The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-15
PACKEDC COURT HANGS
BREATHLESS ON
HIS WORDS
DR.. Fearing Tells the Story
of the Finding of the
Body.
DETAILS OF THE sAU T0PSY
The Cross Examination of DR.. Fear
ing Will be Continued
Today.
DETAILS OF THEsAU TOPSY
DR.. ]. E. WOOD WILL BE CALLED NEXT
The Defense Holds That Eyenif Murder Was
Committed There is no Evidence TO
Connect Wilcox With
The Crime.
Especial to News and Observer.)

tSpeclaI 10 news ana observer
Elizabeth City, N. c., March 14-To-
day n court room packed almost to
suffocation Dr. l. Fearing, the first wit
ness in the Wilcox trial, told in graphic
terms the story of the finding of Miss
Cropseys body and gave minute details
of the autopsy over which he presided.
DR.. Fearing's cross examination was
rot concluded when court adjourned for
the day and will be continued tomor-
row. The next witness to be called is
the county health officer, DR.. ]. E.
Wood.
TRIAL DRAWS LIKE LOADSTONE.
This mornings crowd was repeti-
tion of yesterdays, and it came an
hour before court time. In many in
stances merchants are leaving their
stores, professional men their offices,
mechanics their shops, fishermen their
boats, farmers their fields. all 10 hear
the Wilcox trial. Most of them can't
hear much when they come.
When court opened today a section
dressed women. They had come away
ahead of time. That was the only way
they could have reached the seats re-
served for them.
The jury was in the box early. as a
result of an almost sleepless night they
wore tired and somewhat restless
look. The jury had been kept in the
Mayors office over night and Jury Of
ficer Pritchard said the men had not
slept more than half an hour.
They opened court on time. Seem
ingly court officers here are never late
Because of his kindness in inviting
small boys around him yesterday a con-
siderable bunch OF youngsters had
squatted about the Judges bench long
before be arrived
Owing to the crush of people, some of
whom encr0ached on the space reserved
for lawyers and witnesses, the judge
issued some orders which set things
right The court issued a rule that
nobody else should be allowed in the
court house except witnesses. He said
1T would soon be go crowded lawyers
could not transact their business.
WILCOX CHEWS GUM.
The prisoner was brought into court.
He looked fresh and happy. Wilcox
chewed gum contentediy and watched
the proceedings with ianguid interest.
Judge Jones issued further peremp-
tory orders He said the sheriff must
either collect 81 from persons who per-
sisted in standing OF pa? it himself
Judge Crop6ey remarked that il was
the largest crowd yer.
District Attorney Ward called the roll
of witnesses. Among those present were
Miss Carrie L. Cropsey. of New York.
a cousin of the dead girl and Miss Ollie
Cropsey, Nell's sister. Just before wit
nesses were called Judge Jones ordered
the sheriff to collect 81 each from a
number of standing men. Fe Instructed
the sheriff to send the men to Jail if
they couldn't pay. i
FEARING ON THE STAND.
DR.. I. Fearing was the first witness
He said he was 32 wears old, was born
in Pasquotank county, graduated at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Baltimore, and passed the State Board.
He had been coroner three years. and
had conducted two post mortem exami-
nations. lie held the autopsy over Nell
Cropsey's body December u. Dr. Fear
ing said he knew Miss Cropsey by
sight. He was summoned soon after
the body was found. lie saw :he body
tied to stake fifty yards from the
shore. 1t was towed in, witness holding
the rope, and carried to an clubhouse
on the Cropsey premises. There an
autopsy was held witness neing assist
ed by DR.. Wood County Health Off
Ger, and DR.. McMullan.
The prisoner paid close attention as
Dr. Fearing proceeded
Witness said the body was covered by
q sheet and was taken to The. Clubhouse
by Police Chief Dawson, MIR. .Ferrebee,
Mr.. LeRoy and others. It took five
minutes to do it. The body was in
Dawson's care while the coronec's jury
OF SIX was summoned. 1t was cne hour
between the time the body was taken
out of the water and the autopsyts be