The semi-weekly messenger., 1901-12-31


as to the fate of Miss Nellie Cropsey
terminated today at 10 o'clock when the
bo6y Of the missing girl was found
floating in the river opposite her
fathers home. The body was discov
cred by ]. D. Stillman, fisherman,
who was returning from his nights
fishing trip. Upon discovering that tho
floating object was the body Of a young
girl he Immediately notified the COM
mittee. and Coroner. Fearing had the
body brought to the shore. When found
the body was floating face downward.
All the wearing apparel was intact
with the exception OF the rubber which
Nell wore on the might of her disap-
pearance and thatsYas missing. With
the exception of some light dlscolora-
ton of the face-the body was in state
of good preservation and little decom-
posed. The. body was easily identified
as that Of Nell Cropsey by all who had
known her in life. The spot where the
boay was found had been dragged sew
ef4f times since her disappearance. but
with no result.
Coroner Fearing summoned a jury of
prominent men from among the crowd
that had assembled on the spot where
the body had been brought ashore, and
CdlIeu III IHTe6 OI the DcSl pIly Vi
the city TO make a thorough and eX-
haustive autopsy, to learn if there
were any signs of violence on the body
but up to this time nothing official can
be learned from the physicians as to
their opinion, they refusing absolutely
to give out any information until after
they make their report to the coroner's
jury, which convened at 9 o'clock to-
night after an adjournment at O'Clock
without reaching any verdict.
The jury has been in almost continu-
Gus secret session since the finding Of
the body and the holding of the autop.
sy, and very much depends on the con-
struction of their verdict as to what
will be the fate Of young Wilcox.
Great crowds are assembled in front
Of the Academy of Music building
where the jury is in session and groups
can be seen on almost every street
corner discussing the affair, but max
ing no manifestations, simply waiting
for the verdict of the jury as to wheth-
er the girl met with foul play or COM
mitted suicide.
Anticipating that trouble may be
brewing for young Wilcox, the naval
reserves have been ordered out to main
tain order and police the town and to
see that no violence is offered WILCOX.
By order of the mayor all the barroonIs
in the city have been closed. Wilcox
has been removed from the mayors
office. where he has been since his ar
rest this afternoon, to the county jail,
for his own protection and strong
guard has been placed around the Jail.
The family of the dead girl refuse to
express an opinion as to the cause OF
the death of Nell Cropsey, but an un-
Gle Of the girl is reported as having
said:
Il never have yet heard of a drown
ed person floating face downward"
The mother of the girl is completely
prostrated and little can be done on the
part of relatives and friends to comfort
her She has watched daily hoping for
the return of her daughter alive, and
the sad ending Of the disappearance
has completely broken her Gown.
Wilcox apparently maintains tho
same Indifferent air that has charac-
terized his actions all the way through
this case, and feeling is running to
some extent against him tonight.
The report Of the c0roner's jury Is
not expected until late tonight.
The report made by the physicians
who performed the autopsy on MISS
CrOpSey says.
"The garments show no marks OF Vio-
fence. There were no external marks
of violence on body. head or face There
was discoloration of a pinkish tinge on
the front of the head and face with a
slight blush discoloration over the
back of. the neck and occiput. There
were no marks upon the front OF her
neck. except as made by construction OF
her dress collar. An examination or the
internal organs showed she was pure
girl.
THE stomach; upon being opened.
emitted gas and found to contain about
two ounces of dark fluid and solid sub
stance. the solid substance presumed to
be undigested food. The appearance OF
the stomach and other abdominal Or
ganS was normal
THE lungs were collapsed, and free
from water The heart was normal.
Upon the section of the scalp all
around the head. one inch above the
brow. there was found dark discolor-
alton of the muscular substance. about
two inches in extent visiblv thickenins
the muscular substance.
THE bone beneath this confusion was
discolored-slightlyb blue. There was no
other abnormal condition in any part
Of the scalp. which was completely dis
sected.
There was no fracture discovered at
any point Of the Uranium. There was
no effusiOn Of blood or water upon the
surface of the brain or any evidence
that violence had reached its structure
or the internal plates OF its bony cov-
ering.
1.-The brain substance showed, so far
as we could see. no evidence Of damage
Tine Draln was removed ana the DdS6
OF the brain thoroughly inspected
There was no damage to blood vessels
or bony structure
The report was signed by Drs. I. E.
Wood. o. McMullen and I. Fearing. The
verdict of the coroner's jury is:
I'VE. the coroner's jury, having been
duly summoned and sworn by DR.. J. E.
Fearing to inquire what caused the
death of Ella NJ. Cropsey. do hereby re-
port that from the investigation made
by three physicians of Elizabeth City
and from their opinion and also from
our personal observation, that said Ella
n. Cropsey came to her death by being
stricken a blow on the left temple and
by being drowned in the PasQuotank
river. We have not yet investigated nor
heard any testimony touching as to
who inflicted the blow and did the
drowning. We are informed that one
James Wilcox is charged with the same
and is now in custody. We recommend
that investigation as to his or any one
eiSe'S prOha bic guilt be had by one or
more Magistrates in Elizabeth City
township eHd that said Wilcox be held
TO await s. ii Investigation