The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-18
DETAILS OF THE AU !OPSY
The Cross Examination of DR.. Fear
ing Will be Continued
Today.
DR.. j.. {. WOOD WILL BE CALLED ktx'
T Defense Holds That Even if Murder Was
Committed There is no Evidence 10
Connect Wick With
the Crima.
Special to News and Observer

Special to News and Observer
Elizabeth City, n. c., March Ito
day n a court room packed almost to
suffocatien DR.. l. Fearing, the first wit
ness in the Wilcox trial, told in graphic
terms the story of the finding OF MISS
Cropsey's body and gave minute details
nf the autopsy over which he presided.
DR.. Fearing's cross-examination was
rot concluded when court adjourned for
the day and Will be continued tomor-
row. The next witness to be called IS
the county health officer, DR.. J. H.
Wood.
TRIAL DRAWS LIKE LOADSTONE.
This mornings Grove was d repetl-
tion of yesterdays, and it came an
hour before court time, In many in
stances merchants are leaving their
stores. professional men their offices,
mechanics their shops, fishermen their
boats. farmers their fields, all to hear
the Wilcox triad. Most of them can't
hear much when they come
When court opened today a section
within the rail was filled with we'll
dressed women. They had come away
ahead of time. That was the only way
they could have reached the seats re-
served for them.
The jury was in the boX early. AS a
result of an almost sleepless night they
wore a tired and somewhat restless
look. The jury had been kept in the
Mayors office over night, and Jury Of
ficcr Pritchard said the men had not
slept more than half an hour.
They opened court on time. Seem
ingly court officers here are never late.
Because of his kindness in inviting
small boys around him yesterday a con-
siderable bunch Of youngsters had
squatted about the judges bench long
before he arrived.
Owing to the crush of people, some of
whom encroached on the space reserved
for LAWYERS and witnesses. the judge
issued some orders which set things
light. The court issued a 1ule tEat
nobody else should he allowed in the
court house except witnesses. He said
it woGld soon De so rowded lawyers
could not transact their business,
WILCOX CHEWS GUM.
The prisoner was brought into court.
L Cht Ib-Sh II hoppJ"
chewed gum economically ard watched
the proceedings with ianguid interest.
Judge Jones issued further peremp-
tory orders. He said the sheriff must
either collect 81 from persons who per
sisted in standing or pa% it HIMSELF.
Judge Cropsey remarked ttat il was
the largest crowd YET.
District Attorney Ward called the roll
of witnesses. Among those present We're
Miss Carrie l.. Cropsey, of New York,
a cousin of the dead girl, and Miss Ollie
CrOpsey, NeIls sister. Just before wit
nesses were called Judge Jones ordered
the sheriff to collect 81 each from a
number of standing men. Ee instructed
the sheriff to send the men to Jail if
they couldn't pay.
FEARING ON THE STAND.
Dr.. I. Fearing was the first witness.
He said he was 50 wears old, was born
in P~asquOtank county, graduated at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Baltimore, and passed the State Board.
He had been coroner three years, and
had conducted two post mortem exani-
nations. He held the autopsy over Nell
Cropsey's body December -. DR.. Fear
ing said he knew Miss Cropsey by
sight. He was summoned soon after
the body was found. He saw The BODY
tied to a stake fifty yards from the
shore. 1t was tOwed in, witness holding
the rope, and carried to an clubhouse
on the Cropsey premises. There an
autopsy was held, witness heing assist
ed by DIR. Wood. County Health Off
Ger, and DR.. Mcmillan.
The prisoner paid close attention as
Or. Fearing proceeded.
Witness said the body was covered by
. sheet and was taken to the Clubhouse
by Police Chief Dawson. Mr.. Ferrebee,
Mr.. Leroy and others. 1t took five
minutes to DO il. The BODY was in
baWson'S care while the coroner's Jury
at six was summoned. It was che hour
between tie time the body was taken
cut of the water and the autopsy's re
ginning. The body was laid on q table.
me fret towards the door. The cloth
ing was not removed at first. L was
tIoi'ed in a dark skirt, red waist. belt.
slo'FlnSs aud a slipper on The right foot.
mere was no head covering.
HE witness continued, saying that
later all c~lcthing was removed except
me stockings. They were black. Wit
MSS SAID the arms and limbs We're limp.
Tue myers contracted. There was
"o'hihGs in the hands. He did not ex-
'h1'he the nails. Examination re-
'ttied that the girl was a virgin. The
ma was normal and contained from
one 10 two ~tablespoonfuls of a dark