethel) is to see you and decide for herself what to do but I am sure Ethel will trust you and you may guess what a relief to my mind your promise of a home for her has been as I know her sister and brother in law cannot afford to keep her and again, after the happy years with me, it breaks my heart to think of her ever going out in this world again to battle for herself."
Crippen was executed soon afterwards.
Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about memorabilia auctions.
