The Notorious Dr Crippen | Devil's Breath | 3

In the third episode of 'British Scandal,' titled 'Devil's Breath,' the investigation into Dr. Hawley Crippen's alleged murder of his wife, Belle, reaches a critical turning point. After Crippen's arrest and return to Britain aboard the SS Megantic, Inspector Dew struggles to secure a confession, as Crippen remains defiant and the evidence—though circumstantial—can be easily challenged in court. Dew's breakthrough comes when pathologist Dr. Pepper identifies hyacinth hydrobromide, or 'devil's breath,' in Belle's remains, linking Crippen to the poison. A crucial clue emerges when Dew discovers Crippen purchased the poison from a chemist, Arthur Burrow. However, the case begins to unravel when Crippen’s defense, led by barrister Alfred Tobin, calls expert witness Dr. Gilbert Turnbull, who casts doubt on the age and origin of the remains, suggesting they could predate Crippen’s residence in Hill Drop Crescent. The tide turns again when Dew realizes the pyjama fabric found wrapped around the remains is a newly released pattern, meaning the body could not have been buried before January of that year. This new evidence proves Crippen’s timeline is impossible to reconcile, leading to his conviction. In the aftermath, Crippen is executed, and Dew is celebrated as a hero, though lingering doubts about the case’s true nature and Ethel Laniv’s complicity remain. The episode concludes with a haunting reflection on guilt, justice, and the enduring mystery of the Crippen case.