The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-01-01
MISS CkUPStY BURIED.
Body Was Found Floating
In the River.

Coroner jury Reported That She Had
Been Murdered aud Ordered Young
Wilcox Held-The Remains Were Taken
TO Brooklyn, y. Y. For Burial by Her
Uncle On sunday.
ELIZABETH CITY, \. c., Dee 2S.
live weeks Of mystery and speculation
Is tU the fate of Miss Nellie CrOpsey
Terminated yesterday when the body Of
the missing girl was found floating in
the river opposite her fathers home. The
body was discovered by J. ID. Stillman, a
fisherman. All the wearing apparel was
intact with the exception of the rubbers
which the girl wore on the night of her
disappearance. With the exception Of
some slight disColOratiOn of the face, tine
body was iI a state of good preserva-
lion, and but little decompoSed. 1t was
| easily Unidentified as that of Nell Crop
sey. The spot where the body was found
had been dragged a number Of times
since her disappearance, but with no re-
suit
Coroner Fearing summoned a jury Of
prominent men and called in three Of the
] Il
| thorough and exhaustive autopsy to learu
if there were any signs Of violence on
the body.
The report by the physicians who per-
formed the autopsy on Miss Cropsey,
was made public 1t says:
The garments showed no marks of viO-
.ence The face and head were swollen
and soddened. There were no external
marks of violence on her body or face.
There was a diScOlOration of a pinkish
tingc on the front of head and face with
a slight blush discoloration over the
back of the neck and Ociput.
An examination Of the internal organs
showed she was a pure girl.
The appearance of the stomach and
| other abdominal organs We're normal.
The lungs were collapsed and free from
water. The heart was normal.
Upon the section of the scalp around
the head, one inch above the brow, there
was found a dark discOlOratiOn of the
muscular substance.
The bone beneath this confusion was
1iscolurcd slightly blue. There was no
other abnormality in any part Of the
scalp, which was completely disscctcl.
\ thorough examination Of the brain
showed no evidence of violence.
The verdict of the corOnerS jury was
as follows:
I'VE hereby report that from the in-
vestigation made 10y three physicians aud
from their opinion and also from our per-
sonal observation that Ella NJ. Cropsey
came to her death by being stricken
blow on the left temple and by being
drowned in the paSquOtank river. We
have not yet investigated nor heard any
testimony touching rs to who inflicted
the blow and did the drowning. We
are Informed that one james Wilcox is
charged with same and is now in Gus
tody. We recommend that inveStign-
ton as to his or anyone else'S probable
guilt be had by one or more magistrates
in Elizabeth City township and that said
Wilcox be held to await said investiga-
ton
The remains were taken by her uncle
to Brooklyn. y. Y, for burial.
Uncle viii Help Prosecute wilcox,
NORFOLK, Va, Dee. 3l.-The body
Of Ella NJ. CrOpsey passed through here
yesterday accompanied by her uncle, \.
e. Cropscy, lawyer. Of No. Chambers
street. New York.
A large crowd met it at the depot.
Lawyer Cropsey will return to Elizabeth
City and assist in the prosecution Of
Wilcox.
Wilcox has been taken from Elizabeth
City under cover and is on his way to
Norfolk in wagon. lie is being sent