The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-14
EMMA BETIfEL'S TRIAL
The Death by Poisoning OF Mr.. and Mrs.
nIshop Of BcrIin, New Ler.er.

PHILADELPHIA, May 13.-In Camden to-
day, Emma Bethcl's case was called before n
full bench. Judge Woodruff presiding. Mr.
Slade. her lawyer asked continuance, but It
was refused Tho call Of iurymen then pro-
ceeded. but owing to an irrogularty being dis
covered in the list. the Court decided that now
panel must be drawn and the case was post
poncd until Thursday.
Reckless Bishop and his wife Hannah were
respectable inhabitants of Berlin, n. j. Their
son George. about 81 years Of ngc was an en-
gineer on the Camden and Atlantic Railroad.
He is wdowcr with four children Mrs.
Emma Bethel. who IL accused Of poisoning the
old people. IL the divorced wife Of n glnssblOwcr
who dMclls in Millvillc. Gumberland county,
NJ Her husband pro mredthe divorce on tho
ground Of adultery. Snc then for n timo fol-
lowed the life of an adventures frcquonting
the lower class of summer hotels ut Cape May
hnu Auantlc tlly, nrrlNlnTh % l'nEtn IN tumdch;
wher" she met George Bishop. strong and
mutual regard sprang m between them. and
he took her TO his house as his mistress. They
lived for u year in this manner, and then George
proposed 10 his father and mother to take his
Children and his housekerper. ~ he called Mrs.
Bethel, 20 his fathers house. The parent. con-
sonted. being ignorant Of the relations existing
between their son and the woman. This was.
however. discovered 10y the mother, and she re-
buked her son for his immortality and insisted
thnt Mrs. Bethel should hr driven away. George
refused to do this and there was continual
trouble in the household Lust fall the mother
unable 10 bear II presence of the woman in her
away and forbade her over returning.
Mrs. Bethel went away with threats, Re-
and before l'm done with you. and before III
give G"9rge ny. III poison you and burn the
house down over your head
There was mortgage upon the old home.
stead and George by taking il up. prevailed
upon his parents TO allow Mrs. Bethel 10 return.
Which she did IN January last; The ll-ieelngs
came back with her. One day in February,
she went to Camden, and through male nc
quaintancc. telling him she wanted the drug.
OttNlflNu "a uuuutitN oil arsenic.
On the 18th of February. Mrs. Bishop ate n
pared Tor her Soon nfterward she complained
OF "a sudden Illness. She continued in n s"ri-
GUS condition for fonr days. and then Mrs Will
let's. her daughter, arrived To take care OF her.
The daughter prepared her mothers meals.
and the invalid began to recover. Mrs. Bethel.
upon this, complained To Grorge Bishop that
Mrs. Willcts children annoyed her. and there
upon the daughter and her children quit the
ihvusHii my ny 5nnc Jay hrs. Dctntl prepared
worse rapidly. She died on the 18th OF March.
on the 18th Of March, after eating his supper
Mr. Bishop complained Of feeling unwcll. He
was alarmed, and going to a neighbour asked
them To care for him If hc should be sick. He
made arrangements TO 10 to them on Wcdncs-
day morning. but after his breakfast on that
morning was taken violently IN. The urighhors
wat ,ei by turns, and he gradually grew bet
ter. \ close surveillance WIS Kept 10y them over
the behavior OF Mrs. Bethel To one Of them
who had followed her into the cellar, whittier
haps you had better follow mo and see what m
doing, fog fear that III give th" old man some:
AIit llltl 10 XIII nlil ono WIS liif 10 tilStt OF
every dish that She prepared Tor tho patient
On Monday. April 2 after breakfast. Mr. Bishop
was soilnd with a relapse He died ON the We'd
ng-dgy iolloWiug II was remembered that ON
Monday morning some eggs had been given
him. which no one had seen Mrs. Bethel pre-
pare lie Was buried Just thrcc weeks atter his
wife.
Mrs Bethel disappeared from the ncighhor-
hood Tor "a little over u week. and then return
INK ATTEMPTED 90 have an interview with George
Bishop. lie told her T. leave him. begging her
Inn. lfn ia nd in ts4NN
accused Frank Wllleis, the husband of Georges
sister uf giving her $500 Tor poisoning the old
folks. George having been told of this. pro-
cured her arrest. He himself and Wilrts were
also arrested. but nothing appearing against
them. th"y were released on bail To appear ~
witnesses. ON the 2aih of April the q lrard pro-
lessor to whom the stomachs had been sent
made his report, showing the presence If ar
senir i'm considerable quantities n the bodies OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Bishop Subsequent facts APP
p'ar,d 20 connect George Bishop with the crime.
the Camden Grand Jury on the It'll inst.