The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-23
Receives His Sentence Without
the Slightest Emotion.
oENTENCED TO HANG in APRIL
An Appeal viii Be Taken-Many Said the
Verdict vas a yindication Of Justice.
While Others Expressed Sympathy
for the Young Mana Day Of
RestIessness, Excitement.
and Much Impatlenee.
Special Dispatch to The Times.)

Special Dispatch TO Tie Iimes.)
ELIZABETH CITY, n. C., March e.
Guilty Of murder in the first degree
was the verdict returned against James
Wilcox here at 1880 o'clock tonight by
the Jury that tried him for tho murder of
Nell Cropsey. The trial had been in pro-
gress a week and the Jury out for over
thirty hours. Wilcox stood up and heard
his doom fearlessly. His nerve of steel
did not forsake him.
The verdict follows a strain on the
people that had reached the swapping
point People fingered ON the streets all
day. missed their meals. made their wives
mad. excited their neightors said bad
words. expressed displeasure at delay
all because of the Wilcox case All day
and night the natives have waited on the
iury's words-ilot patiently, but aIlxiously.
almost breathlessly. They could not see
Why it took them SO long. On the streets,
in the stores, around the Offices. in hotel
lobbies-everywhere- was talked
of. nothing was thought Of but the jury's
verdict, and the way some folks discussed
it would chill the blood.
ASKED FRESH INSTRUCTIONS.
About j o'clock the Jury went back TO
tions from the judge. 1t had been said
before The jury would have Judge Jones
come down TO their hotel and explain
some things. and it wa no surprise when
they filed back into the courtroom and
sought enlightenment. One Of them asked
the Court to say something about first
and second degree murder The building
soon filled. Judge Jones went over the IN
s,r7sctions a!id rules already giten and
printed. He explained the different muir
der degrees and told them IL there was
doubt i. was theiraduty to give it to the
prisoner.
Judge Jones cautioned the jury again
about eliminating foreign impressions or
ANYTHING heard or seen beyond the Wit
hcSses.
He said If their verdict was influenced
hy passion. prejudice. or any pnbilc sen
t,meut shown during the Trial, they would
Ia 1.iolcnce to their oaths they would
r.riure themselves. lie told the jury 10
conc back as often as they llked-it vas
their duty-and have explained any point
not fully understood
The iudge repeated that before they
-ould find Wilcox guilty they must de-
tide that his conduct was not ON! coz
sistcnt with guilt. but inconsistent Win
Innocence. Some people thought when the
i,,.y went in they had come to a conclu-
sim. and there was excitement Tor
willie Wilcox was brought into couit.
Tia sat in a section heretofore USED hS
rc1,orters. and watched with languid IN
,.rcst There was no emotion; no sign
OF feeling or fear.
DEATH RATHER THAN. LIFE SEN
TENCE.
Il is understood Sim said to-day he
would rather be hanged than go to the
Stste prison for a long time. There is
7 No. - xSy-no w
Ef.ds that showed his feeling. "A negro
fs.I inmate is reported 10 have heard
ihfm.
Wilcox uttered protest against people
feslowinE him between the jail and the
cc:rt-house He was carried to and fraSn
Without handouts
l-cttie Cropsey was driving this after
noon. Questioned. she discussed the case
fe.tlinrly, and said Nell had ceased to
love Jim. She looked for a verdict Of
conviction.
A. NERVOUS HOUR.
x short time before the Jury flied into
Ih3 court room tonight with thei;' yer.
dit a restless crowd had been gathering
about the court house There were knots
IF nervous men hurrying here and there
In the moonlight. Judge Jones, who had
bean TO Dstrict-Attorncy Wards office,
wfat straight towards the building. Mr..
werd started the other way, but soon
doabled. The jury left their hotel. but
,lii; not take the direct route. The harsl:
clsnginG of the courthouse bell told the
people something was about to hep
rs.. Several hundren people flowed i'll.
.adge Jones told the sheriff to ask the
: july if they had agreed. The prisoner
W. = there. hands folded, composed. scan
n:.s the faces of the jurors. Clerk Jen-
,lags asked if they had agreed. Derrick
sin was named as foreman Wilcox
suod up and held up his right hand
WILCOX BRAVE.
No man in the building was more
hbivc than he ] was watching his face
70 .r' feet away as the foreman said the
wts'ds that meant death. Not a muscle
of his face moved. Other people in the
roim were nervous. Some cried, Law
so.ne there in the yellow glare of oil
light The judge said April 18th was The
firhe Wilcox should die. between 10 and
8 81 clock Sheriff Wilcox looked sad. hut
Was not demonstrative. The doomed
,n1a uttered no word as he went and sat
down again.
The brave bearing borne throughout the
ordeal did not forsakc him at the end, but
he sat there like a paIe-faced statue while
lockers on were nervous and trembled Wis.
lhly. District Attorney Ward said 1t was
the most remarkable nerve he had ever
heard or read Of. The conviction Is a
e.cat victory for Ward.
THE DOOMED MAN.
Sheriff Grandy said Wilcox would be
scs,sined in the same cell The prisoner
Yves led away He walked with a firm
step. straight in form. his head erect.
bsny citizcns said the verdict was but
vindIcation OF justice: some expressed
sympathy for the young man. Counse,
,,4St = .,y,naJ Ia fhe highest courts
There was first night crush about the
single telegraph Office Papers and indi-
,dknals all over the country had wired for