The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-01
NELL CROPSEY MYSTERY SOLVED.
The Body Found Floating in the
Pasquotank River.

Elizabeth City, n. c., Dec. 81
Five weeks of mystery and speculation
as to the fate of Miss Nellie Cropsey
terminated today at 10 o'clock when
the body of the missing girl was found
in the river opposite her fathers
home The body was discovered by
J. D. Stillman, a fisherman, who was
returning from his nights fishing trip.
Upon discovering that the foating. OBJ
iect was the body cf young girl he
Immediately notified the committee
and Coroner Fearing had the body
brought to the shore: When found
the body was floating face downward.
All the wearing apparel was intact
with the exception Of the rubber
which Nell wore on the night of her
disappearance, and that was missing.
With the exception of some slight
discoloration of the face the body was
in state of good preservation and
little decomposed. The body was
easily identified as that of Nell
Cropsey by ali who had known her in
life. The spot where the body was
found had been dragged several times
since her disappearance, but with no
result.
Coroner Fearing summoned jury
of prominent men from among the
crowd that had assembled on the spot
where body had been brought ashore
and called in three of the best physi-
clans of the city to make thorough
and exhaustive autopsy to learn if
there were any signs of violence on
the body, but up to this time nothing
official can be learned from the physi-
clans as to their opinion, they refusing
absolutely to give out any information
until after they make their report to
the coroner's jury, which convened at
9 o'colck tonight after an adjournment
at 6 o'clock without reaching any
verdict.
The jury has been in almost contin-
uous secret session since the finding
of the body and holding of the autopsy
and very much depends on the con-
struction of their verdict as to what
will be the fate of young Wilcox.
Great crowds are assembled in front
of the academy of music building
where the jury is in session and
groups can be seen on almost every
street corner discussing the affair but
making no manifestations, simply
waiting for the verdict of the jury as
to whether the girl met with foul play
Or committed suicide.
Anticipating that trouble may be
brewing for young Wilcox, the naval
reserves have been ordered out to
maintain order and peace and to see
that no violence is offered Wilcox. By
order of the mayor all the barrooms
in the city have been closed. Wilcox
has been removed from the mayors
Office, where he has been since his
arrest this afternoon, to the county
jail for his own protection, and a
strong guard has been placed around
the jail.
The family of the dead girl refuses
to express an opinion as to the cause
of the death of Neil Cropsey, but an
uncle of the girl is reported as having
said: g I never have yet heard Of
drowned person floating face down.
ward
The mother of the girl is completely
prostrated and little can be done on
the part of relatives and friends to
comfort her. She has watched daily,
hoping for the return of her daughter
alive, and the sad ending of the disap
pearance has completely broken her
down.
Wilcox apparently maintains the
same Indifferent attitude that has
characterized his actions all the way
through this case, and feeling is run
ming to some extent against him to-
night.