The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-28
WAS KILLED BY A BLOW
Verdict of Coroner's Jury Con-
corning Nell Cropsey's Death.
DIRECTS THE HOLDING OF WILCOX.
Y-xnR woman's Sweetheart Is In
;ail, Apd Naval Reserves Are Orr
dered Out TO Prevent Mob From
GettinH Him.

x-xnR Woman's Sweetheart Is In
,ail, Apd Naval Reserves Are Or
dered Out TO Prevent Mob From
GettiDE Him.
Elizabeth City, N. c., Dec. 2S.-Five
weeks of mystery and speculation rs to
the fate of Miss ELLA NJ. Cropsey ter
minated yesterday at 10 o'clock when
the body of the missing girl was found
BOATING In the river opposite her IA
TIERS home. The body was discovered
by j. ID. Stillman, fisherman, who i'm
mediately notified the committee.
When found the body was floating
rnce downward. All the wearing APP
parel was intact, with the exception Of
the rubber shoes which the young wo-
man wore OH the night of her disap-
pearance. Except for a slight discolor-
alton Of the face, the body was well
preserved and was easily identified.
The spot where 1t was found had been
dragged several times since her disap-
pearance, but with no result.
Coroner Fearing summoned a jury.
and called in three Of the best physl
clans of the city to make thorough
autopsy to see If there were any signs
Of violence ON the body.
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was as follows:
1--WE, the oroner's jury, having been
duly summoned and sworn by DR.. l.
Fearing to inquire what caused the
death Of Ella NJ Cropsey, do hereby
report that from the investigation
made by three physicians of Elizabeth
City and from their opinion and also
from our personal observation that
Ella NJ. Cropsey came to her death by
being stricken blow OH the left tenn
pie and by being drowned in the Pas
quotank river. We have not yet inves-
tigated or heard any testimony touch
Ing as to who inflicted the blow and
did the drowning. We are Informed
that one James Wilcox is charged with
the same and is now in custody. We
recommend that an investigation as to
his or any one elsc's probable guilt be
had by one or more magistrates In
Elizabeth City township and that said
Wilcox be held to await said investi-
CATION
PhysfctRns' Report.
The report made by the physicians
who performed the autopsy on Miss
Cropsey says:
THE garments showed no marks of
violence. The garments We're removed
and the body fully exposed. The cpl
dermls of face and head, together with
the hair of the head, We're peeled off
The face and head were swollen and
sodden. There were no external marks
Of violence on the head, body or face
There was a discoloration, of pnkisl
tinge, on the front of the head ant
face, with slight blush discoloratior
over the back of the neck and occiput
''rhere were no marks upon the from
of her neck, except as made by con
striction of her dress collar. An exam
ination of the internal organs Shove,
she was pure girl.
The stomach when opened emitte,
gas and was found to contain abou
two ounces Of dark fluid and solid sub
stance, the solid substance presume'
to be undigested food. The appearance
of the stomach and other abdominal
organs were normal.
The lungs were collapsed and fire.
from water. The heart was normal
Upon the section of the. scalp ri
around the head one inch above til
brow there was found dark discoloi
alton Of the muscular substance.
The bone beneath this confusion wa
discolored slightly blue. There was II
other abnormality in any part of tn
scalp. which was completely dssecte,
"'rhere was no fracture discovered Il
any point Of the Uranium. A thoroug
examination of the brain showed II
evidence of violence"
The mayor has closed all the ba
rooms. The governor has ordered til
naval reserves to aid the sheriff in pr,
serving order. They are under arms :
their armory.
Wilcox was rearreStpd on his father
farm, several miles from the city lin
Its, Immediately after it became know
that the body had been found. Viii
every one freely discusses the affai
no one will! openly express I'M Opinion
Feeling Is to some extent runnin
against Wilcox, who acts in the san
Indifferent invnner which has chara
terized his conduct since the night
the girls disappearance. The author
ties fear that violence may be Offert
him.