The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-08
HORRIBLE TRAGEDy-DOUBLE SUI
eide.


Children.
For several weeks past our city has been
the scene of successful and unsuccessful at
tempts TO commit suicide. These attempts
have been confined to females, all of whom,
except the present one, were women of
bad character. Never have we been called
upon to witness and report case of self
murder, the circumstances of which are
more distressing, and which call more
loudly upon generous public for sympathy
and substantial aid.
Mrs. Mary Bishop, the wife of William
Bishop, who has resided for sometime at
No. 23l1 Main street, both Of whom are
Germans, this morning, about quarter-past
two O'Clock, committed suicide by cutting
her throat.
He is tailor by trade and the father of
six young children, the two oldest daugh-
ters being twins and but thirteen years of
age; the youngest, a bright-eyed little boy,
but two years old. There are several ver-
sions of the cause of the act, none more
satisfactory than the distress Of Mrs.
Bishop, at the thought that her husband
had left her, never TO return, leaving to
her care and protection six small and
helpless children. ss al4
Mr.. Bishop left his home unexpectedly
and without the knowledge of his wife last
Friday week, but on Wednesday last wrote
her kind and affectionate letter, enclosing
her ten dollars in money, and requesting
her to dispose of her little effects and come
to him at once, thus denying the presump-
ton that he had left his wife with any bad
motive. His sudden departure is accounted
for by himself and friends, upon the grounds
of impossbility of supporting so large q
family here. He was telegraphed this
morning the sad fate of his wife.
In connection with his tailoring business,
he kept small bar-room, which he left in
charge of his wife. Seine of the neighbors
say she was addicted to drinking. Her
effects were under mortgage to one John
M. Schmidt, who is reported by some of
the neighbors to be merciless creditor,
and although his first wife was the sister of
Mrs. Bishop, he, it is said, was pushing her
for money due him. Others state that she was
equally distressed concerning smallamount
OF rent duo by her. and the demands of the
property that she vacate the house
in which she lived by the first of August.
Whatever the cause, she must have been
tearfully distressed to take her life as she
did.
But short time before the commission
of the deed, two men knocked for admis-
sion to get drink when Mrs. B. informed
them that she had no liquor in the house,
and that she would never open that door
again. Her oldest children were sleeping
in an adjoining room to the one occupied by
herself, and several of the youngest, one of
whom, an intelligent little girl, furnished
us with what information she possessed
the tragedy.
She 0he little girl was awakened by
noise made by her mother breathing
through the hole in her throat, and on Jump
ing up, saw her mother clutching her throat
and endeavoring to stop the flow of blood.
She could make no answer to the child's
questions of what allied her, but staggered
and fell upon the floor, where she laid
and bled to death. The little girl soon
awakened her elder sister who ran for as
sistance. A physician was sent for but ar
rived too late to be of service. 1t seems
she used small pocket-knife, running the
point in the right side of her neck in rear of
the jugular vein, severing it and tearing
through the flesh, leaving an ugly cut about
an inch and half in length.
Mrs. Bishop is about 33 years old, and
would in about month have given birth to
the seventh chld-thus not only destroying
her own life, but taking that of another.
We saw her body this morning, which was
covered by but single garment, and a
mass of clotted blood. Even after having
discovering that she was one of Gods
favored in point of shape and beauty. She
was a brunette with head of long flowing
black hair, sufficient to be envied by
queen. Her skin was so white as to form
a distressing contrast between itself and
the crimson liie-tide with which it was be-
spattered.
The distress of these little helpless child
rem and their agonizng CRIES were heart
rending in tho oxtrenao. The two eldest
daughters are nice looking girls, and we ask
that some charitable family interest them
selves and take one or both of them, who
are willing to go to service.
In addition to the above facts, we annex
a letter received this morning about 10
o'clock, from VIM. Bishop, the husband of
the woman who committed suicide last
night. This utterly refutes the false charge
that Mr.. Bishop had deserted his family
"they say" has proven in this case, and as
is generally done, lying mischief-maker.
BALTIMORE, July z, 1871.
Dear VIE and Friend;
Just now received a letter from yon asking
me if l conld not come back and get you. for
my part could not come now, for have taken
job for couple dozen of coats, which has to be
done in short time. i wish our oldest girls
were here. They could get a place here at IS per
month Please sell everything that you do not
need.
Dear Fliend,-I wish you could bring my fami-
lv bpra hnuOht n Siuppr'S machine and
everything need Let me know what time you
are coming. L think the Baltimore boat is the
most convenient. L can't possibly leave my
work now and come after my family myself 1t
would put me to too much expense. Let me
know a couple of days before you leave
Dear Ma,u-Bring that sewing wi.lt
you. An the licenses are in the bar drawer. me- q.
you cav. Won sell the place priysatesss ssa st and will
meet you when you arrive in Baltimore. Dear
MARY, keep your head right. My love to you and
the family. My address is No 8 Cough street
My love to you all. WILLIAM BISHOP
THE CORONER'S UNDERSTANDINGS OF
THE JURY. fr
An inquest was held ON the body OF Mrs.
Mary Bishop, and after a partial examlna-
ton Of witnesses, the jury returned YER
dict that she had died by her own hands.
The knife with which she committed the
deed was found in a bucket, in which there
was found also quantity of blood. >
Since writing up an account OF this affair,
we are informed, a man last night attempted
the seduction of Mrs. Bishop, who declared
her intention to remain true to her husband
n I.