The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-20
THE COURT ROOM PACKED
Sawyer and Bond and Leary Make
Strong and Eloquent
Speeches.
wlLcox's IRON NERVE YET THE FEATURE
No, Even When Sawyer Points to Him and With
Burst Of eIcquence Declares Him
The Assassin Does Wilcox
Betray Emotion.
Betray Emotion.
Especial to News and observer.)

(SDeclal 10 News ana ODSefVer.J
Elizabeth City, n. c., March 19.-Great
waves of oratory swept over the audience
at the Wilcox trial today. Five lawyers
have now made their pleas. The leading
attorney on each side. Mr.. Ward and
Mr.. Aydlett, will tomorrow come in the
order named and then after a compre-
hensive charge by the judge the jury will
retire to consider Wilcoxs fate.
The crush this afternoon was the
densest yet. 1t would take half an hour
to get out of the building. Boxes and
stools to be used for seats brought good
prices, and sometimes the purchasers had
to give them up. Judge Jones ordered the
sheriff to collect two dollars apiece from
some men who didn't move when order
ed, and then he threatened to make it
SO, but learned that the men could not
get away There were about 800 men and
women in the room.
Another record breaking crowd was
present this morning when court con-
vened. There were many ladies.
The feature of the morning session was
the masterful address for the prosecu-
viewed the whole evidence carefully and
by argument that was logical and elo-
quent, pleaded that Wilcox was guilty
Of murder in the first degree. and he
asked the jury to say so. He spoke two
and three quarter hours.
LEARY' ARGUMENT CONTINUED.
Former District Attorney Leary re-
0f acfn coi,1 ho
strongest thing against Wilcox was that
he was the last seen with Miss Crop
sey, but that was not enough. 1t was
presumed that Wilcox wore a cloak o.
innoC Cence which requires strong evidence
to remove
The speaker said everything pointed
to suicide, that suicide had been dis
cussed that very evening at the Cropsey
home, and that no testimony given by
the doctors disproved the suicide theory-
He said the prosecution had tlied to
prejudice the case. but if the jury would
try Wilcox according to the evidence and
free from passion there could be brought
nothing but . verdict of acquittal.
Mr.. Leary declared the prosecution
was hard pressed, that Mr.. Turner, the
previous speaker had told the jury the
defense wanted them to turn Wilcox
-lcose and to send Nell Cropsey 10 q
Watery grave and to a suicides hell. He
spurned the statement, and said it should
be beneath counsel to make such decla-
rations.
He reviewed much of the evidence
ard began reciting celebrated cases
where persons were convicted on cir
argument was objected to. By consent
the doors were thrown open for both
sides and the speaker continued his mar
rative. Mr.. Leary spoke all told, nearly
two and half hours.
HAYWOOD SAWYER SPEAKS.
Mr.. Haywood Sawyer for the prosecu-
tion followed. He said he would not seek
to convict an innocent man, nor would
the State of North Carolina which he
represented in part, stain her fair es-
cutchecn with the blood of a blaneless
citizen.
He sal dthe State was satisfied that
He said the State was satisfied that
Wilcox did it. The girls and woman
hood of North Carolina must be pro-
tected. The prosecution would ask for
a NeTulCI OI ElllEueF III lHS IFSI ueSFSe.
Mr.. Sawyer is a man of giant-like
physique and strong clear voice, which
he used to good advantage.
Referring to the introduction of medi-
cal terms into the evidence, he said hu-
morously: Brother Aydlett wouldn't
know eXmosis or endosmosis if he met
them in the road. and if he met them to-
gether he couldn't til them apart
He reviewed the evidence which he
said proved conclusively Nell Cropsey
was rot drowned.
He reasoned that the suicide theory
was Incompatible with her happy, buoy
ant spirits. He said Nell was a timid
%lrl, and the rest of them had better be
tim1d Il they have around them such
company as Jim Wilcox or somebody
would be fishing one of them out of Pas
quotank River. After reviewing other
evidence, Mr.. Sawyer said:
Now | have shown you that Nell was
cot drowned; l have shown you that she