Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-30
FINGER OF SUSPICION
4. 1888 POINTS TO WILCOX

NORFOLK, va. Dec. 2S.-The consen-
/ sds of opinion. at Elizabeth City is that
! Nellie Cropsey was murdered.
The finding of the coroners jury to the
effect that she died from a blow on the
1 temple strengthens the belief. The order
of things is reversed In this case, and until
| James Wilcox, the girls former lover
| proves himself absolutely innocent, the
towns folk viii look upon him as being
responsible for the girls death.
With the break Of day great crowds col
| iected on. the streets and the finding OF
the body has had demoralizing effect on
business. The girl was. not assaulted.
The doctors testify'to this
She had no known motive for commit
/ ting suicide. Wilcox was very jealous Of
her and in the heat of passion the peo-
pie believe he made way with her.
f. The fact that the body was found over
the exact spot, which Diver Edwards ex-
| plored, leads to the belief that the body
had only recently been in the water.
This is substantiated by the fact that
| the remains were not decomposed.
/ " Wilcox is now In the county jail where
/ he will be kept guarded by troops. The
-funeral of Miss Cropsey will take place
4 Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the
Methodist Episcopal church. The whole
town will attend. The remains will be
brought here for shipment to Brooklyn.
1 1neTe nave Decu no al NlO-
Hence towards the prisoner. but many
If there is any sign of trouble Wilcox
will be hurried aboard a. special train and
brought tot Norfolk for safe-keeping
Physicians Report.
Late last night the physicians who per
formed the autopsy on Miss Cropsey re-
| ported as follows:
The garments showed no marks of vio-
1 tn \
body fully exposed..The epidermis of face
and head, together with hair of head, was
peeled off. The face an4 head were swoll-
i en- and soduen. There was no external
marks of violence of head, the body or
face. There was a discoloration of a pink
ish tinge on the front of the head and
face, with a slight blush discoloration
on the back of the meek and occiput.
| There are no marks upon front Of her
neck except as made by construction of
her dress collar. An examination OF the IN
ternal organs showed she was a pure
girl. - , Sos
T. The stomach upon being opened, emit
ted gas and was found to contain about
! two ounces of dark fluid and solid SUBJ
and other abdominal organs were nor
NAL a..i., a1
The lungs were collapsed and free from
water. The heart was normal
on the section of the scalp all around
! the head, one inch above the brow, there
was found dark dtscoloration of the
| muscular substance.
The bone beneath this confusion was
| discolored, being slightly blue. There was
no abnormality in any part Of the scalp,
(which was completely idissected.
There was no. fracture discovered at any
| point of the Uranium. asr
A thorough examination of the brain
showed no evidence of violence.
Verdict Of Coroner's Jury
The verdict of the coroner's jury was as
| follows: .
I'VE, the coroner's jury, having been
duly summoned and sworn by DR.. /. Fear
| ing to inquire what caused the death of
Ella NJ. Cropsey, do hereby report that
from the investigation made by three ply
! sicians Of Elizabeth City. and from their
| opinion and also from our personal OBJ
servation, that said Ella M. Cropsey came
to her death by being stricken blow on
| the left temple and by being drowned in
the Pasquotank river. We have not yet
| Investigated nor heard any testimony as
to who inflicted the blow and did the
drowning We are Informed that one
James Wilcox is charged with same and is
| now in custody We recommend that in
vestigation as to his or any one else's
probable guilt be had by one or more
magistrates in Elizabeth City township
| and that said Wilcox be held to await
/ said investigation" -