The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-20
WASHINGTON IRVING BISHOP.
Horn March Z. isA
MURDERED
Apfil N, iSNl.

She was persuaded with difficulty 10
change the murdered" 10 "dicd."
THIS is the letter Mn. Bishop wrote TO
Coroner Levy
"Dcar sir-I am Of the belief from my
knowledge Of previous attacks from which
my son suffered, that the uu ppsv per.
formed by Drs. Irwin aud Ferguson was
unVarrantcd. | therefore dcmnnd that n
further examination bc madi with the
view 10 determining whether my son wa,
killed under the surgeons kuiic or died
from calalcpsy. lOuns sincerely,
"MRs. ELEANOR FLETCHER liisuoP."
To this Coroner Levy responded In per.
son. At O o'clock lac had long cOnsulm-
ton at the Hoffman with Mns. Bishop.
aud left saying he would summon Ds.
Irwin and Ferguson TO appear before him
ut the Coroncr's office today at noon. Ga
Monday ho will hold an inquest, and will
summon DR.. Allan Mclano Hamilton and
other experts 10 testify.
Bishops wiic was evidently offended
that she had been 10 little consulted with
regard ~ the funeral arrangements, but
she snid SHE was willing that they should
take place rs arranged. Sho * also
anxious that there should bo an inquest.
fHlN llMN illIlNNNil LAW NNNN NAN'AlN ANlN NllNl
Buckley 10 look after her interests.
Bishop is supposed TO have left little, "
any property.
TOO QUICK WIN rnEB RNiyrs.
Dr. Clinton /. Ingg, oi No. ~ West
Thifty-soycnih street, Que of the most dis.
tinguishcd homeopathic practitioners In
the city, said: III should under no circum.
stances perform an autopsy on u body
until nt least twelve hours after death un.
less the friends Of the deceased suggested
II, aud IL Is q general regulation in the
hospitals that at least this space Of time
should clapso before a post-mortcm Is
made. In Bishops case feel pretty Ger.
tam that tho man was dead, ~ such men
~ Ferguson. Irwin and llnncc would
hardly make such terrible mistake.
still, there was absolutely no legal warrant
for the operation, and, not to speak OF tie
dangerous haste which characterized the
performance, Bishops wife aud mother
should certainly have been communicated
with before the body was dssccted.
don't think that the rigidty produced by
calalepsy could bc mistaken Tor rigor NOR.
lis. In one the limbs arc stiff aud inlex.
iblc, aud you can bend them only by tho
scyercst effort. In calalepsy YOU can
bend the eKtrcmitos without much
trouble, aud they remain Ia any position
iu which you put them.
"li you crook the arm Of n man In acal-
aleptic trance II will stay In that position
sometimes for an hour, gradually yielding
10 the laws Of gravity. However, there
are undoubtedly many instances on record
where catalcptics have been buried alive,
and ! now have among my patients n lady
who tells Of a most horrible experience,
which is youchcd for 10 mo by her family.
Somo years ago she fell In a trance, and
the family physician, who was called In,
pronounced her dead, after trying in vain
Tor sometime 10 rosusciate her. llor rel
aiiyes, whilo having the utmost faith In
tho doctor, who had been attending tho
family for some time, were loath 10 accept
his decision, aud a number Of other ply.
scians were called In consultation.
The opinion was divided. Some OF the
doctors, after making a number OF tests,
pronounced her dead, while tho others
thought that there was some doubt. After
waiting some days longer tho last doubt
disappeared, as no sign Of life was appa.