Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-04-22

- &A@29&S &&@G@
naieanh. April 1.-THE cry OF d
mo&herh heart, the heart that ig al
ways constant. ID the only voice raised
AGAINST q pardon for james Wilcox.
convicted murdered OF Nell Cropsey
nc Elizabeth City but that mothers
cry IN allied with justice and Wilcox
win not be pardoned, according 70 q
decision reached by Governor Craig
today.
IN explanation OF his refusal to is
sne n pardon for this man, convicted
OF one of the most tragic crimes that
ever shocked the state, the governor
has issued an eight page statement,
reviewing in detail the circumstances
of the association of Wilcox and Nell
Cropsey as lovers. the lively and at
fractive personality of the Inflated girl
and the events of the fatal evening at
the Cropsey home. The governor also
reviews the circumstances surround
ing the disappearance Of the girl and
the conduct of Wilcox, together with
features of the trial and the final dis
position of the case by the Supreme
court, after it had been brought be-
fore that body on appeal, and which
decided that Wilcox must serve the
E1irty years sentence imposed by the
lower court
Governor Craig's Views.
The governor says among other
things: ITO release the defendant
would, in my opinion tend to lessen
the confidence in. u courts to do
Justice and would not be in accord
ance with the well considered judg-
ment of this state as expressed by
statute and judicial precedent.
sFWilcox has been dealt with stern
II, but not inconsiderately. He has
been defended by the ablest and most
skillfuI lawyers. He has been tried
before just and impartial judges, with
every advantagem the selection OF a
iurH. Two iuries have pronounced
him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Supreme court seeaside the first
verdict on the groundsfhat it was i'll
fuenced by the feeling of q communi-
ty outraged by a horrible murder.
After a careful and most deliberate
consideration of the last trial, the SUI
preme court affirmed the Judgment.
State Not Responsible.
cit is urged that the prisoner should
be pardoned because he has contract
ed tuberculosis since his imprison-
ment. The state is not responsible
for this. He has been humanely dealt
with and his surroundings have been
sanitary to. a high degree. The ply
sieian reports that he is now improv-
ing. When a prisoner has been SEN
fenced for a miner crime, the fact
that he has contracted . serious dis
ease while in prison appeals to me
strongly, for in such cases the law
does not contemplate W punish
ment under such circumstances. This
case Is different.
James Wilcox has never repented.
but has, as this evidence established.
the horrible secret in his heart that
was there on the night of November
20. 1901. A pardon IN the ground of
his improper conviction would be
vindication of him and a condemna-
ton OF the law and theadministra-
ton OF the law. A great number OF
people have asked his pardon. 1t is
apparent that many of them have no
conception Of the evidence. There Is
only one voice raised against 1t, and
that is the cry Of the m0ther's heart
that is always constant She with
justice on her side is the majority"