Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-03-28
MURDER IN THE
FIRST DEGREE
James Wilcox to Hang
For Murder of Nell
CropSeY.

EllZaDeJn ClJy n. 4. March 2Z.-"Guil-
ty of murder in the first degree" was
the verdict returned against james
Wilcox here at 1920 o'clock to-night by
the jury that tried him for the murder
or Nell Cropsey. The trial had been i'm
progress a week and the jury out for
over thirty hours. Wilcox stood up
and heard his doom fearlessly. His
nerve OF steel did not forsake him.
The verdict followed strain on the
people that had reached the swapping
point People fingered on the street all
day, missed their meals, made their
wives mad, excited their neighbors. said
bad words expressed displeasnre at
delay all because Of the Wilcox case.
All day and night the natives have
have waited on the jurys words-not
patiently but anxiuosly, almost breath
lessly. They could not see why it took
them so long On the streets, in the
stores, around the Offices, in hotels
Hobbies nothing was
talked of, nothing was thought OF but
the jury's verdict, and way some folks
discussed it would chill the blood.
ASKED FRESH INSTRUCTIONS.
About o'clock the jury went back
TO the court house to ask futher in
structions from the Judge 1t had been
said before the jury would have Judge
Jones come down to their hotel and ex.
plain some things, and was no surprise
when they filed back into the court
room and sought enlightenment. One
OF them asked the Court TO say some
thing about first and second degree
murder. The building soon filed.
Judge Jones wont over the instructions
and rules already given and printed.
He explained the different murder de-
grees and told them if there was doubt
it was their duty to give TO the prls-
oner.
Judge Jones cautioned the jury again
about eliminating foreign impression or
any thing heard or seen beyond the wit
nesses.
PASSION MUST NOT FIGURE
He said ifther verdict was influenced
by passion, prejudice, or any public
sentiment shown during the trial, they
would do violence TO their oaths. they
would perjure themselves. He told
the jury TO come back AS often AS they
liked-it.was their duty-and have ex-
planned any point not fully understood
The judge repeated that before they
could find Wilcox guilty they must de-
eide that his conduct was not only CON
sistent with guilty, but Inconsistent with
innocence Some people thought when
the jury went in they had come to a
conclusion and there was excitement
for while. Wilcox was brought into
court. He sat in a section heretofore
used by porters, and watched with Ian,
guild interest. There was no emotation
no sign of feeling or fear.
DEATH RATHER THAN LIFE SENTENCE.
1t is understood Jim said to-day h,
would rather be hanged than go 10 the
State prison for long time. There i.
IA rumor that Jim had dream anC
said words that showed his feeling, A
negro jail inmate is reported to hav,
heard him.
Wilcox uttered portest against PEG,
pie following him between the jail anC
courthouse. He was carried to anC
from without handouts.
Lettie Cropsey was driving this after
noon. Questioned, she discussed tht
case feelingly, and said Nell had ceased
to love Jim. She looked for verde
OF conviction.