The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-06
MAN AND YOUNG WOMAN HELD B
AUTHORITIES or WILSON
MISS CROPSEY AND ABDUCTOR
Stony Evidence That This Mystery Is
About Solved Persons TO Identify
the Girl TO Arrive Today-Confiicting
Partially Identified by Former Ac-
quaintance-The Girls story Anx-
ious to Conceal Her Identity
Correspondence of the Messenger.)
Wilson, ". c., December 4.


morning owe the arrest of a woman
and q man supposed to be Nellie Crop
sey and her ,abductor. The pair came
to Wilson on Monday, the man spend
ing Monday night in the lookup on d
charge of drunkenness. He was re-
leased on Tuesday morning and at once
left town with the woman whom he
claims to be mis- wife.
Later in the day pictures seen in the
New York papers caused many who
had seen the pair in town to believe
that the woman was Nellie Cropsey.
the missing girl from Elizabeth City.
Advices from that place asked that
both parties be held for Identification.
It was then found that the parties
wanted had left town about II o'clock
Tuesday morning
A searching party was at once organ
lied and went after them.
Officers FELTON, and Bryant arrested
them early this morning at the home OF
a Mr.. Nichols. They were brought
back to Wilson and the Elizabeth City
authorities notified. Some one from
there is expected to arrive in Wilson
some. time during the afternoon for the
purpose Of positively Identifying the
missing girl.
The man arrested gives his name as
Macky Durham and says that Ra-
leigh has been his home for the past
several years. The woman he say is
his wife, they having been married
about two years ago. Neither the wo-
man nor the n give a feasible story
about the marriage or where they knew
each other previous to marriage.
Durham claims Durham county as his
birth pace, but says he has not lived
there for fourteen years. while the Wo-
man claims to have come from Chatta-
nooga, Tenn
Their presence in this part of the
state they say is due TO a hunting ex-
petition.
One very suspicious circumstance is a
charm worn by Durham. 1t bears an
inscription of an Elizabeth City jeweler.
durham says he bought this charm
from a negco during his trip through
Carolina.
Both stoutly deny ever having been
in or around Elizabeth City. or that
: they know any n there.
IBy Associated PTess.)
New York, December 4.-Judge An
, drew CT. CropSey of this city received a
. telegram this afternoon telling him his
-, niece Ella Cropsey had been found in
Wilson, N. c., and had been identlhed
by her father.
Miss Cropsey disappeared from her
home in Elizabeth City, N. C., on Nov
. ember goth and it was feared that she
had been abducted and hidden in the
Dismal swamp. The case attracted
wide attention
Charlotte n. C., December A spe-
ciaI to the Observer from Wilson, n. c.,
. tonight. CATER giving an account OF the
arrest Of the man and woman) says:
Miss .Tyer, who was a playmate OF
Miss Nellie Cropsey for four years and
who is now at school here. was called
= on to identify Miss Cropsey. She tes-
titled that for four years she had not
seen her, but the girl in custody re
=sembled> Nellie very much; that when
she knew her, her hair was lengthy;
that her features We're identical!y the
same"
Now, Miss Cropsey has hair a great
deal shorter, n Miss Tyer did not at
once recognize her, "Dut 1t was MISS
Cropsey in her opinion. Before the au-
fNorities this afternoon she said she
was a Miss Kersey ana raised on n
truck ia rm near Chattanooga, Tenn:
hat her mother had been married the
econd til me, now bearing the name OF
RS. Elizabeth. Clark
Whether h is Miss Cropsey or NOT
to be learned, but If not, she evil
!, 1tIy desires to keep her affairs d
= ret. She will be held in custody I'M
parties a.rriye from Elizabeth City.
10 alleged Miss Cropsey says she has
~, been married a few days. and
seems to be deeply distressed. she
ars to be about II years of age, is
hooking and has an intelligent face
az very clear speech. and, while being
-. oned by Mayor Herring, stated
things con Trajectory to Durham's
go ents. She ave her home as RAJ
nd Chattanooga. The young a d
having been in Speed or Wash
- says they have been to New
g, p yfnouth and Bath. 1t seems her
-, Is very short. as h does not
- any names in the places she
liz, r{ly visited. When h was
nj lether or not she knew
5n ~ H,,oo. xsshe stated hat she did not,
- eauSing for a nj said
~ Sn she had heard of him
t E-SnntIv this woman is Miss Crop
80 900 pne who ees not intend
TO know Any particulars
ST affairs.
onGeIII sout 200 miles from Eliza
w So - rail. theI efore, the state
etn 49, .ba girl has been identified
-. fathar s probably incorrect.
y nel c;t, . N. c.. December A.
EiI1doe go Wilson. N. c.. of the
+hera of a woman partially
N;s 3 Nellie CropSey has
. 49, ;n+. rest here among the
fealeo Ii or ficiais of the town.
Lnn-oa hare that this same wo-
I > oo,,n anion were examfn-
lan an uo NJ n by an agent of
" q 0a,;oa IA wson several days
and found not I oe MISS SLopssJ
-ov exnert div, W spent the a
.ha bottom , " the river above
ca III near the Crou sey house in the
Lnsa of 6ndinr the boz, y. but discover
al nothing. Nc clue o { value has yet
heen found and the stral lge case is prac-
in the same posi- ton 1t was the
day after the girl as,s di'a az i saTsa; DAWSON AT sias
police of Wilson, N. c.. giving a de.
scription of the Durham w0man. IL
does not at all answer to Neihe crop
seyss description. -
Chattanooga, Tenn, Dece.moer NO
such persons as Miss KerseE anu MIs'
Elizabeth Clark are known m THIS CITY,
or county so far as can be learned
Especial to The Messenger
Wilson, Nc, December 4.-1G' II
The parties expected from
City TO identity the girl here 'posea
TO be Nellie Cropsey have not an 1Veo'