The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-27
ELLA CR0PSEY'SS
BODY FOUND.
Discovered in the River at
Elizabeth City.
INDICATIONS POINT 70 SUICIDE
Believed From Appearances That
the Girl Fiung Herself From
Marine Railway IN Front
of Her Home.

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 27.-Tbe body Of
Miss Ella Cropsey was found in the
Pasquotank River at Elizabeth City, N.
C, this morning. Tremendous excite
ment followed The fndIrg of the body.
In the search for the body electric
lights have been used under water, and
the search persisted in finally proved
fruitful
Appearances now seem to Indicate that
Miss Cropsey threw herself from the
marine railway in front Of her home into
the Pasquotank River, and by her own
act died
There is q high public feeling here
against James Wilcox, the girls sweet
heart, who was twice arrested upon sus-
picion Of being connected with her disap-
Pearance.
Miss Cropseys Disappearance.
The Disappearance Of the young woman
from her parents home on November %
last was inexpncable, and a thousand
theories in explanation OF the mystery
were advanced.
All failed to explain 1t. 1oweyer, and
the case grew to be one of the most BAT
fling mystery. Intense interest felt at
Elizabeth City spread over neighboring
States and finally over the whole country
There were some. and among these we're
many OF the CroPsey's intinates, Who
stoutly maintained that Miss Cropsey did
not vanish Of her own voIition. and had
no cause to walk out of her home near
Midnight. hat1ess. and half shod into
silence and invisibiIity as she seemed 10
have done
Search for Her Organized.
These secured the organization of q
committee of citizens who have persisted
IN the search of the river IN which they
believed her body was.
They melted her father, Justice Crop
sey, TO cause the arrest OF James WI
cox. Miss Elias admirer. who visited
her on the night she disappeared, and
who was with her on the veranda OF the
Cropsey home within the hour when her
disappearance became known TO her fam
lily.
wilcox Twice Arrested.
Wilcox. twice arrested and twice close
iy questioned, adhered TO his original dec
laration that shortly before Miss Crop
sey was missed he left her OF the YER
anda e-.,ing because they had quarreIed
since he objected TO her going to New
York 70 visit the family c: her ureIe, the
New York lawyer.
Evidence sufficient to convict Wilcox Of
the girls death was not forthcoming, and
he was released on bail in 50 GOO. but ne
was never suffered to escape from the
surveillance of the town police. whose
chief Dawson, was one of those who be-
Iieved that Miss Cropsey vas murdered
CT abducted.
Justice Cropsey and his wife. Elias
father and mother, repeatedly fmplored
Wilcox 70 tell where Ella was, but VII
cox. who maintained a stoIid de-nea-ior
when solemnIy accused by the father, de-
MED that he knew more than he had told
and appeared u be angered when pressed
to tell more
There have been hours when wiIcox's
life was unsafe, and threats TO lynch him
we're uttered. Many waited for the news
that the mob had hanged him Finally
he went to his fathers farm. some seven
miles from Elizabeth City. MS father say
ing that he was not safe in the town.
The feeling against him is still dan
gerously bitter.