The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-21
SOM inside FACTS
ABOUT wilcox TRIAL
a Juryman Tells Of the Spirit.
That Actuated Them.
NONE WERE FOR AcQuITTAL
The Verdict Was Reached BY Strict
Adherence to Conscientious Duty.
No Change of Sentiment a. Eliza
beth CIty-The CropseYs.
Especial Dispatch to Tho Tines

Special Dispatch to Tho Tines.)
SUFFOLK, VA, May 2O.-Mr. Derrick
son, large manufacturer Of Elizabeth
City, n. c.. who was foreman of the
jury that brought the death verdict
against Jim Wilcox, accused OF murder
ing Nell Cropsey, his sweetheart, was in.
Suffolk to-day, and in response to ques-
tons talked freely about tho celebrated
case. He said In part:
: There were eleven good mon on the
jury. I will not say anything about the
the verdict conscientiously and in &C
cordance with the law and evidence as
we saw it. / hated to be on the jury. and
would have given $500 to be released, for
business needed my attention.
1--WE tried to find verdict without
prejudice and In accordance with our
caths. II I had seen Wilcox kill Nell
Cropsey and the evidence did not prove
the crime. would not have said the
word that meant death.
INTIMIDATION DIDN'T COUNT.
mo, we were not influenced by the
courthouse demonstration. by our pre-
vious impressions, nor by anything else
except the evidence and law. We knew
what the people meant by leaving the
courtroom when Mr.. Aylatt began his
speech. but that d,u not influence lie
jury.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN. LYNCHING.
II am satisfied that II we had brought
a verdict of not guilty Wilcox would have
been lynched that Saturday night, and he
may have died before leaving the court
house 1 saw the people gathering un-
der the shadows. and l knew they meant
to do business if the verdict didn't suit.
II believe if we had said Wilcox was
10 !, fo1t Ito
hanging the jllrymen themselves. The
jurors have received congratulations since
the verdict. which. 7 believe, is satisfac-=
tory. OF course, there are some people
who do not agree with US, but they don't
know the conditions like we did.
FOR CONVICTION ALWAYS.
II don't know how the newspapers got
the way the jury stood, for none Of us
gave it out, that I know of. and Jury
Officer Pritchard didn't know himself,
but their figures We're not far wrong. I
will not tell the exact vote. but I don t
mind saying none was for acquittal at
any time. The only difference was in re-
gard to the degree of murder.
SENTIMENT UNCHANGED.
1.-THE sentiment around Elizabeth City
is about the same it was during the
trial. Wilcox lies quietly in jail, and
we do not hear much about the case
In August whether or not he will have a
new trial.
SHERIFF WILCOX DOESN'T SPEAK
Former Sheriff Wilcox doesn't speak to
me any more. I think a great deal Of
Mr.. Wilcox. and felt friendly toward
him. but since the trial I have seen him
on the streets and looked at him. but
he did not speak. I think there are other
Jurors whom he hasn't spoken to.
Eyes; there are several people inter
ested for whom feel very sorry. The
Cropseys are nice people. Those girls on
the stand were nice girls but yet Nell.
who met her death that cold November
night. was the prettiest of them all. and
she was as pure as Alpine snow. I
have a high regard for Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilcox and their pretty daughters. who
are splendid young ladies, but despite all
that, the jury had a. sworn duty to per-
form and we did our duty as we saw
1t. If they choose to give Jim Wilcox
a. new trial, or turn him loose, even, 1t
is no affair of ours"
Mr. Derickson is prominent citizen
of Elizabeth City, whose words carry
weight with the people.