The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14
TELL OF THEIR EFFORTS
Charge That Town Officers Handicap
ped Them in Search.
Chief Dawson and tie Mayor Are Charged
Wi h Refusing to Co. opo With The
Committee. How the Com
mittee Worked.


The Citizens Committee Of Elizabeth
City has given out a signed statement
il when they take. occasion to severely
rebuke and reprimand tho mayor ana
chief of police.
The committee asserts that the mayor
and Chief of Police Dawson have posi-
lively refused to cooperate with them
and have not lone one single
thing to assist the members, "but have
at all times seriously handicapped our
efforts by their action and manner OF
treatment"
again the committee asserts:
w could have accomplished better
results and have saved much time and
labor had the chief Of police and mayor
recognized that they were public Off
GERS"
The statement OF the committee is
as follows:
"At a public meeting held in the Acad-
envy OF Music on Sunday afternoon, De-
cember 1st, 1901, we were appointed a
committee for the purpose Of investigat-
ing the disappearance of Miss Ella NJ.
- - NIlt otIS1 vi IEldl IIlttI-
ing that no effort should be spared in
clearing up this dark and awful tragedy,
which had in a very large measure par
alyzed business. and was the sole subject
OF conversation upon our streets. We
realized the fact that we were appointed
by the people; that in this matter We
were their servants and Should do all in
our power to discharge the duties i'm
posed upon us. Immediately after our
appointment we met in the office OF RoS-
coe W. Turner and there elected Mr.. II.
T. Greenleaf as chairman of the commit
tee, and Mr.. Turner as secretary and
treasurer. Recognizing the fact that in
this matter all agencies should work to-
gether for the accomplishment Of the end
in view, we Immediately proposed that we
shOuld communicate with Mi. Dawson,
the chief Of police, and secure the benefit
Of his services and ability. Mr.. Dawson
was waited on by several members Of the
committee at different times and invited
and urged to cooperate with us. He
positively refused to do so, and from the
date of our appointment until this hour
he has nOt-neither has the MAYOR of
this >ity-dOne one single thing to assist
Us. but rave at all times seriously handi-
capped our efforts by their actions and
manner of treatment.
For this reason we were badly thwartef
in orr efforts ct the very outset. Not
Wi~thstanding these things we pressed
steadily onward, and in twenty-four hours
had secured sufficient evidence to hold a
IOrts came to us that a party seen at
the March term OF the Superior court.
Alnost each ana every day there would
ONE to Us rumors of the young lady be-
ing seen at this place and that, and while
we were dubious of results, still we rec
cgnlzed the fact that it was our duty to
investigate these. things, Which we did.
ron information that q party was seen
at Rocky Mount bearing a description to
Miss Crrpsey. We@caused the matter to be
investigated and found that there was
absolutely nothing tangible in it. Re
parts came to us that a party seen at
Wilson was undoubtedly Miss Cropsev.
We wired to the chief Of police TO hold
the party s~uspecte6 until VIC could arrive
and Identify her After we had sent this
telegram and made preparations TO 20
MI. Dawson, as chief" of police, wired to
turn them loose; which was done. We
sent 2 party to Rocky Mount. however,
aud found that. the young lazy lived at
Nash county andswas a Mrs. Williams, So
We exploded that theory.
We have at ;a1l times appreciated any
suggestion that might be offered, and
have striveE as ,9aIn IS practicable to act
upon tho same;
Upon advice :of Several parties one u
our number visited a detective and laid
the case beforesf Fin. After that time we
had correspondence with him and as 2
result OF that conference the meeting was
held at the COURT house for the purpose
OF raising sl3Ort0 give him for prosecuting
tins search. Amcmber of the committee
Went 10 Norfolk tnd raid MIN at one time
$lzo and q feA"d lays later he again visited
Norfolk ana paid him the remaining s25.
It is needless ito, say that the clue upon
which he was working failed TO produt
lesults.
We append an itemizcd account Of mon
9 received and disbursed. The people
save this and have a tight to see 10 vha:
Us" It Us placed. The criticism that has
been placed upon us by certain parties
ana iha articles published II the news
papers arc but faint lectures OF what Ne
nave had to experience. We could haye
accomplished better results and have
saved much time and labor had the chief
Of rolice aud the mayer recognized nat
they we're public officers, paid as public
servants and discharged their iuty IN &C
c~ordance vitha those facts.
We feel that our duty IS now eDGcd-
the body has been found. Tho conlr4.ittec
appointed by you have had the boz :
placed away Mr.. Cropaey requested YOUR
committee to take charge of matters in
connection With the funeral of his d2uy1-
ter, which We did. We have lone all that
We can do. We feel that We have dis
charged or duty. AS best nc can we
Fave done what YOU would lave Us do.
re body Of Miss Cropsey has boon found.
the conviction OF tho party or parties
WHO murdered her We leave to the proper
hands.
when we contemplate the happiness
aud the joy that VIC have brought into