The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-01-22
THE WILCOX TRIAL
Sister and Cousin Of Dead Girl Give
Their Testlulony.

| nearly ready 10 re IN the trnai OF
Hs3''s ss@ss c1o,ssR =; wt;e0. or the murder OF
Miss Ollie Cropsey, the pretty sister
Of the dead girl. was the first witness
to testify Friday. She told very
forceful story. Her testimony was di.
rect and full. In part she said: ELLA
Maude Cropsey was my sister. She was
! 19 years old and weighed ITO pounds
when she disappeared. We lived in
Brooklyn. N. Y. before coming to
Elizabeth City, where We arrived in
| April OF 1898. had four sisters, Nellie
Lettie, LLAla and Mamie W. H. Crop
sey Is my father. We met Jim. Wilcox
in June, 1898. He sent Nell his card
two weeks from that time and asked
her to go driving and she went. From
that day on he began to call on her
took her riding and sailing. He called
| Thursdays and Sundays. He gave her
presents OF flowers and pictures. He
went sailing alone with Nell twice. She
was scolded for accompanying him.
During the summer before the disap-
rearance Of Nell she and Jim began to
quarrel. They had been friendly up to
that time They were at outs in Sep
tember. Nell attended Stuart's meet
ings during that month. sat inside
the room one night and heard Nell say
to Jim: Jim, If you are going to act
like this, you stay at home knew
they were quarreling, and, not caring
to hear It., left. They had not seen
me. Jim went to the Stuart meetings
sometimes with Nell and sometimes
by himself, but often did not go, except
to wait outside for Nell. Nell joined
the church on the 18th Of October.
From some time in September till the
a3rd Of October Jim and Nell quarreled.
At times they did not speak. After
October they were on better terms and
spoke regularly. The Elizabeth City
fair was in progress about that time.
Jim sent two tickets SO that Carrie
and Nell could go. He was at work.
Jim, Nell, Carrie and myself all went
TO the fair one day. Jim and Nell were
friendly till November 7th, when they
quit speaking to each other. Up to that
time they had been going out together
but all connections were severed then.
He kept on calling at the house.
"On the night of November 7th VIII
cox spent few hours at our home.
He and Nell were at outs. He left at
9 o'clock. When he took his hat to so
Nell said: Pull, Jim, pull meaning
60, and followed him out to see him
OF, as was her custom. Nell returned,
looked in on US. said good night and
retired to her room. Jim came on just
the same, but Nell never spoke to
him. One day after the 7th saw Car
rie, Nell and Jim coming up the street,
Carrie was next to Jim. do not know
whether Nell and Jim spoke that day
or not.
I'VE sat in the dining room. Nell
sewed on a jacket that she hoped to
wear to New York. Jim and Roy were
not on speaking terms. Jim was moody
and talked but little.He started into
space and kept looking at his watch.
He appeared to be restless. BY 10:45
all except Jim. Roy, Nell and myself
had left the room. Jim arose, picked up
his hat and said: 1t Is II O'Clock and
/ must go. My mother does not allow
ME to stay ont after H. Before this
time Jim had asked for water. ] tc'C
him l would get him glass. He said.
No. he might poison it. When he got
up to go We all rose and, while he
rolled a cigarette, Roy caught Nelrs
chin in his hands and said: Nell, you
are looking mighty sweet tonight
Jim glanced his eyes at Nell and then
at me. He went into the hall and
turning, said: Nell. want to see you
in the hall She looked at me and fol-
lowed him out. never saw her again.
She and Jim had not spoken since No
Vember 7th.
Il closed the door behind them as
they went out. Roy and myself stood
hy the fire till 1870. when told him it
was time for him to 20. He said: You
need not get snappy about it. Jim Inl
Nellie are in the hall yet We went IL
to the hall, and found the doors open.
but Jim and Nell were not in sight. |
remarked that it was strange that Nell
had gone up and left me TO lock nF. 7
went to my room and retired. Nell vas
not there. dozed off, thinking she and
Jim were in the parlor. About o'clock
! gave the alarm. We searched every
where, but in vain. for Nell. During
the evening when the subject Of suicide
was brought up. Nell said she would
not like to drown, for her hair would
he such a fright. 1t would be frizzled
up. She thought she might like to
freeze.
Miss Carrie Cropsey followed Miss
Ollie. She corroborated much of the
latter's evidence. Among other things
she said: II asked Jim why he and
Nell quarreled He said: She has quit
going to the door with me. have de-
cided to drop her. Tuesday night jim
heard us talking about him. He told
me that listeners never heard any