The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-15
JUDGE CROpSEYS VIEW
He Still Belives Nell Dead and Blames
Wilcox.
DETECTIVE KELLY YET INVESTIGATING
Police and Committee of Five at Outs. Wilcox
Senior, Says They Seem More Eager
TO Conyic. Jim Than 10 Find
Miss Cropsey.
Miss Cropsey.
Especial to News and observer.)

Suffolk, Va, Dec 14.-'I don't care
what he says" said Justice Cropsey, this
afternoon, when he was shown the origi-
nal copy of Jim Wilcox's statement re-
plying to his letter, charging him with
the disappearance of his daughter.
Judge Cropsey had not seen the state
ment before, and he read it through
hurriedly. He seemed in bad humor.
Cant put any dependence in that" he
continued 81 believe Wilcox could
clear up this whole matter in twenty
minutes if he would. Yes, l believe
Nellie is dead. Walk here to the porch
and see where they stood It was q
moonlight night and Nellie and Roy
Crawford were inside. How could she
have been abducted without her outcry
being heard? Why should she have gone
away voluntarily and in that way. When
she was seen to leave for New York
any how? Nell was a timid girl. 1 never
expect to see her alive, but l cannot tell,
none of us can, how she was taken away,
or where her body is
Justice Cropsey's stem doIasanor
softened as he talked of his missing
daughter, and there was a suspicion of
tears in his voice.
One of Nell's sisters arrived with let
ters and Judge Cropsey was soon busy
absorbing their contents. Cropsey was
especially bitter in referring to Kelly,
the Norfolk detective.
MANY people appear id sight
anYiDnC n nnnVint han to
find the missing girl, "said former
Sheriff Wilcox" They seem to start out
with the premise that he is guilty, and
they are trying more to get evidence
against him than to locate Miss Crop
sey. Jim and his friends are anxious to
find the girl. They have already given
up good money to help the search, and
they are willing to give more if needed.
No, Jim is not in the city. He was ad-
vised by his counsel and by me to stay
in the country a while, but he can be
produced whenever it is necessary. Some
people get so excited about the affair.
and there is so much fooling it is best
for him to be in the country for a
while"
The lack of harmony which has exis-
ted some time between the police and
the Committee of Five was accentuated
,, yesterday, and it now looks like an open
rupture. The committee at a meeting
! sent one member to obtain certain in
formation from Police Chief Dawson. The
chief felt under no obligation to comply
with the request and the committeeman
went back minus what he wanted
'Jim's statement covers everything he
has ever told me- as his attorney said
Lawyer Aydlett.
The withdrawal of $50 of the reward
has been misinterpreted. 1t simply means
that some of the funds subscribed are
being legitimately spent in the search.
Despite what has been said of him, De-
tctive Kelly is still On the scent and says
he will stay so until the mystery is
solved One member of the committee
who has been out of the city was ex-
pected to return today, but did not
E. Guy Hall, whose name has been
mentioned in the case, will seek state
ment of eXoneration from the commit
tee