The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-05
THE CROPSEY CASE
ELoPING COUPLE ARRESTED AT
WILSON, N. c.
THEIR CONDUCT VERY QUEER.
SUSPECTED OF BEING DURHAMAND
MISS CRoPSEY.

Placed Under Arrest the Man and
Girl Tell Conflicting StOries-The
Latter Denies That She Is Miss
Cropsey, and Says She Was Rear
ed Near ChattanOOga-A Former
SchOOImate Thinks She Is Miss
CrOpsey, but There Is an Element
of Doubt.
Charlotte, N. c., Dec. A special to
ne Observer from Wilson, N. c., to-
night says:
Monday a couple giving names of
Mr. and Mrs. Mackay Durham stopped
at Wards boarding house. Monday
evening Durham was found drunk and
disorderly on the streets and locked
I'D. and remained in the town guard
house throughout the night. No sus-
picion rested ON the parties, and Tues
day. when Durham was sober, he was
released from custody. and he, with his
supposed wife, left in a buggy for
Nashville, N. G. At this juncture the
town authorities suspected the couple
to be the Elizabeth City couple-Miss
Nellie Cropsey and Mr. Durhanl-who
disappeared from that city on Wednes-
day night of Nov. Il. They were pur-
sued by two of the city's police force
on each road leading out of Wilson on
to r turkey Greek. About fifteen miles
north of here they were arrested by
Policemen FELTON, and Bryant, and
brought back to town this morning.
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, testified
that for four years she has not seen
her, but the girl in custody resembles
Nellie very much; that when she knew
her, her hair was lengthy, that her fea-
lures were 'identically the same. Now
Miss Cropsey has hair a great deal
shorter, and Miss Tyer did not at once
recognize her, but was sure it was Miss
CropSey in her opinion. Before the au-
thorities this afternoon she says she
was a Miss Kersey and was reared on
truck farm near Chattanooga, Tenn,
and says her mother has been married
the second time, now bearing the name
of Mrs. Elizabeth Clark.
Whether she is Miss Cropsey or not
is yet to be learned but if not her, she
evidently desires to keep her affairs
secret
She will be held in custody until par
ties arrive from Elizabeth City. The
alleged Miss Cropsey says she has only
been married a few days. She seems
to be deeply distressed. She appears
to be about II years old and is indeed
good looking and has an intelligent
face. While questioned by Mayor Her
ring she stated many things contradic-
tory to Durham's statements. She gave
her home as Raleigh and Chattanooga.
The young lady denies having been to
Speed or Washington. but states that
they had been to Newberne, Plymouth
and Bath. 1t seems her memory is
very short, as she does not remember
any names of the places she has re-
Gently visited. When she was asked
whether or not she knew Mr.. Wilcox,
she stated that she did not, but after
pausing for a moment said she be-
lieved she had heard of him. Evident
~ this woman is Miss Cropsey or some
one who does not intend for anybody
TO know any particulars concerning her
affairs
Wilson is about 200 miles from Eliz-
abeth City, by rail- therefore the state
ment that the girl has been identified
by her father is probably incorrect.