The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-21
Fire Companies Turn Out When
There is No Fire.
GRAVE DAN NGER FOR PRISONER
Chief Of Police rsars that Unless Wilcox =
convicted lha. he Will Bs Lyaehsd.
Strong Speeches aud Sewers Arraigs-
ment by Prosecution, ihrossb
All Of Which Dsmeaaor Of
the Accused IL kigid.
(speclal pispatch to Th. Times.>

y & : :
Special Dispatch to Tha Times.)
ELIZABETH CITY. N. c., March H..
The local public is against WILCOX One
OF the sensations OF the trial came this
afternoon IN concrete demonstration o8
the feeling which was so pronounced, thas
q Diind man could read It's meaning. When
Lawyer Aydiett, leading defense counsel.
arose to close the case there was caused
much confusion among spectators by
their efforts to vacate the court ROOM
Men ana women arose enmass to quit
the building, and the attorney wu
forced to pause in fls plea Judge JonA
grew stern, and his words caused mani
to halt AS it was. between two nun
dred and three hundred people left th z
building and remained away during til
whoie afternoon. This is not taken q
d dlscourtesV to Mr.. Aydlett, but Us a
index to popular feeling. The programm
had been arranged beforehand, bot
men and ladies having agreed to tn
exodus.
FIRE ALARM
But this is not all. Before Mr.. Ayd
lett had been talking many minutes TIM :
fire alarm was turned in, and that
caused other people to leave, and am
other break in the argument, until quiet.
was restored.
The Changing of engine and hose cart.
bells resounded through the court-room
the vehicles passed and came again.
Though there were reports of actual
fires in several places, Police Chlet
Dawson and othes saw there was no
fire at all. People locally understand
why these things were done.
The report that violence against Will
cox would be attempted in case an ac-,
quittal be rendered is more than an idla
report. Chief Dawson really apprehsnds
such trouble, and he said tonight off,
GERS and soldiers would hardly be able
to resist the onslaught without blood.
shed in case of such contingency. Hs
said when Wilcox's life was ciamoret
for some weeks ago. the mob desjsted
when they pleaded to let courts have
their say, but now il the jury Should
nnd him not guilty, there would be nt
argument to stop them.
TILE TRIAL ABSORBING.
Judge Jones, when asked after court
how long before the jury would have tht
case Couid not say definitely.
He said his charge was not very
long, but if he read all the evidence il
would take all day. He nau not detsr-s
mined whether he would read the entira
record
| tllzabeth Citys interest in the case 10
very strong. One of the bankers says
he notices faIung OFT OF BUSINESS. Inc
wilcox trIal Is absorbing. Dlstiict At
torll.Y ward closed for the state tins
muriiiuS.
When Wilcox was brought into court
his sister, oaule, caresseu MN. In Open
ing AIr. E, ara sad: 1T StateO by
Mr. Bona LnaL WILCOX has been nOunued
down, but IN the name OF the people OF
EaSQuOtank county, l say tnaL IS un-
true. when WILCOX was sAulhInS around
| under The nnger OF suspicion, anu when
a mob sought his HE tne people pro
tecteu hlm. when they couid naso
hanged MIN TO limS ana endso hiS
case rignl there
"A SPLENDID WITNESS.
The attorney sad Onie Cropsey was
! the best witness he had seen on the
stand during his experience.
IN comllt, to the suicide thsorY, Mr.
| Ward spoke of Neil.s joyous spiritS dur
| ing the fatal night, her dancing, Ger
| IouuneSs for music, ana said: IAN you
| tell me that looks like the conduct of a.
| woman VINO contempiateS st1cideI now.
If you have come to the conclusion that
Nell was murdered, who did it? will
| Uut jim Wilcox could have done it? who
| else had the motive. the opporrun.Y2
| who else made a threaL?'
| He compared this case to the Cluverius
| trial at Richmond. saying the c1rcun-'-
| stantial evidence against Wilcox was
| stronger than against Cluverius. but
! that before the latter was hanged has
i mad requested his attorney TO read u
| Bible chapter, Indicating confession.
| Ward grabbed q Bible and read to the
| jury. He walked over to Wilcox and
| shook long accusing finger in his face,
! but the prisoner did not finch
| PLEA FOR CONyICrION.
Mr. Ward said derelicIion on the part
| of juries encouraged mob violence, and
| that the womanhood OF North Carolina
must be protected. He paid tribute to
Nell Cropsey's life. His peroration WA
| & plea for conviction
He asked them to bring finding OF
which it might be said by all good men.
''Yours is a righteous verdict. you DID
! your duty like men,
/ Lawyer Aydlett, in a speech lasting over
] three hours. pleaded for Wilcox's life. I
/ ask you all fairness" he said. Between
i your God and the life of this prisoner,
{ you say tins woman was not
drowned?' He reviewed carefully all tho
evidence, and contended that wilcox did
not kill Nell Cropsey, could not have
killed her. would not have killed her, Il
/ is unreasonable to say So :
I RE warned the jury against making
/ mistake by hanging wilcox. and having
on their hands the blood OF an innocent
man
The impression here is that the Jury
vii! either be hung or find a verdict OF
murder In the second degree. There b
n strong circu,nstantia. case against the
prisoner. Having loved Nell Cropsey
three years, he had a quarrel. made an in-
E direct threat was treated with contempt.
/ appeared morose called her out. was last.
seen with her alive. was Indifferent during
/ AZ days search. and since, and cannot ac-9
count for 25 minutes between II and II
o'clock that night. s gs
Wilcox's rigid demeanor during the.
1 trial IS construed against him. Court
i scenes OF sorrow and pathos have brought
tears to the eyes OF his father. his sfsters.
1 the Cropseys. the spectators. the Judge
and to lawyers on both sides. but threu6n