The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-08

Mr.. Walter |. Cohoon
Talks of the Case and
Matter of Pardon.

mot since the Shemwen murder
murder trial in Lexingm several years
ago. has a case created so much in
terest in North Carolina as that of
James Wilcox. who is now serving a
sentence of thirty years in the peni-
Tertiary for The murder of Miss Nellie
Cropsey. in my town, three years
ago" said Mr., Walter L. Cohoon, OF
Elizabeth City, to a News and OBJ
server man yesterday. "Since / have
been in Raleigh 1 have been asked if
there is any probability of a pardon
for Wilcox. and a hundred and one
other questions about the man and
the circumstance connected with the
murder This interest is not confined
to the State. 1 was in he the North
ern cities few days ago and as soon
as a person learned that / was from
Elizabeth City, l was importuned with
questions about Wilcox. l met a man
from Cuba who manifested much in
terest and knowledge of the case.
is IL fact that a petition has been
circulated and widely signed, and
which viii be presented 10 the Gve-
nor, asking for WilcoX's pardon ?" ask
ed your reporter.
been given by the father of James
Wilcox that application would be made
FOR the pardon of his son. but l have
no idea that wilcox will be pardoned.
Sentiment in my county is as a unit
against this man. | don't believe the
signatures of twenty-five responsible
men in Pasquotank County could be
secured for his pardon. The family of
this young man commands the respect
nf hai icI1I hrIf n "a q
never been considered a good boy.
The people who have known him from
boyhOod are the most intense i'll their
feeling against him."
but, Mr.. Cohoon, many people who
followed the case closely through the
newspapers think the State failed 10
develop sufficient evidence to convict,
Again I have heard not a few express
the opinion that if Wilcox was not
guilty of murder he should have been
acquitted said the reporter.
Yes. l know many people have
taken this view of the matter. but the.
best theory / have heard advanced is
by Mr.. j. Hayward Sawyer, the lead
ing council for the State, who ma le
the speech of his life in prosecuting
Wilcox. At no time during the long
trial did the accused man show any
concern, except when Mr.. Sawyer
wildly presented his theory of N
murder. Mr.. Sawyer's theory, which
is generally accepted is that Wilcox
did not go to the Cropsey home CT
the fateful night with intentions 90
commit murder, and that there was
no Dremeditatin.
Wilcox was in love with the girl,
but she had 1isca r,!aG him. Cniy
three weeks oef1re the tragedy she
had professed religion, and she was
firm i'm her rejection of this mar. on
this particular evening he called,
chatted freely with Miss Nellia's SIS
tiers, but did not direct his conversa-
ton to this girl It'll he was in the act
of leaving, when ne said: Nell, 1nay
I see you at the door. The girl W cilt
to the door with him ana was not
seen again til ner drifting body was
found by fishermen near six weeKsI
afterward.
eff jim Wilcox didn't kin that young
lady, who did? What motive could
have prompted anyone else II Bil;i
her?
when, she followed him 10 the
porch his probable question to n-r
was: Nell. do you intend to go to-
New York and leave me In this man
ner? She replied in the affirmative,
and he probably said Nell, d--n
YOU if you won't have me, youth aotl
have anyone else. He then, on the
impulse OF the moment, struck heri
senseless, and realizing what he Had
done his first thughts were as TO how
he could cover the deed. OFF there
about fifty yards was the PasqUota1k
River, and to this he dragged the
body and threw it overheard.
when found, about six weeks later,
the body was closely examined, and
marks of a blow were found on the
left temple Again there was no
water in the lungs, showing that the
girl was lifeless when thCown into tn@|
water The water was very cold and
the gases of the body did not form
for sometime. and therefore the body
remained below the surface. Tha
clothing which Wilcox wore on that
night We're never seen afterwards.
knowing the man as ] do this
theory appeals to me rs the most
plausible. lie was a man With an
uneovto nlble tempo anil on that
night he let it run away with him.
do not think that Wilcox went to
the Cropsey home with intent:o4 to
, commit murder"