The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-15
'ELtV \ men Of THE
TWELVE ARE CHOSE
Some of These Eleven Jurors
are Quakers,
ONE NEGRO WILL SERVE
A Motion for Continuance of The Wilcox Trial
Because Of Attorney BONDS Illness
Overuled--- The Court Room
Crowded,
ONE NEGRO WILL SERVE
Especial to the News and Observer

CrLW1eC,
Especial to the News and Observer
Hartford, N. c., Jan. 14.-When court
adjourned this evening, eleven of the
twelve men in whose hands rests the fate
of James Wilcox, the alleged slayer CT
Miss nellie Cropsey, had been chosen.
These exhausted the two venires which
had been summoned and there were
choose the twelfth.
Though nothing particularly thrilling
came to pass, this jury picking day will
prove that it was among the most i've
portant of the trial When the selecting
had been done and 1 had CLEANED all in
formation obtainable from sources that
ought to know things, the conclusion was
reached that it will be an exceedingly
difficult matter to get a verdict of first
degree murder. Notwithstanding there
is a diversity or opinion as to the jurors
inclinations, if they have any, before the
evidence taking, a plausible speculation
is that majority is inclined against the
prisoner to start with, but a minority
may hold out and prevent the death YER
dict.
Tonight a messenger was on his way
to see a States lawyer and says that a
jurors brother sent word that the juror,
in his opinion, would sit for weeks Or
years before saying Wilcox should hang.
Then there is at least one Quaker on
the jury. The prisoners father thinks
there are three, and one man supposed
to be sanctified.
The jury as a whole looks like a set
of reliable, conscientious farmers who
will try to do their duty. Davidson is
the only merchant There is one negro
Their names are:
j. NJ. Turner. stephen Elliott. W. c.
Reed, J. E. Davidson. r. e. StalHngs,
Lewis D. ellon (colored), ]. d. Winslow,
s. s. Williams, w. z. Madre, d. b.
RogerSon and w H. Wright.
The jury tonight began its long season
of retirement, whose only cessation will
mark the end OF one of the South's most
noted murder trials. Seven of the Jurors
We're gotten by 20 o'clock when the
court adjourned for dinner. A number
of Quakers were called for examination.
Practically all of them said they had
conscientious cruples against capital
punishment, but some declared that not
withstanding this and notwiths landing
their unWillingness to do So they, if on
the jury, would be forced by their oaths
to bring in a verdict of first degree muir
der if the evidence in their opinion war
ranted it.
A number of persons when ques toned
al hi,
minds and expressed opinions that the
prisoner was guilty or innocent and these
were allowed to stand aside without
further questioning. H. c. Stokes was
excused because he was captain of a
military company. During the eXamina~
tion of taesmen the defendants father
would be consulted by the defense law
yers as 10 the desirability of the juror.
AS small boy was about to draw the
names the judge announced that it had
come to his attention that some of the
venire men drawn yesterday had sought
to eVade jury service by getting out of
town before they could be summoned. He
declared IL he knew of any further case
along that line he should have the man
up for contempt of court. One of the
extra men drawn is Matt White. the
horseman, and another is a brother Of
District Attorney Ward
= When the twelfth juror is gotten they
will be empannelled, and Wilcox will
stand up while tho Indictment charging
him with Nell Cropsey's murder is read.
Next will come the testimony of expert
doctors, and that will take more than a
day. The trial promises to last two days
longer than the frst one.
The eleven jurors were put in charge
of Jury officer William T. Williams They
are sleeping in the grand jury room Of
the court house.
Most of the States witnesses arrived
today from Elizabeth City. Four of the
Misses Cropsey were in the court room
this afternoon, Misses Ollie, Lula and
Aletta, of Elizabeth City, and Carrie, of
New York
The prisoner gets better fare than The
less noted prison inmates.
The first battle of the trial was won
today by the State when motion for
continuance because of Attorney
Bonds illness. was oVerruled. MIR. Bond
arrived here this afternoon from IGdentOn,
but without going into court, returned
home tonight. He expects to recover
sufficiently to appear later IN the case.
Today the court room was packed TO
standing capacity, and many could not
get in.
Five Quakers on the Jury.