Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-03-21
A KENTUCKY VENDETTA.

| t.a.. ......a
| SHOCKING SERIES OF CRIMES THAT LED TO
THE MURDER OF THE sIGMANs.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March a. A dis
patch from Mount Vernon few day ago
gave an account of the murder Of Mary
| Sigman and her mother, Rhoda Sigman.
| The half was not told. The details are
terrible in the extreme. Mount Vernon
is town of four bundled inhabitants,
on the Knoxville branch of the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad, in Rockcas-
tie county. Some years ago the two wo-
men lived IN the adjoining county of
Gaward. The daughter was Il blonde of
prepossessing appearance and endowed
| with the faculty of so strongly fascnat-
ing men that they appeared to be willing
| to give up life for her smiles. TWAS this
strange fascination that made men fight
over her, and eight men have been kill
| ed in the last few years on her accOunt.-
She never lived in 4 city, but always re-
sided with her old mother in the coun
Try. Her life was one Of shame. When
murdered she was perhaps lhirty-live
years of age. She had five children
| The eldest was u boy Of fourteen. OF
late the Sigmans had lived IN n log cabin
six miles north of Mount VenoA, in a
wild, rough country. To explain the
cause of the murder, 1t Is necessary o go
back few months. About Il year and n
half ago, Ad llysingcr aud Matt Bishop
went to Sigmau's house on Saturday
night and took along a supply of liquor,
of which they freely partOok. That
same night Alb Fish, aged twenty, and
Mcclellan Williams, aged fifteen, rode
up TO Sigman's house aud entered the
room where sat Bishop and llysinger
half drunk. The twu men attcm )ted to
frighten the boys off, and an alteration
cnsucd. They went out into the yard,
and Bishop began firing Il pistol. Will
liams asked him TO stop shooting, 0s the
noise scared his horse. Bishop then fir
ed over Williams head, aud Williams
thought he was being shot at BY that
time Fish had come up and stood look
ing ut the others without speaking, but
when he saw that Bishop was apparent
ly firing ut Williams, Fish fired on Blsh-
Op, shooting him through tho head. lie
shot again, aud Bishop fell dead, lll-
singer then made a motion ms though
reaching for pistol IN his hip pocket,
aud Fish fired on him also, shooting him
in the back, Uyslngcr started TO run,
and he was shot again In the small of the
back. The wounded man ran fifty feet
and fell across a log, dying soon after
ward.
The young men repaired 10 Fish's
house. near the Sigmans'. where they re-
manned until morning. They then gave
themselves up. Fish was not convicted
and there wNs no Indictment ever found
against Williams, us 1t was shown that
he had no pistol with him. Both ofthesc
boys are Of excellent families, Williams
father being the County Clerk.
4 At the time of the killing of the two
men, James Bishop, brother Of the dead
Bishop, resided In Tennessee, near jones'
boro. On Friday last, james came here
and visited his relatives. On Sunday
night, jim went to his cousin Williams.
At about o'clock on Tuesday night n
man Knocked ut Mrs, Slgman's door aud
Mary called out, "Who Is tlcrcW "lt
Is no difference who tis," was the reply.
Mary opened the door and lighted n
lamp, which The man blew out There
was no light N the room except that
emitted by the fire. After getting q
drink, the man drew Il revolver and be.
: gan firing ut Mary SlgmNn, There were
I two beds IN the room, aud Mary ran be.
tween these beds, exclaiming ooh Lord
b don't kin me and my children" The
hIing was kept up, and Mary was shot
In the left breast and through the heart
, Another ball went through the nbdo.
men. Two balls entered the front Of tll,
head within an inch of cHuh other. An
other went In nt the aide of the head -
There WINS bullet hole In each wrist
After killing Mary Sgmnn, the murder
or went ont of the house and remained
long enough to hold consultation Will
5 his coniedcrtes, 1t IA supposed, when d,
J returned and commenced bnnging away
at old Mrs. Slgmnn, who had gotten NJ
! from her bed. She was shot twice through
? the heal and once through the body -
The GOwArdly wretch, after having iln
lsned the old woman, Withdrew. m,
Slgman boy then got up aud looked upoi
: the bloody scene for some hours bpfor,
! he could sufficiently collect his senses I,
repair 10 the house of some relatives
where dc told the terrible tale. Unror
tunniely the boy lid not obtain goot
look at the murderer.
The search for the murderer wns be
> gun ut onue. Jim Bishop was nrresle,
D, on Suspicion lie WINS conducted to tn
I, scene Of the murder, aud NJ soon as h
!, reached the fence, one Of the twins erie,
I, out ooh, that's The man who killed m,
mamma Take him away" Olherrir
: cumstanccs pointed strongly to Bishop
4 guilt, aud he was committed 10 Jail. %
:, The cnsc created Intense excitement, an
Bishop may be lynrhed.