Evening journal., 1889-05-24
THREE NERVOUS M. DIS.
a Crowd of Prominent People
at the Bishop Inquest.
STARTLING FACTS DEVELOPED.

of the Lambs Club Testify aa
TO the circumstances Of the Mind Read
er's Death-Dr Irwin Would Not Asso-
ciate with DIR. Robertson.
New YoRK, May "A. -Drs. Irwin, Hance
and Ferguson, the scientific explorers who
knitted Washington Irving Bishops body
within four hours after life had apparently
left It, looked uncommonly nervous as they
sat as prisoners in room 10, city hall, listen
ing to the evidence given before Coroner
Levy at the mind readers inquest
The big court room was uncomfortably
crowded and the ultra-fashionable make up
Of the majority OF the visitors stamped them
as theatrical men and women Of the period
The dead mans mother, Mrs. Eleanor Bishop,
and half dozen lady friends occupied seats
opposite the jury box. Mrs. Bishop was
closely yelled. She sobbed pitifully from
beginning TO end Of the proceedings Alta
p. m. a jury Of business men was secured
Array OF Legal Talent.
Thomas Atchison appeared for the Bishop
family, ex-Judga Samuel Randall for Mrx
E,eanor Bishop, Edwin L. Albeit Tor the dis
triot attorneys office, Bourke Cochran, r. II.
Moran aud William J. Lietch for DR.. Irwin,
Nelson j. Waterbury for Dr. Hance and John
Logan for DIR. Ferguson
Interrupted only 10y the stage whispering
of Citizen Train and the sobs Of Mrs. Bishop,
Coroner Levy addressed the jury as follows:
you are here TO investigate the cause OF
Washington Irving Bishops death. Rela-
tiyes Of the deceased have asked for this in
vestigation. 1t is claimed ON the part of the
late Mr.. Bishops mother and wife that at the
time the autopsy was performed the body Of
deceased was alive. 1t Is furthermore claimed
by these relatives that the autopsy was per-
formed without their authority and in viola
tson Of the law
Bourke Cookran's Correction.
In a very dogmatic sort OF way Bourke
Cochran protested that the coroner was ex-
ceeding his Jurisdiction. tYour business
said the orator politician, sis merely to as
certain the cause Of Mr. Bishops death The
legality of the autopsy is quite outside your
provincen The coroner unhesitatingiy agreed
with Dr. Irwins lawyer and told the jury so.
Wilton Lackaye, who plays in Feather
BRAIN at the Madison Square theatre, was
the first witness called MIR. Lackaye at
tested that hs was at the Lambs club on
Sunday, May II, and saw Bishop give the
last two exhibitions OF his phenomenal powers
After the first exhibition Bishop sank into a
chair a ID tainted. After the second he fell
backward apparently hleless, into the arms
OF two friends Witness did not hear DIR.
Irwin say to those who were IN the room at
the time, "Bishop Is no trickster. He pos
sesses some occult power, winch can only ba
1 explained by an examination OF his brain.
Clay M Greene, dramatic author and cor
| responding secretary Of the Lambs club, tes-
tilted that he was one OF the members into
whose arms Bishop fell after his second and
last exhibition. The mind readers face was
coloress, his limbs were rigid and his teeth
firmly set AT DR.. lrwin's suggestion
cracAed ice was applied TO his head After
lying On the floor in a sort Of trance state
for at least ten minutes Bishop suddenly
opened his eyes sprang to his feet and said
"rm all rightm
Dr. Irwin Wanted the Case Alone.
"On the following morning at about 8
o'clock, continued Mr. Greene, II called al
the club and learned THAI Bishop was dying
IN a hall room on the second floor Dr. Irwin
asked me whether / knew any Of the mind
readers relatives / said l did not There
upon / suggested that DR.. Robinson, Bishops
regular physician, be called IN. Dr. Irwin
| SAID lnal ne knew What ne was dOlngt that
might send for DR.. Robinson if / liked, but
that he would not send for him or consult
with him, as they were not on speaking
terms. Meanwhile Bishop seemed to De gasp
ing for breath At lO;45 Dr. Irwin pro-
nounced him dead. l certainly thought he
was dead. His eyes were glazed, his mouth
was open and his head rested on his shoul-
der.n
Augustus Thomas, Bishops advance agent,
and John G. Richey, his manager, were ex-
amined and cross-examined at length by all
the lawyers regarding the effects produced
by an electric battery on Bishops body be-
fore and after DR.. Irwin dec ared it life
less Their evidence proved nothing. In
spite Of the angry and somewhat irreverent
protests OF Mr.. Louis Aldrich and other i'm
patient theatrical gentlemen, VINO had been
subrmnaed as witnesses in the case, further
hearing was adjourned TO this afternoon, when
Louis Aldr.ch, who, il is said, claims that
the doctors took from Bishops body paper
asking that care be taken not to cut him up
or bury him alive. will be examined, also
Henry Z. Dixey, Sadie Martinot and other
| friends Of the deceased.