The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-01-10
Dreadful Tragedy at st. Adams.
A Husband Shoots His VIE and Commits
Suicide.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE SAD AFFAIR.

half past Il o'clock, p. NJ, by the an
nouncement that one John Bishop haC
attempted the life of his wife by shoot
ing her with revolver and then tax
ing his own life with the same, The
particulars of this terrible affair are as
follows:
John Bishop, or as he was more
commonly called, Jack Bishop, had
been in the employ of the st. Adams
Foundry Company more than three
years, and for two years past has acted
in the capacity of night watchman at
that establishment He was native
of Bristol, England, where his parents
now reside. He was about thirty years
of age, was industrious, appeared well,
and gave satisfaction to his employers
For reasons not known, he ran away
from his parents six years ago, and
entered the British service as a seaman.
Afterwards he enlisted in the British
army and deserted from it while sorv-
ing in Canada. During our war he
served in a Connecticut or Alassachu
sets regiment; after which, as stated
above, he was employed by The Foun-
dry Company
In May last, Bishop married Cattle
rine Coonan, girl OF Irish parentager
and a Catholic. Bishop was Protes
tant, and this fact was of course known
to Miss Coonan before marriage. The
marriage service was performed by the
Rev. j. Isham Bliss, rector Of St.
Lukes church, though, we believe not
with the entire approval OF Miss Coo
nan, who wished it done by n Catholic
clergyman in accordance with her re-
ligious tenets. Bishop, at the time OF
the committal Of the rash deed, lived
with his wife il the upper rooms Of a
house on Thomas street, owned and
occupied by DIR. Peter Ward, Of the
firm of Ward and Burns, grocers, on
Lake Street. Mary Jane, sister of
Mrs. Bishop, who is suffering from
hemorrhage of the lungs, had for sew
eral days previous been living with
them. On Saturday morning, Bishop
left home as usual. Between ten and
eleven o'clock. he called at The Office
of the Foundry Company and was paid
five dollars. 1t should here be stated
that on account of i'll health he had
not for several nights been on duty;
and at the time he was paid the mon
ey, he said that his wife had been I'M
well, but was on the gain He had
told other parties that he did not in
tend to remain where he was, but
should sell his furniture and remove
from town. Notwithstanding all this.
there was nothing uncommon in the
appearance of the would be-murderer
discernible by those with whom he
held conversation.
About IL o'clock, Bishop returned
home, bringing with him bottle Of
whiskey, from which in the course Of
the next hour, he drank two or three
times He had few words of dispute
with his wife, who was lying on tho
bed, as also was her sick sister. This
dispute was concerning Mr. Ward, Of
! whom Bishop was jealous, and for nc
earthly reason. Mr. & Mrs. Ward
about this time came into the room
for the purpose of enquiring after Mrs
, Bishops sister. Mr. Ward noticing
that there was something wrong about
Bishops appearance, left the room
and was soon followed by his wife
Mrs. Bishops sister remained in tho
room until she saw Bishop go to q
drawer and take therefrom revolver
; when she made hasty retreat Bish-
OPP then, as his wife stood by the bed
fred two shots at her, one ball passing
through her wrist and grazing hel
breast, and the other entering the
right jaw and lodging near the left col
| lar bone. Bishop Immediately placed
the inuzzle of the pistol 10 his head
and fired, inhicting fatal wound
which resulted in death in alb nut al
hour. Mrs. Bishop, seriously wound
ed as she was, rushed from the room
blood following her tracks, to tht
house of her neighbor, Mr.. Ralph Tay-
Tor, and gave an account of shat had
transpired.
The news of the sad affair flew
through our village with great rapid
ty, and the house was soon filed with
people Of all ages and sexes. The
room, where the bloody deed was per
petrated, presented sad and sicken
| ing spectacle. There, spread at length
on the floor, was Bishop in the las
: agonies Of death. The floor was Gov
cred with blood that had flowed from
the dying mans wound, and in one
corner was table on which were the