FROM PAW PAWS T O PENTONVILLE

The Crippen File Jonathan Goodman (Allison & Busby, London, 1985, 96 pp . , ISBN 085031 637 5; f 5.95) The classic murder trials have built up a literature of their own. At least six books have been written about the Crippen case and several plays have taken for their theme the story of the mild homeopathic ~ m e r i c a n "doctor" who disposed of his wife by hyoscine poisoning and mutilation of the body. This publication reproduces facsimile excerpts from contemporary material giving details surrounding Crippen's early career, his theatrical wife whose death he judiciously inserted in a theatre journal to allay suspicion at her disappearance from Hilldrop Crescent, his flight from justice with the young Ethel le Neve disguised as a lad, and some account of the medical and scientific aspects of the trial before the Lord Chief Justice of England at the Old Bailey.

The book is an attractive record of perhaps the most celebrated English murder trial, and a revealing social study of the unflagging public interest in the bogus doctor who in the end was trapped by a Transatlantic wireless message, and by the arrival aboard the Montrose of none other than Chief Inspector Walter Dew of Scotland Yard disguised as a St Lawrence river pilot.

"The Crippen File" does not take the place of any one of the six books on this cause ctl&bre, but it nicely supplements them and will doubtless find a ready sale amongst all who find continuing interest in Court-room dramas of the past.

RICHARD PARTRIDGE

CERTAIN, LIKELY, MAYBE

Evidence Proof and Probability 2nd edition Sir Richard Eggleston (Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1985, 274 pp. , index, ISBN 0 297 78263 0;

The law of evidence is one of the most difficult subjects for the student and practitioner alike. Sir Richard Eggleston's book gives a basic guide to the more important principles of evidence and draws upon a considerable number of cases, both English and Australian. When using legal terminology, explanation is made in everyday language and thus the book becomes of interest to a wider readership than normally is the case. An exposition is given to Bayes' theorem and the book deals in depth with the application of classical probability theory to factual evidence. The lawyer may find that the reasoning which he gives to evidence may not accord with probability theory and cause erroneous reasoning to come to light. The book is highly readable, has practical application to most lawyers and should find a place upon most lawyers' bookshelves.

RCW