The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16
DOCTOR WOOD TESTIFIES
Stunned by Blow and Thrown Into
the Water.
HIS REPLY WHEN HIS OPINION IS ASKED
No Photograph Found on the Body. Wilcox
Claimed That on the Night Of NeIPs
Disappearance He Returned
Her Picture.
Especial to News and Observer. }
(By the Associated PreSs.)


Elizabeth City, N. c., March Is
Coroner Fearing today continued his
testimony in the case of James Wilcox,
charged with the murder of Miss Ella
Cropsey. He expressed the opinion that
the blow on the head caused conclusion
of the brain and death.
DR.. ]. E. Wood Miss Cropsey's physi-
clan, was the next witness. He told of
the autopsy and said no photographs or
token of friendship was found. Wilcox
claimed that he returned Miss Cropsey's
picture on the night of her disappearance
The crowd showed a slight falling of
when court opened this morning, but it
continued to swell as the day advanced
The jury had secured quarters at the
Rivervicw Hotel and Officer Pritchard
said they slept more than on Thursday
night.
There was a slight delay before bust
ness was begun. The court announced
that the stenographer had given out
Mr.. Aydlett said he wanted the evidence
taken down Lawyer Turner for the
prosecution, said Stenographer Spence
had no assurance of pay and he did not
blame him. Judge Jones said, if@neces-
Sary, he would take down the evidence
but that would take longer. The court
announced that the trial would take
twice as long without a stenographer,
and it would be economy to hire one.
Mr.. Aydlett declared that if Mr.. Spence
would serve he would guarantee him the
pay. Mr.. Spence answered that he did
not care to undertake the job, the strain
was so great he could not stand it. He
agreed to serve temporarily. Mr.. Davis.
another stenographer, came he took the
questions and Mr.. Spence the answers.
DR.. FEARING CALLED.
DR.. Fearing was called, and his cross
examination was resumed by Mr. Aydlett
He began with technical questions about
lung fibre and the like, his object being
to show, if he could, that Miss Cropsey's
death may have been caused by drown
ing. During the cross examination Mr.
Sawyer arose and said questions were
being repeated too much, the trial was
costing a lot of money, and the repeti-
tion by Mr.. Aydlett was getting intol-
cradle. Mr.. Aydlett replied that the re-
mark was uncalled for, and would not
have been made by anybody else. The
question of bruises on drowned persons
was gone into. Witness said all bruises
were made during life, for there could
be no blood clots after circulation ceased
Touching the confusion on the head
DR.. Fearing made a stronger statement
for the State than he did yesterday, oy
saying, with assurance, that the cor
fusion was forceful enough to produce n
pOnpnSSinn hot
may be external or internal.
Mr.. Aydlett completed the cross ex-
animation at 11:15 o'clock, and Mr.
Ward began the redirect examination
The witness, in response to a question,
gave the order in which human organs
decay, naming the brain of adults as the
seventh He said the brain of Miss
Cropsey was in a defluent condition, and
it was the only organ decomposed. He
said the brain had been disorganized as
the result of a blow.
Witness said the formation of gases
caused bodies to rise. and the time re-
quired depended on the medium and the
weather.
The witness accounted for the body's
excellent state of preservation by giving
MS OPihlOh IIictb INC juniper III dSQuO-
tank River had preservative qualities
He had not found any token or picture
in the examination of the body and
clothes The prisoner has claimed all
along that he returned Nells picture on
the night of her disappearance. A con-
clusion of Mr. Wards examination OF
the witness came when he asked him
in his opinion, what caused Miss Crop
seys death. The defense objected
strenuously. The court asked the wit
ness if he had an opinion satisfactory
to himself, and was told that he had
The question was finally withdrawn by
the prosecution.
Mr.. Aydlett took the witness again and
asked him long questions out of medi-
cal book. reading from the authority,
and asking the witness whether the
statements were true. Having been en-
the stand a day and a half the witness
was ordered aside at 1915 o'clock.
DR. j. E. WOOD TESTIFIES.
Then Dr. j. E. Wood, a man of strik-
ing appearance, large, physique and
strong face was called. Witness said
he was So years old, graduated from the
Washington University, Baltimore, now
the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
and had been practicing medicine about