The story of Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox as written by Dr. William E. Dunstan, Author and Historian for The Gateway Magazine (an in-house bi-annual publication from Fall/Winter 2021 for the Museum of the Albemarle)
Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox
In 1898 young Jim Wilcox, son of a privileged family in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, begins courting Nell Cropsey, a newcomer from Brooklyn, New York. Her father, William Cropsey, a potato farmer, rents both land and living quarters. The young lovers eventually drift into spats and disagreements. People whisper that Nell is involved romantically with a married man.
Twenty-year-old Nell Cropsey, who claims to be 19, has angry words with Jim Wilcox on her front porch on the raw night of November 20, 1901, and disappears from her rented riverside home. Within days her mysterious disappearance becomes a national sensation. Local mobs point angry fingers at Jim, but has another person covered up an unthinkable sin?
On December 27, 1901, the river surrenders Nell in almost perfect preservation. The authorities charge Jim with murder. William Cropsey hurls angry words at Jim. Elizabeth City teeters on hysteria. Jim’s bizarre trial unfolds in the Pasquotank County Courthouse in March 1902. Rope-wielding mobs lurk in nighttime shadows around the courthouse and vow to lynch Jim as well as the entire jury, unless the men return a unanimous guilty verdict. Jim’s determined enemies arrange for his trial to be disrupted. Hundreds of spectators stamp from the courthouse, and then a horse-drawn fire engine clangs and races up and down the street.
The prosecution presents no convincing evidence against Jim. The jury returns with a guilty verdict, and the seemingly surprised judge sentences him to be hanged until dead. The Supreme Court of North Carolina grants Jim a new trial. The second trial, at Hertford, results in a prison sentence of 30 years.
Jim proves a model prisoner. In 1918 Governor Thomas Bickett becomes convinced of Jim’s innocence and frees him. Jim returns to an icy reception in Elizabeth City. In 1934 Jim Wilcox, destitute, broken in body and soul, commits suicide with a shotgun blast, professing his innocence to the very end.
This plaque was suspended for visitors to drop in their guilty verdicts based on the clues provided via the detective crime board and artifacts on display.
Sketchup rendering displaying the layout of the exhibition in the lobby. The red lines (2 in total) reflected actual metal wires over 20ft suspended over visitors to carry the detective's case files to the scene of the crime story.
Behind the Red String of Time
An article I wrote for The Gateway Magazine (an in-house bi-annual publication from Fall/Winter 2021 for the Museum of the Albemarle)
Visitors prize MOA for its compelling exhibitions over the years. But do you ever wonder who produces them—and how? MOA possesses an in-house team of designer and craftspeople who weave creativity within evidence and artifacts brought to them by the curator, composed during the first two and a half years of the three-year exhibit creation process. An assumption among locals is that our exhibits are state funded, as MOA serves beneath the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources division of museums. But you might be surprised to learn that our exhibitions are funded via FOMOA memberships, sponsors, and charitable donations by visitors. As always, we thank you for your philanthropy supporting exhibits, including educational programming.
Currently, the exhibition team guides you behind the scenes into our anticipated fall exhibit, Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery. This upcoming exhibit features one of our city's most mesmerizing murder mysteries around the disappearance of Ella Maud “Nell” Cropsey and her death 120 years ago. Nineteen-year-old Nell was last seen alive on her front porch the night of November 20, 1901. She was found in the Pasquotank River a month later. This exhibit showcases her boyfriend, suspect at large, James “Jim” Wilcox, Nell, and artifacts related to both individuals. Additional suspects appear in a model detective-noir crime board. Follow the news clippings and bring your conclusion to what led to this dreadful night. Extending the display is a modernized reel of historical scenes from 1900s Elizabeth City. The overall picture is an artistic interpretation of time itself. Connecting the two zones will be a series of red metal wires strung to represent Nell, Jim, and 120 years of a mystery still unsolved. This feature thus arches overhead of visitors from modern day at the crime board to 1901 on the front porch of Nell’s house and entry foyer that night. Enjoy a sneak peek into the exhibit through the concepts rendered by the team.
Currently, the exhibition team guides you behind the scenes into our anticipated fall exhibit, Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery. This upcoming exhibit features one of our city's most mesmerizing murder mysteries around the disappearance of Ella Maud “Nell” Cropsey and her death 120 years ago. Nineteen-year-old Nell was last seen alive on her front porch the night of November 20, 1901. She was found in the Pasquotank River a month later. This exhibit showcases her boyfriend, suspect at large, James “Jim” Wilcox, Nell, and artifacts related to both individuals. Additional suspects appear in a model detective-noir crime board. Follow the news clippings and bring your conclusion to what led to this dreadful night. Extending the display is a modernized reel of historical scenes from 1900s Elizabeth City. The overall picture is an artistic interpretation of time itself. Connecting the two zones will be a series of red metal wires strung to represent Nell, Jim, and 120 years of a mystery still unsolved. This feature thus arches overhead of visitors from modern day at the crime board to 1901 on the front porch of Nell’s house and entry foyer that night. Enjoy a sneak peek into the exhibit through the concepts rendered by the team.
INSPECTING HEIGHT CONSTRAINTS IN STAGING
Our staff has a sense of humor with foam models when scale interpretation comes into play. We hope those troopers give us a good review. In the backdrop, a glimpse of the crime board used as a prototype during this staging.
Our staff has a sense of humor with foam models when scale interpretation comes into play. We hope those troopers give us a good review. In the backdrop, a glimpse of the crime board used as a prototype during this staging.
Video reel showcases several images of Elizabeth City, NC in the relative years around Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox (1901- ca. 1910).
Colorization of Nell Cropsey's boyfriend, Jim Wilcox was done on notes from his police files, death autopsy report, and fashion of the turn of the century at the 1900s. His colorized silhouette was cut and displayed as a 3d cutout based on his recorded 5'6" height.
