The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-28
WILCOX LEFT GIRL
| IN TEARS AF[ERA
QUARREL
Sheriff Reid Tells of Oisap-
pearance of Nellie
Cropsey.
NO TRACE OF THE GIRL
Lost to the World After Stepping Out
of Her Parents Room Wednes-
day Night.
NO TRACE Of The GIRL
LOVER TELLS OF THE GIRLS LAST WORDS
Deputy Sheriff Reid Who Arrived from Eliza.
beth City Yesterday at The Yarbro,
Says There Are Three The
cries as TO The Case.

cries as 10 The Case.
Elizabeth City, n. c., Nov. 26.-There
are no new developments in the Cropsey
disappearance case. The town and county
are being thoroughly searched by the po-
lice. Over one hundred houses have been
searched within radius of half mile
since six O'Clock this afternoon. No trace
of the missing girl was found. In the
opinion of Chief. Dawson, the girl was
murdered, carried down the river and an
chored Relatives of the missing girl
from New York reported to have left
for this place yesterday have not ar
rived.
Nellie Cropsey. the beautiful 19-year-
old girl who disappeared so mysteriously
from her fathers home near Elizabeth
City last Wednesday, is still lost to the
world.
Deputy Sheriff Charles Reid, of Pasquo-
tank, who has been most active in the
search for the girl arrived in Raleigh
yesterday and when he left Elizabeth
City hope Of finding Nellie Cropsey alive
had almost been abandoned.
1t was Deputy Reid who carried James
Wilcox, the young lady's admirer and
who left her in tears at her fathers
porch Wednesday night, before Miss Crop
ley's mother. With breaking heart and
a face streaming with tears the mother
pleaded with Wilcox, the last person
known to have seen the girl, to tell of
her whereabouts. No sign of emotion
crept over Wilcox's face and with his
-
had told all he knew.
There are three theories advanced rel
alive to the disappearance of Miss Crop
sey. The first, which few people believe, is
that the fair young woman is a suicide.
The second is that she was murdered and
her body, with weights attached, thrown
in the river. The other that she was
abducted.
The disappearance of the young woman
has attracted attention all over the coun-
try and yesterdays New York papers
contain pictures of the young woman's
sister and cousins. 1t is one of the most
mysterious cases that has been brought
to public attention in North Carolina in
recent years.
Deputy Sheriff Reid, of Elizabeth City,
who is stopping at the Marlborough said
last night:
The search for Miss Cropsey began in
two hours after she disappeared last
Wednesday night at ten minutes after
eleven o'clock and it has continued I'M
ceasingly. The people of Elizabeth City
and adjoining territory have Joined in the
search. The river has been dragged
for miles and stills there is no clue. Every
possible theory has teen worked upon,
but without avail and no more is known
today than the night of the disappear
ance.'
All the facts in the case have never ap-
peared in print and Sheriff Reid narrated
in most interesting manner the story OF
the sensational mystery to News and
Observer representative last night.
Nellie Cropsey an attractive young wo-
man of 49, is the daughter of w. H. Crop
sey, truck farmer, who came to Eliza
beth City from Brooklyn, N. Y, about five
years ago. For several years james Will
cox, young man of 22 years, has been
calling at the Cropsey home and was tho
admirer of the girl who is now lost to the
world. Wilcox is the son of Thos. P.
Wilcox, who was sheriff of Pasquotank
for eleven years prior TO 1895. He worked
in a shipyard and does not possess
very attractive appearance.
Last Wednesday young Wilcox called
at the Cropsey home. 1t was his first
visit for two weeks, having had a quar-
rel with the young lady. He talked with
the family until five minutes after eleven,
when he excused himself. AS he started
out of the door he said Nell, l want to
see you in the hall for a minute" The
young lady got up and went out and that
is the last that has ever been seen of
her. She wore a rubber on one foot that
panied her and was unprepared 20 leave
the house.
An older sister had company in the
sitting room and about 11:20 she told her
friend it was bed time. He replied that
he would wait for Wilcox, but the young
lady insisted that he make the first
break. The elder sister failing to find
Nellie went up stairs, but she was not
there. younger sister suggested that
she was in the parlor with Wilcox This
appeared reasonable and the girl fell
asleep. She was reused by the clock
striking II, and failing to see her sister
in the room, began to make inquiry The
father was notified and the girl could
not be found in the house. Dogs were
barking outside and Mr.. Cropsey got his
gun, but was afraid to shoot lest he
might hit his daughter.
Shortly after one o'clock" SheSff
Reid said Mr.. Cropsey went to the
chief of police, failing to find his daugh-
ter. They went to the Wilcox home and
called for young Wilcox. He was reused
by his parents and informed that the
girl had not been seen since he went
with her in the ball. He said he left
her on the porch AMI with that turned
over and went to sleep. After another
search Chief Dawson returned with Mr..
Cropsey at o'clock and arrested Will
cox
Sunday Sheriff Reid took Wilcox before
; Mrs. Cropsey. az the way" Mr. Reid