One of America’s most famous evangelists, George Rutledge Stuart, came to Elizabeth City and spoke to the people about drinking. After he left, Nell told Jim she wanted him go to church with her and she wanted him to stop drinking. Jim was not a drunkard then, and this caused them to fight terribly. He became a drunkard after he got back from prison and people constantly talked bad about him behind his back. Regarding church, Jim said, “I tried going once when I come back from prison and people wouldn’t even sit in the same pew with me. If that’s Christianity I didn’t want none of it.” (pg. 91; Simpson)
In October of 1901, a circus came to town, and Jim bought two tickets for Carrie and Nell even though he couldn’t attend. Their father had bought a ticket for Ollie, and so the three of them went to see the circus.
One of the reasons Nell and Jim fought was the prohibition of alcohol; Jim was a Republican and Nell was a Democrat. Another reason was Nell was simply tired of Jim, and getting attention from the sheriff’s son. When the circus came, she became a little friendlier with Jim again. One day in November, Nell told Jim sharply to hurry up as he was leaving. After that, she never saw him to the door again. Ollie thinks Jim took Carrie out just to spite Nell. When they came back, Jim brought them some fruit and Nell asked for an apple. When she found out Jim bought them, she refused to eat it which made Jim really mad. They also teased Jim behind his back about being short, and little did they know he heard them. (pg. 97; Simpson) This happened soon before the night Nell disappeared.
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