STAGE
4
Great Crimes John Escott
Introduction
This ungraded summary is for the teacher’s use only and should not be given to students.
Chapter summary Chapter 1 (Dr Crippen – murderer) shows how, trapped in an unhappy marriage and in love with another woman, Crippen murdered his wife after a violent argument. For the first time, radio communications were used in pursuit of a criminal, and Crippen and his new partner were arrested as they tried to escape to
a new life in Canada.
Chapter 2 (The Mona Lisa – lost and found) tells how
daughter Azaria from a tent. The evidence was unclear,
in 1911 an ex-worker at the Louvre, Vincenzo Perugia,
but Lindy’s story was not believed and she went to
managed to steal the famous painting relatively easily.
prison. However, doubts emerged about blood found
Two years later, when Perugia tried to sell it to an
in the Chamberlain’s car, and it also became clear that
Italian art dealer (claiming at the same time that he
dingoes could attack babies, and Lindy was released.
wanted it returned to Italy for patriotic reasons) the
painting was recovered.
Chapter 3 (The Lindbergh kidnapping) shows
demand was made. There was little contact from the kidnappers, probably the IRA, and no money was paid.
Lindberghs gave the kidnapper money through an
Although there where rumours of sightings, the horse
intermediary, but the boy’s body was found shortly
was never seen again.
afterwards. A German carpenter, Hauptmann, was
identified as the culprit when he tried to spend some
became the most notorious outlaws of their time in
Chapter 4 (The Great Train Robbery) describes how
the USA. Just over four years later they were both
a gang of robbers successfully stole millions of pounds
gunned down in a police ambush, which put an end
from a Post Office train. Their plan failed because their
to the robberies and murders that they had become
hideout was not cleaned, leaving evidence which led
famous for.
to the arrest of most of the robbers within a year.
Chapter 5 (The Kennedy assassination) presents
Chapter 10 (Nick Leeson) shows that Leeson’s
amazing success as a trader meant that his work
the time after the President’s assassination when
at Barings in Singapore was virtually unchecked. He
Lee Harvey Oswald was first arrested for killing a
created a secret error account to hide a small loss
policeman who wanted to question him. When his gun
made by a colleague, but his own losses spiralled out
was discovered in the building overlooking the site of
of control as a series of deals went wrong. The bank
the shooting, he was held on suspicion of killing the
had to close down, and Leeson was arrested as he
President. However, Jack Ruby shot him before he
tried to get back to England.
went to trial.
Chapter 9 (Bonnie and Clyde) Bonnie Parker and
Clyde Barrow first met in January 1930 and later
of the Lindbergh’s money.
Chapter 8 (Shergar) is about the valuable racehorse
Shergar. It was kidnapped, and a massive ransom
how, after the disappearance of their baby son, the
Chapter 7 (Azaria Chamberlain) describes how the
Chamberlains claimed that a dingo snatched their baby
Chapter 6 (Patty Hearst) talks about the daughter
Chapter 11 (Charles Ponzi and Elmyr de Hory)
Italian Ponzi and Hungarian de Hory are two of the
of a rich newspaper owner, who was kidnapped by
best-known fraudsters of the twentieth century. Ponzi
a terrorist group. However, two months later Patty
for his “Ponzi scheme” of making money out of an
Hearst claimed she shared their beliefs, changed her
imaginary investment, and de Hory for his forged
name and took part in armed robberies. At her trial she
paintings by artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and
claimed that she had been drugged and intimidated.
Renoir.
Initially she was not believed, but public opinion changed and she was released from prison early.
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STAGE
4
Great Crimes Pre-reading activity Matching definitions and word sort
Match the words in A with the definitions in B. A
WORD
B
DEFINITION
1
carpenter
[k]
a
to make an illegal copy of something
2
case
[__]
b
the marks that your fingers make when they touch something
3
cemetery
[__]
c
to take someone away, and ask for money for returning them
4
forge
[__]
d
to kill someone by holding them above the ground with a rope around their neck
5
witness
[__]
e
a person who is hurt or killed as the result of a crime
6
gloves
[__]
f
dead people are buried here
7
kidnap
[__]
g
someone who makes money by buying and selling things
8
court
[__]
h
someone who has seen a crime, and tells the police about it
9
fingerprints
[__]
i
these keep your hands warm
10
gallery
[__]
j
a building in which horses are kept
11
victim
[__]
k
a person who makes things from wood
12
assassinate
[__]
l
this is where people decide whether a person is guilty, and how they will be punished
13
trader
[__]
m
information that is used in a trial to show whether someone is guilty or not
14
stable
[__]
n
a crime that the police must investigate
15
evidence
[__]
o
a room where you can see paintings
16
hang
[__]
p
to kill a political leader
Put the words into the correct category. The first example has been done for you. VERBS
PEOPLE
PLACES
THINGS
carpenter
To the teacher Aim: To introduce some of the key vocabulary
and nouns (people, places and things). Finally, ask
Time: 15–20 minutes
students to predict why these words might be
Organization: Give one copy of the worksheet to
included in the book and to make sentences using
each student or group of students. Ask them to
some of the words.
