The news & observer., 1902-01-01
IT IS BELIEVED THAT
WILCOX HAD AN
AcCOMPllcE
This Theory Rapidly Gaining
Ground at Elizabeth
City
-
FACTS THAT SUPPORT IT
Your Daughter viii Appear in Front
of Your House To-
Morrow.
so SAID A LETTER TO MRS. CR0pSEY
Andrew J. cropsey Declares That One of the
Physicians Stated That Nell When
Found Had Not Been Dead
Over Three DAYS.
Especial to News and Observer.)


Elizabeth City N. c.. Dec. 81 have
just been informed by Solicitor G. w.
Ward that at Wilcox's own request the
preliminary trial viii not take blace this
week, He j,1fow hefd m 'eustody ~ps rec
spglanendation of the coroner's jury end at
his own request pending the presentation
by the grand jury. The trial takes place
at the March term of court.
The feeling that he is guilty is still
strong. But the theory that there are
two men implicated is rapidly gaining
ground A detective, sent by the New
York Journal, has been here working up
the case and from yesterdays Journal
it is seen that he holds 10 the two-man
theoYy. There are many things that
lead one to believe that he is correct
On the fatal night Wilcox called at the
Cropscy home but did not speak to Miss
Nellie, talking however to other members
of the family. He kept continually pull
ing out his watch in a nervous way, say
ing that he promised his mother to be
home at IL O'Clock. At 11:15 he rose
abruptly and went out. After getting into
the hall he re-opened the door and said:
Miss Nellie l would like to speak to
you a minute
Nell went out, as has been related,
just as she was, with a slipper on one
foot. That was the last ever seen of the
fated girl until the river gave up it's
dead.
Now the theory is that the cause of his
continually looking at his watch and the
nervousness shown was that he was to
meet some one outside at the appointed
time. Then there is the evidence of Mir.
C.. Parker that Wilcox and another man
were seen talking at the gate at an early
hour in the night. Also there is the evil
dence of Captain Owens and his mate on
board the barge OF skiff with two people
in it crossing the river shortly after
eleven and gliding along under the
shadows of the bank.
Again there is the evidence Of the blood
hounds that Miss Nellie was carried from
the gate to the summer house. Wilcox
is a small man and Miss Nellie weighed
over 130 pounds.
Every time the dragging of the river
would begin near where the girl is now
supposed to have been sunk there would
come reports that she was in this place
or in that, now supposed to be usually
the work of skilled accomplice. The
boat which must have been used to trans
port the girl to the middle Of the river
was moved some distance down and it
needed help to bring it. up and replace it
so that the work could be speedily done
for Wilcox TO get on his journey in good
time.
1t is also thought that he body was
anchored down but cut loose the night
before it was discovered. A reputable
gentleman showed me this evening the
copy of an anonymous letter received by
Mrs Crorsey on the night before Nell's
body arose which said: "Your daughter
will appear in front of your house to-
morrow" An electrician had arrived with
an apparatus for searching the bottom of
the river and it is believed that the
guilty parties cut the body aloose at
this juncture to uphold the suicide the
ory,
Why they should write the letter no
one can imagine unless it was to make
them look for the body on the surface
rather than search the bottom. The
proper authorities are in possession Of
other facts that can not now be given
to the public, it is understood Some sen
sations are likely to be sprung before this
affair is over with. However, it is not
believed that Wilcox will have anything
to say tomorrow The New York World
has had a man here for some days, but
he will leave tomorrow.
H. A. CHAPPELI.