The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-14
Mr.. CROPSEY is UNJUST
So Declares Wilcox in Letter Reply
ing to the Charges Made
Against Him.
he SPEAKS OF HER AS HE SAW HER LAST
She Was Sanding on the Porch Leaning Against
the Post With Her Head on Her Arm.
A Flood Of New Theories
Advanced.
Especial to the News and Observer.)

Especial to the News and Observer.)
ing typewriter reply of James Wilcox
Nell Cropsey's lover, to Justice Crop
sey's letter charging him with respon-
sibility for the disappearance of his
daughter, was secured by your cor
respondent tonight:
IN position of course is an embar-
RAISING one, for the reason that any
thing l might say would be criticized
and doubtless miSinterpreted and this
leaves me helpless. / now say that |
have had nothing whatever to do either
directly or indirectly with the young
lady's disappearance and know nothing
of her whereabouts. Neither do know
how she disappeared. The last time
saw her she was standing on the porch
leaning against the post with her head
on her arm. She was crying. The last
words she said to me when I told her I
had to go over to town and asked her
to go inside were, You can go to town.
Il think the letter which has been
published by Mr.. Cropsey is unjust and
is calculated to do me great harm. He
has no evidence to justify him in max
ing such a statement, and no new dis
covery, and / am at loss to understand
why he should have signed such state
ment. l hold no ill will towards Miss
Cropsey and would have done her no
harm. Both she and the family were
warm friends of mine, and / hold them
in the highest esteem. We have been
the best of friends, as far as l know,
for about three ears.
IF / knew anything Of her where
abouts it would be a great pleasure to
Inc to inform her mother, father and
friends. 1 deny that I am the cause or
in any way responsible for her disap-
pearance. / regret her disappearance
as much as any one else. 1t has been
published in the newspapers that I re-
fused to make statement. This is not
correct; l made a statement to Mr.. and
Mrs. Cropsey on the morning after Nell
was missing and afterward / asked an
interview, and again went to the house
and talked the matter over with them.
When 1 was first arraigned there was
no evidence to hold me. 1 volunteered,
was sworn and made statement to the
Mayor and four justices of the peace.
/ was asked about the matter fully
Questions.
Il am informed that no new evidence
has been found to show that Nell was
murdered and was shocked and surprised
to secfthe letter published over the sig
nature of Mr.. Cropsey, and which l am
reliably informed was written by some
one else and that he was REQUESTED to
sign it and did so.
NJu I, hoe III
cifully; and anything l would attempt to
do would be misnterpreted. l want the
mystery solved and my attorney, e. F.
Aydltte in open court stated to the COM
nlittee that he my father, and myself,
were willing to do anything that we
could.
''That tells the whole story" said Jim's
father former Sheriff Wilcox, after hear
ing the statement read: ''im has told
all he knows, and he would go to hell
before telling anything else
IF Jim knows anything about Miss
Cropsey's disappearance he is an excel
lent actor" said E. Guy Hall, his closest
friend, and who has himself been men
toned in connection with the case.
eve know just as much about the mys
terry now as when she first disappeared
and 10 MORE said Police Chief Dawson.
Hurricane Branch was today dragging
the river with different paraphernalia.
Among the new theories reported here
today are that Miss Cropsey was taken
away in a row boat that she was alb
Quoted in carriage. that she is in
we'll and that she is alive less than forty
miles from home.
OF the 81 400 reward offered $500 has
been withdrawn