The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-10
ELIZABETH CITY JURY
PROBING GROPSBY Case
Charges Against Wilcox to Be
Investigated.
WORK BEGUN THIS MORNING
Rumor Declares There Has Been Found
a Witness Who VIII Say He Saw Viii
cox Carrying Unconscious Figure of
Girl IN His Arms Toward the River.

ELIZABETH CITY. y. c.. March 10
The grand jury here today took up the
case Of James E. Wilcox, charged with
numbering Ella Maud Cropsey.
II is reported that George A Ward.
/ prosecuting attorney Of Pasquotank coun-
/ ty, has discovered a highly important
I witness negro named Thompson.
Thompson. it is said. is prepared TO
swear that on the night of the girls dis
appearance, as he was passing the Crop
sey house, he saw Wilcox cross the road
just in front Of him. carrying the appar-
emily semi conscious form of a young
woman toward the river Il is declared
20 have been fear that prevented Thomp-
son from making an enquiry at the tine
and redoubled fear that stopped the negro
from telling what he had seen while the
search was in progress. Wilcox has
reputation for fighting. and as ut that
time he was not locked up thompson
feared for his safety.
Case a Deep Mystery.
For more than two years prior to No
vember 20 last, the night Of her disap-
pearance, James Wilcox had paid marked
attention 70 Ella Maud Cropscy. That
night Wilcox. with Ella, her sister Olive
and Leroy Crawford. spent the evening
until II O'Clock in the Darlor Of the
CTopsey home. At the hour handle VII
cox invited Ella to accompany him to the
door Crawford and Miss olive chafted
for half an hour longer. and Crawford
left the house.
MISS Olive, thinking her sister had re-
.i-ed. went TO her room. but as Ella did
not appear within a reasonable time sbc
grew apprehensive- At midnight tbe
barking Of a dog on the lawn attracted
ger attention and also that OF her
oI 'lhef. VINO, fearing robbers were about.
looH gun and went out Of the louise.
Miss Olive called to- her brother not
10 IRE, as she believed Ella was on The
lawn with Wilcox and he might shoot
lhem- Neither Wilcox nor Ella was seen.
and this caused the beginning Of an in
vestiEatiOn-
The entire Cropsey household was
aroused and an unsuccessful search OF
the premises ensued II was al first
l IN mat the missing girl had eloD-
ed with Wilcox. whose early appear
ance put an end to that theor-.
WilcOx's Suspicious Behavior.
Wilcox was apparently the least con-
cerned man in town in regard TO the girls
disappearance. His demeanor was con
sidered such as to rouse suspicion. A
mass meeting was held in the town hall
at which funds were raised to prosecute
the search. and rewards were offered for
the recovery Of the girls body or infor-
nation leading TO he whereabouts. Divers
were employed and an unsuccessful
search Of the river bottom was made
Meanwhile Wilcox was kept under
strict surveillance. Bloodhounds tracked
the missing girl to the end Of small
pier. directly in front OF the Cropsev resi-
dence, and this led to the belief that Ella
had either committed suicide or had
been murdered by drowning.
The drowning theory proved 20 be chr
rect Tor on the morning OF December y
Just thlrty-seven days from the time Of
her disappearance, the body Of Miss CroD-
sey was found by e fisherman. floating
race downward in the river only a short
distance from the pier 10 which the dogs
had traced her
Intense excitement followed the discov-
cry OF the body But there was one man
VINO outwardly, was unmOved and that !
man was Wilcox. Public sentiment
against him was at fever heat So great
was the feeling that after his arrest the
OF removing him to Norfolk
70 prevent lynching was seriously con
sidered- But wise counsel prevailed. and |
Wilcox was allowed to remain ia Jail
where he awaits stOicaIly the result Of /
Z he trial