The age-herald., 1901-12-28
Five Weeks of Mystery Ter inmates and a New Ques-
 tiOn Arises
CORONER'S JURY SAYS
 GIRL WAS MURDERED
Young Wilcox, Who Is Thought to Know Something of the Crime, Is Held Awaiting a Thor
 ough Investigation.

Elizabeth City, N. C., December H- Five weeks of mystery and speculation as to the fate of Miss Nellie Cropsey terminated today at 10 o'clock when the body of the missing girl was found float ing in the river opposite her fathers home. The body was discovered by J. E. Stillman, a fisherman. who was return ing from the nights fishing trip. Upon discovering that the floating object was the body of young girl he Immediately notified the community and coroner.
 When the body was found 1t was face downward. All the wearing apparel was intact with the exception of the rubber cloak which Nellie wore on the night of her disappearance; that was missing.
 With the exception of some slight dis cooration of the face the body was in a good state of preservation and little decomposed. The body was easily iden- tihed as that of Nellie Cropsey by all who had known her in life. The spot where the body was found had been dragged several times since her disap- pearance, but without result.
 Exhaustive Autopsy.
 Coroner Fearing summoned jury of prominent men from among the crowd that had assembled on the spot where the body had been brought ashore and called In three of the best physicians of the city to make thorough and exhaustive au- topsy to ascertain 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 infor- nation until after they make their re- port to the coroner's jury, which con- vened at o'clock tonight after an ad- 3ournment at 6 o'clock without reaching any verdict.
 The jury has been in almost continuous secret session since the finding of the body and holding of the autopsy and very much depends on the construction 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 dis cussing the affair. but making no mani festations, simply waiting for the ver- dict of the jury as to whether the girl met with foul play or committed sui eide.
 Will Protect Wilcox.
 ba hrox ing for young Wilcox, the naval reserves have been ordered out to maintain order and peace and to see that no violence Is offered Wilcox. By order of the Mayor all the barrooms in the city have been closed Wilcox has been removed from the Mayors office, where he has been since his arrest this afternoon. to the county jail for his own protection. and a strong guard has been placed around the jail.
 The family of the dead girl refuses to express an opinion as to the cause of the death of Nellie Cropsey.
 The mother of the girl Is completely prostrated and little can be done on the mart of relatives and friends to com fort her. She has watched daily hoping  the sad ending of the disappearance has completely broken her down.
 Wilcox apparently maintains the same indifferent air that has characterized his actions all the way through this case.
 The report of the coroner's jury is not expected until late tonight.
 Physicians Report.
 The report made by the physicians who performed the autopsy on Miss Cropsey says:
 ''The garments showed no marks of vio- lence. The garments were removed and the body fully exposed. The epiderms of face and head, together with hair of head was peeled off, The face and head were swollen and sodden. There was no ex- ternal marks of violence of head, the body or face. There was discoloration of a pinkish tinge on the front of the head and face, with a slight bluish dis coloration on the back of the neck and occiput There were no marks on the front of her neck except as made by con striction of her dress color An examina- lion of the internal organs showed she was pure girl
 '.The stomach upon being opened emitted gas and was found to contain about two ounces of dark fluid and solid substance. The solid substance Is pre- sumed to be undigested food The ap- pearance of the stomach and other ab- dominal organs was nor
 s,The lungs were col and free from Water, The heart rmal.
 ..On the section of the all around the head. one inch abov ,row, there was found a dark dis, as lon of the muscular substance.
 .'The bone beneath tn usion was fiscolored. being slighl ie. There