The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-31
THE FUNERAL OF MISS cRoPsEY.
An Immense Throng Attend the Services
the The Church.

the Inc Cnurcn.
Elizabeth CITY, N. c., Dec 29-The fun
eral of Nellie Cropsey was held this af-
ternoon in the presence of about 1,5OO
people.
Il don't hesitate to say that 1 believe
the prisoner is innocent" declared the
Rev DR.. Lewelyn, of Christs Episcopal
church. Il want to caution you, my hear
ers, against forming and expressing opin-
ions condemning a fellow-man until you
have read the 140th Psalm. l will say that
l condemn some things in his past life
and mad he been a member of my church
l should probably have censured him from
the pulpit, but now 1 believe he is inno-
cent of the dark charge which hangs over
him. Though the young lady is dead, and
it is very sad her character was vim
dicated and l think now your sympathy
should go out to the defendants family
in their great SORROW
In referring to the closing of the sa-
looms on the evening of the body's dis
eovery as Il precautionary move in view
Of the excitement and threatened vio-
lence against Wilcox the Rev. d. H.
Tuttle spoke as follows from the Meth
Odist pulpit; "The dry goods stores
were not closed, the grocery stores, the
iewelry shops and other places, were
not shut up, but at this time, in pur-
suance of official request, the liquor
saloons were closed and they were
closed as protection to a supposed
criminal, when on other days they re-
main open and corrupt the innocent"
In a storm of intermittent wind and
driving rain and in the presence of the
largest crowd which ever assembled at
church in this city, the funeral SER
vices over the remains of Miss Ella
Maud Cropsey, were held this after
noon. in the Methodist church. There
were 1,5o0 people packed in the audito-
rum, balcony and annex, and hundreds
could not gain admittance. The de-
ceased became a member Of this church
thirty-eight days before her disappear
ance. The handsome black walnut casket
laden with three white and green floral
offerings, was borne down the central
aisle by the following pail bearers. some
Of them members of the Citizens Commit
tee; II. T. Greenleaf, Roscoe w. Turner,
l.. A. Winder. w NJ. Baxter, A. K Kra-
mer and Prof w. NJ. Hinton. Among
those in the funeral cortege were Judge
and Mrs Cropsey, three daughters and
son, and Lawyer Andrew G. Cropsey, Of
New York. The remains are lying in the
Methodist church annex tonight, and will
be started to Brooklyn tomorrow morn
ing.
Pastor Tuttle was assisted in the SER
vice by Rev. Messrs. Ferrebee and Dunke.
both Baptists In the opening prayer
Mr.. Tuttle said "A sad and mysterious
Providence has ccme to home in our
community. We thank God that the fam
lily has been sustained in their sorrow. We
thank Thee, that she accepted Christ be-
fore being taken away" He then read
frcm the 18th chapter of Corinthians. Mr..
Tuttle made a strong funeral oration
flom which these are extracts: "All
deaths are sad, but oh how inexpressib,y
sad it is to be cut off in the bloom OF
young womanhood and like this, though
mystery surrounds her death, we have
this promise about this beautiful life;
There is nothing secret that shall not
be made manifest. Be sure your sins