The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-05
IS NELLIE CROpSEY
FOUND IN WILSON?
Man and Woman Held There
by Authorities.
A RESEMBLANCE NOTICED
Pictures of the Missing Girl Gave the
Clneto Wilson People.
ARE NOW WAITING FOR IDENTIFICATION
Stories Of Both the Man and The Woman Are
Unsatisfactory. The Girl Evidently
Laboring Under Mental
Excitement.
Excitement.

lNS!tCtIIcllt.
Especial to the News and Observer
Wilson, Dec. 4.-Wilson people have
been very much wrought up over the
supposed apprehension of Nellie Cropsey
and her aDductor. On Monday afternoon
man and woman came to Wilson and
stopped at Mrs. Woods boarding house.
The man had not been in town long De-
fore he was in the lookup for drunken
ness. He spent Monday night in JAIL
being released about 10 o'clock on Tnes-
day During the morning pictures of the
missing girl were seen in the New York
Journal of Sunday, and they caused com
ment among those who had seen the girl.
Messages were exchanged with Eliza
beth City and the authorities here were
advised to hold the pair until some one
could come to identify the woman But
when search was made it was discovered
that they had left town about II O'Clock
on Tuesday morning. A searching party
was at once organized and went after
O
this morning at the homo OF Mr.
Nichols, about fifteen miles from VIII
son. The arrest was made by Officers
Frank FELTON, and Pharaoh Bryant They
were brought to Wilson and are now i.
custody. The authorities in Elizabetj
City were at once notified and some on,
is expected to come from there tomor,
row for the purpose Of identifying thu
girl.
Your correspondent saw the pair ir
jail here shortly after they reached viii
son. The man does not hesitate to Civ,
an account of his presence in this par
OF the country. He gives his name as
Mackey Durham, says he was raised in
Durham county, about six miles troni
the city of Durham. He says that he
has not lived in Durham county for over
fourteen years. This part of the mans
story seems straight, but when ques-
toned about his whereabouts after leay-
ing home he seems to know nothing def
mite. He says he has spent some time
In Raleigh, having lived there for the
past Few years, until seven weeks
ago, but is entirely unable to give the
street or the number of the house where
ne resided on mans land by the name
OF Grimes; that he made living by
driving and hauling around Raleigh He
says greater part of his work was done
Tor cotton mill, but is unable to give
the name of the mill. He says that he
lett Raleigh about seven weeks ago and
mas spent this time in Eastern Carolina
hunting and fishing. He claims to have
been robbed about three weeks ago of
money amounting to over $780, On his
way to Wilson he spent one night at
the home of Elias Carr in Edgecombe
county. He says Mr. Carr gave them
50 to pay expenses until he could get back
to Raleigh. While they were in Wash
lngton the people there made them up a
purse of $12 for the same purpose A
very suspicious circumstance about the
person OF Durham is his watch charm
This is a silver charm bearing the in
scription, Compliments of Louis Sc
ligh, Jeweler, Elizabeth City, N. c." He
claims to have bought this charm from
negro.
Durham is a man of ordinary appear
ance, about 5 feet s inches tall. auburn
hair and weighing between 165 and 10
pounds.
The girls story is a disconnected one.
She seems to be laboring under great
mental excitement. She says that she
was raised about seven miles from
Chattanooga, Tenn, and that her faith
er's name is John Kersey. She claims
to have been married to Mackey Dur
ham about two years. When question
ed about Elizabeth City she said that
she had never been there in her life and
that she knew one who lived there.
While her appearance does not tally
very closely with that given in Sundays
New York Journal, there still seems to be
some resemblance about the physique
She is good looking GIRL with dark
brown eyes, and appears to be about IS
years DID,
Later.-Little Edna Tyer. daughter of
Rev. Mr.. Tyer, pastor of the Methodist
church here, says that she ilnew Nellie
Cropsey about four years ago. On re-
quest of Mayor Herring she came down
to the lookup and saw the girl. Little
Miss Tyer says that there is a striking re-
semblance in the appearance of the two
girls, but that when she knew her she
was only about years old. At this time
Miss Cropsey was about 13. Her iden-
tification was not complete. but every one
is firmer in the belief that the missing
girl is really in Wilson after hearing Miss
Tyer's opinion. Nothing definite can be
obtained until some one arrives from
-,