The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-28
MISS CROPSEY MURDERED
THE OPINION OF THE CORONEh'S
 JURY GIVEN.
Declares the Young Woman Came to Her Death by Being Struck Q Blow on the Left Temple and by Being Drovvned-Autopsy, However, He- vealed No Signs of VtOionce--Navai Reserves Called Out to Protect Accused Man.

Man.
 Elizabeth City, N. C., Dec. 27-Five weeks of mystery and speculation as to the fate of Miss Nellie Cropsey termin- ated to-day, when the body of the miss ing girl was found floating in the river opposite her fathers home. The body was discovered by J. D. Stlllman, fisherman All the wearing apparel was intact with the exception ot the rubbers which the girl wore on the night of her disappearance. With the exception of some slight discoloration of the face, the body was in state or good preservation and but little decom- posed. The body was easily identlileu as that of Nellie Cropsey. The spot where the body was found had been dragged a number of times since her disappearance, but with no result. Coroner Fearing summoned jury Of prominent men and called in three or the best physicians of the city to make a thorough and exhaustive autopsy to learn if there were any signs Of violence on the body.
 The following report made by the physicians who performed the autopsy on Miss Cropsey was given out late to- night "The garments showed no marks or violence The garments were removed and body fully exposed. The epldermls of face and head, together with hair or head, were peeled off The face ana head were swollen and soddened. There were no external marks or violence OH head. body or face. There was uls- cobra tion of a pinkish tnge on tue front of head and face, with snght | bluish discoloration over the back or | the neck and ociput
 "There were no marks upon the front | of her neck. except as made by constr1c- tion of her dress collar. An eXamlna- tion of the internal organs showed she l was a pure girl '"The stomach upon being openea' emitted gas and was found to colitaiil about two ounces of dark fluid ana sollo substance, the solid substance presum- ed to be undigested food. The appear ence of the stomach and other abdomi- nal organs were found normal
 ''The lungs were collapsed and free from water The heart was norman. unon the section of the scalp all around the bea d, one inch above the brow, there | was found dark discoloration Of the muscular substance.
 l ",Tbe hone beneath this confusion was | discolored slightly blue. There was no other abnormality in any part or 'he sca'p. which was completely disse5ted. | trbere was no fracture discovered at any point of the craniun. thoroush examination of the brain showed no eV- | idence of violence.
 The verdict of the coroner's jury was I as follows:
 we, the coroner's jury, having been
 duly summoned and sworn by Dr. l.. Fearing, to inquire what caused the death of Ella M Cropsey, do hereby
 renort that from the investiga ton made by three physicians of Elizabeth City and from their opinion and also from our personal observation that said Ella M Cropsey came to her deatn by being stricken blow on the ieit temple and by being drowned in the Pasouotank river We have not yet investigate nor heard any testimony
 toucbing as to who inflicted the blow land did the drowning. We are 1h-
 formed that one James Wilcox is charg ed with the same and is now in custo- dv. We recommend that investigation as to his or any one else's prooaple
 guilt be had by one or more maRis- ltrates in Elizabeth City township and lthat 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
 maintain order and peace and to see
 that no violence is offered Wilcox. By
 order of the mayor all the barrooms m
 the city have been closed. Wilcox has been removed from the mayors otfice where he has been since his arrest, to the county jail for his own protection and a strong guard has been placed
 around the jail,
 The family of the girl refuse to eX-
 nress an opinion as to the cause ol
 her death. The mother is completely
 nrostrated. She has watched daily
 honing for the return of her daughter
 alive and the sad ending of the d1sap-
 nearance has completely broken hel
 down.
 Wilcox apparently maintains the
 same indifferent air that has character
 ized his actions all the way through
 this case.
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