The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-18
STERN EYES GROW WET
1t is Now Thought Possible That the
State May Rest It's Case
kTuesday.
MISS CARRIE CROPSY TELLS HER STORY
Several Witnesses, Among them Chief of
Police Dawson Follow. Conver-
sation About Suicide Held
at the Cropsey Home.
at the Cropsey Home.
Especial to News and Observer)

Especial to News and Observer
Elizabeth City, N c., March 17.-Miss
Ollie Cropsey's story of her sisters dis
appearance has been the feature Of the
Wilcox case. Graphically, dramatically,
beautifully, picturesque she gave sor-
rowful recital of the events leading up to
the tragedy. Amid a vault-like silence
the great crowd hung breathless on her
words. Ollie is tall ana graceful girl
twenty one years old, with soulful, sor-
rcwful blue eyes, a mouth that express
a face of classical contour, fair-h
and flushed. Her rainent of black EN-
phasied her beauty. When during Der
story she raised the veil and exposed
her sweet features. the spectators lean
ed forward with involuntary sigh of re-
lief and remained well night spellbCund
to the end The jury itself was visib!y
impressed.
The climax of it all came when Ollie.
after bravely bearing up for half an
hour, broke down and sobbed like
child The auditors, sad faced and sym
pathetic, drank in the strong feeling
which stirred this young woman's breast
and remained immovable but for neaving
bosoms and wet eyelids. Some of the
counsel wept. One lawyer told me after
wards he could not help it. Judge Jones.
tender and chivalrous, though stern. was
Visibly affected. He looked down at his
desk and tears swelled into his eyes.
without any order for cessation of pro-
ceedings everybody assumed almost the
stillnes of death through respect for the
passion that swayed Ollie Cropsey's
bosom. A commonplace remark would
have seemed sacreligious in the face of
such a scene. 1t was scene which
comes only once in most peoples lives.
The eloquence of Clay, Webster or Cal
houn, or the efforts of an emotional star
at a stage climax could not have pro-
duced the effect made by the words and
demeanor of this beautiful girl unused
to the air of court rooms.
Business was resumed after awhile,
and though time and again the lady was
almost overcome. she bore uD with for
titude and told her tale to its conclus-
ion.
1t is possible the State will determine
how many more of their witnesses will
be needed Some of those uncalled will
simply be corroborative.
Defense Lawyer Bond asked tonight
whether Wilcox would go On the stand,
he said that wouI dnot be decided def
niteiy until the State had closed Up to
now. he said, they have shown what was
necessary by States witnesses, and have
proven practically all that Wilcox could
say.
There is perhaps as much interest N
the case in Elizabeth City as at any time
since Nell disappeared Lawyer Bond
helped to defend James uncle. James S.
Wilcox, who was acquitted on the second
trial for killing man. 1t is said there
is now one juror who sat on the same
case. The business already gone through
in the Wilcox trial would require more
than twice the time III some States.
Though there are frequent objections.
very little time is taken in their argu-
ment. Judge Jones is an excellent judge
of law and strikes me as beins absolute
ly fair.
The court house was comfortably filled
when court convened at $3.50 o'clock this
morning The jury had lived pleasantly
said some of the jurors were getting very
tired
Miss Carrie Cropsey. of New York. and
three sisters of Miss Nellie Cropsey, sax
directly behind the lawyers for the prose-
cution. The sisters. all in the deepest
mourning. are refined, pleasant looking
girls. and their raiment of sorrow gave
them ua sad spirituelle appearance. One
of them looks very much like her dead
sister
Lawyer A. G. Cropsey, of New York,
sat by his daughter.
The prisoner was brought in early. He
had been freshly shaved and his hair,
parted III the middle, was brushed down
very sleek. Jim's sisters sat only a few
feet away, and his father was by his
side.
1t was announced by Mr. AydIett that
Stenographer Davis, the second to ap-
pear in the case, could not proceed furth-
er Judge Jones had heard of a lad