Nell Cropsey #4

The Cropsey House (Seven Pines)

   The book now jumps ahead to 1918 when Jim Wilcox is finally released from the prison farm.  Four newspapermen pester him as soon as he steps foot off the train in Raleigh, asking
-How’s it feel?
–What’d you tell the governor?
-Going home for Christmas?  (pg.  29; Simpson) 

   He had started out at a prison, but with such a perfect record they soon sent him to a prison farm in the mountains.  He was released after overcoming TB; he received help from Captain Peoples, and they both wrote the governor who then sent a pardon.  Jim takes a train back to Elizabeth City on Christmas Eve, where he met his sisters, Sadie and Annie May.  (pg. 34; Simpson)  Deputy Reid is hired by the Wilcox’s to help out Jim.  He and Jim got to the Cropsey home and have Ollie and Jim tell exactly what happened that night, but the Cropseys still don’t believe Jim is innocent.