The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-06-21
AN OLD TRAGEDY RECALLED.

A,correspondent of the Baltimore Bulletin, writ
ing from Snow Hill, Worcester county, Md, under
date of June 18th, says:
"The excitement created in this vicinity over
the Duer- Hearn trial brings wildly to mind u
similar furore which occurred here many years
ago. In the same courthouse, and almost in the
same position where to-day sat Miss Lille Duer
once sat the Rev. Mr.. Burroughs, charged with the
murder of James Bayard Bishop, and in the seat
now occupied by the Hon. John Crisfield once sat
the Hon. Henry A. Wise, counsel for the prisoner
Now the courtroom is crowded with countrymen
from the surrounding counties, and only sprink
ling of the more cultivated classes are present ;
then the room was thronged with the best people
of the peninsula.
"The Rev. 7. J. Burroughs, the prisoner, was
Methodist minister, man of education and
natural ability. He decidedly ladys man.
Preferring their society to that of men, he became
great favorite with them. Among the men of
his denomination, however, he was not without
friends staunch and determined. One of his ad-
mirers was the sister of James Bayard Bishop,
whom he subsequently married. Bishop was OPP
posed to the match. He was his sisters guardian,
and up to the time of her marriage had full con-
troll of her property. Burroughs made several at
tempts to force Bishop to settlement. The
brother, however, kept putting him off.
"At last Burroughs became tired of his tardi-
and demanded the rent received by the brother
from one of his sisters tenants. The quarrel
finally led to hot dispute, and the dispute to
open enmity. Threats of personal vengeance
were made by Bishop, who seems to have been
reckless. In consequence of these threats the
minister armed himself. On the Odd of March,
1849, the quarrel eliminated in the death of
Bishop. On the day in question the Rev. Mr..
Burroughs, expecting an attack ut any moment,
entered the little village on Sandy HILL now called
Stockton, and walked into the shoe store ofJames
Peyton.
"He had been there but short time when the
door was opened, and in walked Bishop. But few
words were exchanged. Bishop drew cowdide
from his inner coat and without giving the minis
ter warning of his purpose, struck him sharp
blow the shoulders. Burroughs sprang
through the open door into the street. Bishop
followed, and blow after blow, it is said, fell on
the minister's shoulders Finally, having reached
fence in his retreat, Burroughs would go no
further, but drew pistol, took deliberate aim and
fired. Bishop fell to the earth dead. The excite
ment over the affair was naturally intense.
"When the trial came ofpeople for miles around
hocked hther in great numbers, especially the
ladies. Henry A. Wise conducted the defense in
q most brilliant manner, and the jury but
short time in coming to q verdict Amid the in
tense silence the foreman in his seat and pro-
nounced the words mot guilty" Cheer after
cheer was given in open court, while the ladies,
dlluosI Win viii eAclIeneHl Juipeu u tuer Ieet,
waved their handkerchiefs, and Joined in the APP
plause. The friends of Bishop declared that Bur-
roughs should not leave the town alive.
Clearing this the court sent guard to protect
the minister until he was out of the reach of his
enemies. Mr.. Burroughs left the town and went
South. Bishop was buried in the graveyard ofthe
Methodist Episcopal Church, where tombstone
bearing the following inscription was placed:
''Sacred to the memory of James Bayard Bishop,
born January 23d, A. d. 1922, and shot at Sandy
Hill on the morning Of the 23d of March, 1S49 by
the Rev. I. ]. Burroughs, aged 81 years and
months"
CATER the tombstone erected it is alleged
that some adherent of the Burroughs party en-
tered the graveyard at night and broke the head
stone. Certain it is that the stone broken, for
it is now held together by iron bars rusty with
age"