The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-28
RIoHMoND. va. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 2s. 1901

from his night fishing trip. Upon dis
covering that the floating Eobject was the 4
body of a young girl he imme ediately no.
tilted the committee and Coroner Fear
ing had the body brought to the shore.
FACE DOyVNWARD
When found the body3was Dating face
downward Allsth wearing al appare1 was
intact, with the exception Of the rubber
which Nell wore on theSnight of her dis
appearance. and that was missing With
the exception Of some slight discolora-5
ton Of the face the body WAS in "a state !.
Of good preservation and little. decom-.
posed. The body was easily identified as
that of Nellie CropseEby all who had I
known her in life. Thesspot where the
body was found had been dragged sew
eral times since her disappearance, but
with no result
Z Coroner Fearing summoned "a jury Of
prominent men from among the crowd
that had assembled on the spot where
the body had been brought ashore, and
called in three of the best physicians of
the city to make a thorough and ex-a
haustive autopsy to learn if there was
any sign Of violence on the BODY
THE CORONER'S JURY.
The jury has been in almost tinCous
secret session since tf1es finding of the
body nd holding of the. autopsy, and very
much depends upon the 5construction Of
their verdict as to whatsW be the fate
OF young Wilcox. 55s
p Great crowds are assembled In front
of the Academy of Music bail lding, where
the jury is in session. and groups can be
seen on almost every street corner dis;
cussing the affair. but making no mani-s
festation, simply, waiting for. the verdict
of the jury as to whether the girl met.
with foul play or committed suicide.
Anticipating that trouble may be brew,
ing for young Wilcox, the, Naval Reserves
have been ordered out to maintain order:
and peace and to see that no violence is
offered Wilcox. s5s$,5. Is
BAR ROOMS .CLosEsD.
By order of the Mayor. all the .ibar
rooms in the city have been closed. VII
cox has been removed from the Mayors
office, where he has been since his ar
rest this afternoon. to the county jail:
for his own protection, and "a, strong
guard has been placed. around the Jail.
to see that no violence is offered him.
The family of the dead girl refuses to
express an opinion as to the cause OF
the death of Nell CroEsey but an uncle
of the girl is reported as having said:
II never have yet heard ofsa drowned
person floating face downward
MOTHER sPFuOSTRATED.
The mother OF the girl is completely
prostrateo, and little can be- done on the
part of relatives and friends. to comfort
her. She has watched da ally. hoping for
the return Of her daughter alive, and. the
sad ending of the disappea rance has COM
pletely broken her down. Z.
Wilcox apparently maintains the same
indifferent air that hassc characterize his
actions all the way through this case,
and feeling is running to some little eN-
tent against him tonight s.: ST.
HISTORY OF, THIFCASE =
Nell Cropsey's disappearance created
more widespread interest than any mys-
terry which has occurred in oecade.
She was a lively. light-hearted girl Of
seventeen, who seemed to beTas ha ppy,e $
the day was long e. Ef 4
She was last seen.on: Il Ker5fat ther's front
porch in Elizabeth City. kts,ts., wi tn Jas.
Wilcox.swilo had beens ISSayiHg her close
attention. They quarrel ledsandi Nell's
sister heard them leave the porch.
James Wilcox was said to have been
an unusual time reaching home. Mr.. w
H Cropsey. father of the girl, published
a caro-, in which he charged Wilcox with
carrying her off. 55s
Tracks believed to be hers were traced
to pier in2the river. and the police be
suici6e.
A citizens committee organized. raised
funds and searched for weeks for the
missing girl, dra gging the river bottoms
searching from house to house and ever
in the wells of the town.
Wilcox was arrested and tried and bail
ed He made a bad impression by his
refusal to talk and he was in great dan
ger of Iynchng The search continued
from town to town, every clue having
been followed until hope of finding the
young woman was given up by many. Only
yesterday: Mr.. Cropseys was accused by q
newspaper of forging a letter telling OF
his daughters discovery at Rocky Mount
N: c., and published an sindignant%d ala
and announcing that he would sue the pa
per- The Cropseys came to Elizabeth
City from Brooklyn. New 4ork, and hel
relatives there have been very active lr
aiding in the search for her.
The finding of Nell Cropsey's body ir
the Pasouotank river is a great surprise
as the river bottom for miles had not
ONLY been dragged by every sort of alp.
| pliance used in dragging for bodies. b,11
the bottom had been searched foot by
foot with electric lights in the hands
of submarine divers.
The finding eloquently commends the
judgment of the chief Of police of Eliza,
| beth CITY. who from the beginning has
| steadfastly maintained that the girl was
| either abducted by the way of the river
| or that her dead body would be found
| in it.