The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-10
Citizens Committee of Eliza
beth City Speak Out.
TELL OF THEIR EFFORTS
Charge That Town Officers Handicap
ped Them in Search.
COMMITTEE IUsTlfIEs ITS ACTION
Chief Dawson and the Mayor Ere Charged
Wi h Refusing 10 Co operate With The
COMMITTEES. How the Com.
mittee Worked.

mittee Worked.
The Citizens Committee of Elizabeth
City has given out a signed statement
in which they take occasion to severely
chief of police.
The committee asserts that the mayor
and Chief Of Police Dawson have posi-
lively refused to cooperate with them
and have no. done one single
thing to assist the members, but have
at all times seriously handicapped our
efforts by their action and manner of
treatment"
Again the committee asserts:
We could have accomplished better
results and have saved much time and
labor had the chief of police and mayor
recognized that they were public Off
GERS
The statement of the committee is
as follows:
At public meeting held in the Acad-
envy OF Music on Sunday afternoon, De-
cembcr 1st, 1901, we were appointed
committee for the purpose of investigat-
ing the disappearance of Miss Ella NJ
Cropsey. 1t was the sense of that meet
ing that no effort should be spared in
clearing up this dark and awful tragedy,
which had in very large measure par
alyzed business, and was the sole subject
or conversation upon our streets We
realized the fact that we were appointed
by the people; that in this matter we
were their servants and should do all in
our power to discharge the duties i'm
posed upon us. Immediately after our
appointment we met in the office of Ros-
coe w. Turner and there elected Mr. II
L. Greenleaf as chairman of the commit
tee, and Mr.. Turner as secretary and
treasurer. Recognizing the fact that in
this matter all agencies should work to-
gether for the accomplishment Of the end
in view. we Immediately proposed that we
should communicate with Mr.. Dawso.l
the chief of police, and secure the benefit
Of his services and ability. Mr.. Dawson
was waited on by several members of the
committee at different times and invited
end urged to cooperate with US. He
positively refused TO do so, and from the
date OF our appointment until his hour
he has not-neither has the mayor of
this city-done one single thing to assist
Us, but have at all times seriously handi-
capped our efforts by their actions and
manner of treatment
For this reason we were badly thwarted
in our efforts al the very outset. Not
understanding these things we pressed
steadily onward, and in twenty -four hours
had secured sufficient evidence to hold
orts came to os that party seen at
the March term OF the Superior court
Almost each ami every day there would
come to us rum0rs of the young lady be-
ing seen at this place and that and while
we were dubious of results, still we rec
ognized the fact that it was our duty to
investigate these things, which We did
Upon information that party was seen
at Rocky Mount bearing description to
Miss Crrpsey, we caused the matter to be
investigated and found that there was,
absolutely nothing tangible in it. Re-
parts came to us that party seen at
Wilson was undoubtedly Miss Cropsey.
We wired TO the chief of police to hold
the party suspected until VIC could arrive
and identify her. After we had sent this
telegram and made preparations to go
Mr. Dawson, as chief of police, wired to
turn them loose, which was done. We
sent party to Rocky Mount, however,
and found that the young lady lived at
Nash county and was Mrs. Williams, so
we exploded that theory
We have at all times appreciated any
suggestion that might be offered, and
have striven as far IS practicable to act
upon the same.
Upon advice of several parties one of
our number visited a detective and laid
the case before him. After that time we
had correspondence with him and as
result of that conference the meeting was
held at the court house for the purpose
of raising $3.50 to give him for prosecuting
this search. A member of the committee
went to Norfolk and paid him at one time
S125 and few days later he again visited
Norfolk and paid him the remaining $25
Ii is needless to say that the clue upon
which he was working failed to produ 4,
results.
We append an itemized account of mon>
ey received and disbursed The people
gave this and have a right to see to what
use it was placed. The criticism that has
been placed upon us by certain parties
and tho articles published in the news
papers are but faint PICTURES OF what we
have had to experience. We could have
accomplished better results and have
saved much time and labor had the chief
of police and the mayor recognized that
they were public officers, paid as public
servants and discharged their duty in ac-
cordance with those facts.
We feel that our duty is now ended
the body has been found. The committee
appointed by you have had the body
placed away. Mr.. Cropsey request ID your
committee to take charge of matters in
connection with the funeral of his daugh-
ter, which we did. We have done all that