match the words and definitions (most of which are
Key: 1 k, 2 n, 3 f, 4 a, 5 h, 6 i, 7 c, 8 l, 9 b, 10 o, 11 e,
taken from the glossary). Go through the words and
12 p, 13 g, 14 j, 15 m, 16 d.
deal with any remaining difficulties over meanings. Then ask students to divide the words into verbs PHOTOCOPIABLE
© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
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STAGE
4
Great Crimes While reading activity Key messages
1 Inspector – we are very worried about our friend Cora – her husband says she died while she was visiting a relative in America – we don’t think he’s telling the truth – please investigate! He lives at … a What has really happened to Cora? b Who is the note from? How did they become friends with Cora? c Which organisation is the note written to?
2 DON’T FORGET balaclavas handcuffs white sheet gloves red light (and battery)
3 … I’m sure that, as a fellow Italian, you will agree that the painting belongs in Italy, not France. Give me the money, and it will be yours! Leonard a What’s the real name of the person who wrote the note? Why does he say ‘fellow Italian’? b Who received the note? What is this man’s job? c How much money does the writer of the note want, and what will he give in exchange?
4 … You must do this if you want to see your daughter again. We know that you are a rich man, and you can afford it! Cinque a Which organisation does ‘Cinque’ lead? Who have they kidnapped? b Who is the note addressed to? What does ‘Cinque’ want him to do?
a This list was written by a member of a gang. What are they planning to do? b What are they going to do with each item on the list?
To the teacher Where: At the end of Chapter 6 (Patty Hearst)
answer the questions. When they have finished, go
Aim: To revise and summarise some of the key
through the answers, encouraging students to give
characters and events in the book so far
further details about the relevant people and events.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Students could also be asked to invent other notes
Organization: Give out the worksheet to students or
or messages that could have been written at various
groups of students. Ask them to read the messages,
points in these or other chapters.
think about when they might have been written, and
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© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PHOTOCOPIABLE
STAGE
4
Great Crimes After reading activity Could you be a lawyer?
Throw the dice twice. 1st throw …
2nd throw …
1
Patty Hearst
4
Lee Harvey Oswald
2
Nick Leeson
5
Bruno Hauptmann
3
Lindy Chamberlain
6
Vincenzo Perugia
1, 3, 5
2, 4, 6
My client is innocent!
The defendant is guilty!
Use these notes to help you. For
young, frightened girl – hates terrorism – had no choice – given drugs – didn’t hurt anyone
Against
agreed with terrorists – chose to join SLA – helped in robberies – people were killed
For
trying to help a colleague – bank didn’t check his work properly – didn’t hurt anyone
Against
irresponsible – dishonest – cared about money, not people – many now unemployed
For
good mother – loves children – telling truth – footprints of dingo near tent
Against
hole in baby’s clothes from knife, not animal’s teeth – she killed Azaria, later pretended to put her in tent – not sad after baby’s death
For
three shots in less than 5.5 seconds – fourth shot from grassy hill
Against
gun found in Texas Book Depository – life in Soviet Union
For
was in New York that night – money was from his friend Fisch – witnesses dishonest – Violet Sharpe involved?
Against
Lindbergh’s money in his home – notes in his handwriting – ‘Fisch’ doesn’t exist
For
Mona Lisa belongs in Italy – didn’t damage painting – didn’t use violence
Against
interested in money, not art – has been in trouble with police before – list of possible buyers in room
Patty Hearst
Nick Leeson
Lindy Chamberlain
Lee Harvey Oswald
Bruno Hauptmann
Vincenzo Perugia
To the teacher Aim: To revise key events and facts and practise
the class about five minutes to prepare, making sure
putting forward arguments
everyone understands the notes for the relevant
Time: 30–40 minutes
case and reminding them of the facts – encourage
Organization: Make sure a dice is available. Give
them to think of their own arguments too. Then the
each student a copy of the worksheet. Pick two
first team must argue as decided by the dice, and
‘teams’ of two lawyers. Explain that one team will
the other team must speak against them, with the
argue that their ‘client’ is innocent; the other team
other students (and teacher) posing questions. Finish
will argue that he / she is guilty; and the remainder
by taking a vote among the non-lawyers as to the
of the class will be able to ask questions. Ask one
defendant’s innocence / guilt. If time allows, pick two
member of one team to throw the dice twice. Give
new teams and repeat the whole process.
PHOTOCOPIABLE
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