The Murder of Nell Cropsey
The story of young Nell Cropsey is one that has been repeated throughout time. A woman ends a relationship with a man and disappears shortly thereafter. Records maintained by the State Archives illustrate the tragedy as it unfolded in turn-of-the-20th-century Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Episode 1: Nell Goes Missing
William Hardy and Mary Louise Ryder Cropsey were native New Yorkers who moved to Elizabeth City in April of 1898.
There were ten children in the family, but one son did not survive infancy. With 6 daughters, there were often gentleman callers in the family’s home. One such caller was Jim Wilcox, who began calling on Ella, called Nell, in June of 1898. Nell was born in July 1882 and was nineteen when she went missing.
On the night of November 20, 1901, Wilcox, along with several others, was at the house. Nell had recently broken off their relationship and the two had not spoken in a couple of weeks. Nell’s sister, Olive, often called Ollie, testified that a little after eleven Wilcox left to go home and Nell had followed him to the front porch. He testified that he last saw her standing on the porch as he left. Ollie, who shared a room with Nell said that about 12: 30 or 1 a. m., she woke up and saw that her sister was not in bed. She had been awakened by the barking of dogs near the barn and said that she heard someone call for “Papa to get his gun that some one was in there and I sat up to see if Nell was in bed.” The fearful family searched around the house until all were crying, then “Papa and uncle Henry went over to see if Jim was home.” About 2:00 a. m. they brought Wilcox back to the house. Ollie said, “and Mamma went over and took hold of his arm and said ‘Jim, for my sake and for your mother’s sake tell me where Nell is.’” Jim answered, “’I could swear that I could not say where she is. I left her on the porch. I could swear and kiss a Bible I don’t know. I left her on the porch crying.’”
Under cross examination by defense attorney, E. F. Aydlett, it was brought out that during the evening, the group had discussed methods of suicide. Jim Wilcox had said that he would do it by drowning, that he had nearly drowned once, and it had been “a pleasant sensation.” Nell, however, had said she would not like to drown, that she would rather freeze to death. According to Ollie, she said “I would not want to drown and have my hair all come out”.
~by Debbi Blake
