The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08
SHE TALKS TOAREPORTER
Girl Chief Vellines Saw Called Herself
Jessie Baker.
la MISS JESSIE BAKER NEAR NeLL's 5 HOME
BIT She Has Not Been 10 Norfolk. veines
Believes Miss Nell viii Be fcurd in
Baltimore. A Reporter ln;ef-
views Young Wilcox.
views Young Wilcox.
Especial to News and Observer }

tSpScldl 10 NEWS anu ODS''FTefD
Suffolk, Va, Dec. -Four out OF fve
persons seen in Elizabeth City today did
not believe the report that Miss Nell
Cropsey had been traced TO Norfolk and
bought ticket on Baltimore steamer,
though many persons have faith in the
theory of the Norfolk police.
Mrs. Cropsey, mother Of the missing
girl and wife OF Justice W H. Cropsey,
when interviewed at her home in Eliza
beth City this afternoon, said there were
three discrepancies in the description OF
the girls dress as told her by Edward
f. Kelly, who visited her yesterday rs an
agent of the Norfolk police. but who in
Elizabeth City represented himself as be-
ing connected with the patent business
Kelly said the girl whom he saw iii Nor
folk wore a red waist with brass but
tons, new shoes and light Jacket Mrs
Cropsey and the Misses Cropscy said Nell
did not wear any coat at ALL wore no
new shoes but red waist with no dress
buttons.
Mrs. Cropsey brought from Nells room
blood-red waist with brass buttons on
it, but said the one Nell wore had dis-
ferent buttons. The rest OF Kelly'g de-
scription was exact.
"And how could Nell have bought new
shoes or a Jacket, or changed her hut
tons ?" put in one of Nelrs sisters. .hrcc
of whom and their cousin, Carrie Crop
sey, of New York. we're in the yoom.
Nell only had 8 cents in her pocket:
l am sure of that"
tinued Mrs. Cropsey. "and Jim Wilcox
was one of the first young men Nell mt
/ did not fancy Jim so much, but the
girls had 4 good time with him, end
did not object to his coming"
He was changeable. Some times he
would hardly speak to me for three or
four days and then he would come hack
and bring flowers. Nell and jim had
been going together about three years
but l knew they were not engaged" said
Miss Ollie Cropsey. "She said she didn't
care for him. and l think she didn't care
for him and I think she liked another bet
ter"
"On the night of Nell's disappearance
she wouldn't go to the door when jim
came, none of US would but me, and
] reminded them of their manners,D said
Miss Carrie Cropsey of New York.
t'No Nell was not in the habit of meat.
ing young men, said Mrs. Cropsey II
she had been l shouldn't have been un-
easy that night, and should not have
given the alarm. l hardly know whether
or not to think this was Neil There
have been SO many rumors aud / am 80
much troubled"
Mrs. Cropsey is sweet ana refined lady
and all OF the girls seen are attractive.
Before the interview none of them had
heard OF the alleged discovery
Jim Wilcox who had just returned from
a cunning trip in the country, was found
He listened attentively as Chief Vellinas'
story was read. He had evidently been
instructed by his lawyers
II do not care to say whether 1 think
this is Miss Cropsey," he said The
Committee of Five knows everything and
they can tell you" Afterwards wilcox
said he could not see how Nell could have
gotten to Franklin in the time named. He
said he had no knowledge of any reason
why Miss Cros ~ should nave gone t.
hospital. He to4f his visits to Nell,
but would not inth.--te any hing akin to
intimacy.
WILCOX is very small man, who is
not at all affected. He was smiling DUR
ing most of a twenty-five minutes in
terview in which he said very little that
is not known.
Miss Cropsey's lady-lilze conduct is
sounded ON all sides around her ho.ue.
There was none in the town of 5000 who
would say aught against her. There is ill-
formation from two ladies to the effect
that there was no serious reason for her
to seek hospital treatment. If that be
true there was seemingly no iaotivc for
Nell's voluntary departure
Chief Dawson at five o'clock did not
think the traced girl WIS Miss Croosev.
Tonight he went to Norfolk to consult
Chief Vellines who feels sure Ills theory
is right. Baltimore police are active IN
their search for Nell.