The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-28
Discovery Made by a Fisherman
Not Far From Her
Fathers Home.
TROOPS ARE GUARDING WILCOX.
Excited Mob Crowds the Streets,
Awaiting Finding of Coroner
as to the Cause of the
Girls Death.

Elizabeth City. N. c.. Dec N.-Fiv,
weeks Of mystery and speculation as II
the fate Of Ella Maud Cropsey terminated
to-day when the body of the missing CIR
was found floating in the river opposite
her fathers home.
The discovery was made by ]. D. Still
| man. fisherman The body was floating
| face downward. All the wearing ap
parel was intact with the exception OF
| the rubbers. which she wore on the night
of her disappearance. They were miss.
ing.
With the exception of some slight dis
coloration Of the face. the body was in 9
state Of good preservation, and was but
little dscomposed. The water where the
body was found had been dragged over sew.
eral times since her disappearance. but
without result
Coroner Fearing summoned Jury and
called in three of the best physicians Of the
city to make an exhaustive autopsy to
learn II there were any signs OF violence.
The verdict OF the Coroner's jury was as
follows:
We. tho Coroners Jury. being duly summoned
and sworn by Doctor /. Fearing, to inquire what
caused the death OF Ella N. Cropsey, do hereby
report 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 the left temple and
By being drowned in the PasQuotank River.
We have not yet investigated nor heard any
testimony touching to who inflicted the blow
and did the drowning. We are informed that one
James Wilcox II charged with same and Is now
In custody. We recommend that Investigation As
to his or any one else's probable guilt be had by
one or more Magistrates in Elizabeth City Town.
ship. and that said Wilcox be held to await said
Investigation.
Anticipating that trouble may be brewing
for young Wilcox. the naval reserves have
been ordered out to see that no violence is
offered him. By order Of the Mayor all
barrooms in the city have been closed.
Wilcox has been removed from the May
or's office since his arrest this afternoon, to
the county Jail for his own protection, and
q strong guard has been placed around
the jail.
The family Of the dead girl refuses to ex-
press an opinion as to the cause of death.
Wilcox apparently maintains his indiffer-
ent airs.
Ella Maud Cropsey lived for some years
in New Utrecht, L. L, and was well known
in Brooklyn society, Four years ago her
father bought q farm near Elizabeth City
and moved there to live, his daughter go
ing with him. She had recently been re-
ceiving the attention Of James Wilcox.
prosperous young man OF the neighborhood.
and they were supposed to be engaged.
Then came . quarrel. and for some days
the coupls avoided each other. But on the
eve Of November 20 Wilcox called upon his
sweetheart and passed the evening In the
company Of herself and her cousin.
When. at q late hour, he arose to go.
he asked Ella II she would accompany him
to the veranda, as he had something which
he wished to discuss with her. She assent
ed and walked out in his company.
A half hour passed before Miss CropSey'9
cousin thought OF looking for her. and then
she walked out to the veranda and looked
about, but the young woman was not there.
She was not seen again.
Wilcox was arrested on suspicion Of hav-
Ing murdered her, and Is now held under
q 600 bail by the Grand Jury at Norfolk.