New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-24
WHAT KILLED W. /. BISHOPS
THE INQUEST INTO HIS DEATH BEGUN.
TAKING TESTIMONY AS TO THE CONDITION or
HIs BODY BEFORE THE AUTOPSY.

coroner LpVy began yesterday, In room No, ID,
City Hall, his inquest into the Of tho death Of
the mIndreade Washington Irving Wellington
Bishop, and Of the circumstances under which tho
autopsy his body begun, less than four hours
after death had been pronounced, by DR.. John A.
Irwin, TO have occurred ". DOurka Cochran,
Edward II. Moeran and William j. Lsitch appeared
for Dr. Irwin; L. l. c. Albeit and Thomas A. Atch.
lson for Mrs. Mabel Bishop tho widow; n. J. Water
bury for DR.. Hance: DR.. John Logan, who IS both
lawyer and physician, for Dr. Ferguson; Samuel H.
Randall and George Francis Train for Mrs. Eleanor
Fletcher Bishop the mother, and Harry Macd0na for
the District Attorneys Office.
Tho following Iurymen were chosen: Clarence d.
EewalL Or. Franklin Delafeld Alexander 7. Lane
Gabriel Blow, Maurice A. Magner, William Re!mann
II. A. Wiesner, leopold Wel Isdore Stern Dr. VIII
lam Henry Dustman Otto Won Borrter and Dr.
Louis Deplasse. The three physicians, Drs John ~
Irwin Frank Ferguson and Hsnce, who ara hold under
bail by tho Coroner. present as were MIS-
Bishop sr. accompanied by Mis-. Chase, Mrs. Mar
tinot and Miss Ida Orme Mr.. Train had or1ei
consisting Of several large sheets OF wrappngpaper'
on which pasted a number of newSpa cuttings
lie passed written comments and verses to the TO
Dorter, and also distributed buuouhole bouquets
Mr.. Albeit asked the medical men on the jury II
they were acquainted with or had any bias against
any OF the defendants or II there anything In tho
code OF professional ethics which would hinder or pre-
vent their passing judgment upon the actions OF
other doctors. This answered In the negative.
DISCUSSING A LEGAL POINT. q.
Mr. Cochran objected to the coroner inqurlng into
anything that done afGr death had occurred.
Subsequent proceedings vorc he maintained, to be
taken cognzance Of, II at all, by another court
There considerable discussion on this point be-
tween counsel which ended by the coroner saying
that he would allow the inquiry 10 cover the ground
whether or not the cause Of death such should
have come before a coroner Wilton Leakage the
first witness called by Mr.. Atchson SAID
am an actor and a member OF tho Lambs Club,
1 went there Sunday evening May IL about
O'Clock Bishop. at the request OF certain members
gave an exhibition Of his powers. At tho close OF
bls Grg; feat he seemed exhausted but was not uncon'
scious and recovered. He then attempted another
and at ts close fell back in It. This time he dd
not revive lie attended to by Dr. Irwin and
others l believe Adrlch. Greene and Stewart L OBJ
served him the time OF both attacks After the
Hrst ho not rigid; after the second no was DR..
said. after me second nttacS That Bishop was
suffering from cataepsy. He also said he did not be
leye that tho performance was a trick. but was the
result OF peculiar which scientists did not
understand ! last Bishop about o'clock. when
be vas removed 70 q bedroom upstairs
Clay ". Greene said:
am a dramatic author and corresponding secretary Of
the Lambs DR.. Irwin is o member Of thas club was
Standing close by Bishop he fell back In The
second attack. helped to lay him on the door Hts
tech were set and his limbs rigid. His arms were
dying round and 1 hsld A. the time OF his death
tho eyes we're glazed the mouth was open and the
head side. felt the fingers OF one hand
and they were flexible. Soon aftor death an electric
battery was applied. The only result was slight
movement OF the muscles OF the back. also saw
snail battery applied early in the morning IL did not
sccm 20 have any effect. do not know II the battery
used after death was the but thought from
the noise made that 1. stronger. The motion pro-
duced seemed 70 be q slight bending OF the spine
did not not notice any OF the limbs, which,
however. we're covered by the bedclothes. did not
any brandy administered.
Nj Stewart Of tho club, told he had the effects
found on Bishop. lie aid nothing abou: papers L
hoard nothing any paper asking that Bishops body
should no. be dissocted. Louis Aldrch made state
nenl 70 me about paper having been takea from
Bishops pockets buI think that not till tho sue
cecling dly. 1 believe tho body removed between
and 3 O'Clock the afternoon. Before the body was
removed, 1 had been 70 Bishops rooms In the Holman
HOUSE, and found mothers address In fhilSdsphs
Is Dr. TWINS suggestion that went IN search
Of hts relatives their addresses
UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS.
An attempt Wa unsuccessh4lly made by Counsellor
Atchlson to get both Of these witnesses 10 that
lr. Irwin had stated that Bishops mysterious power
might DO explained by examination Of his brain
soon after his death, Louis Adrch said 10 reporter
thai tie paper alluded DOCTORS prescription
Gus, Thomas. the third witness. testified:
had known Bishop about two months-was his
ADVANCE agent nrss saw him on day OF his death
shout quarter before IL In tie forenoon. wss told Ia
wa unconscious lilo was lying on tho bed breathing
yrry heavily and very slowly His bosom was bare and
tho poles battery being moved slowly about BY
Dr. Irwin ono In the region Of the heart and the other
on tho hight the mock. J. G. Richie, Bishops
manager came In after Before death occurred ]
ufud En eyeIld and touched eyebal. but there WA
no reaction. counted heaEtbeaS by .
vein la the throat, pulsauon WA
hardly percepubIe the There were lo4 beats "
che minute l "a, there III Bishop died u 10. DR..
Irwin and Mr.. Stewart also present.
death DR.. Irwin held his ear over Bishops heart
Neither beat respiration was percepuole. took
bishops hand II turning blue The battery was
tried without response. wens 70 Philadelphia the
o'clock train Inform Bishops relatives had heard
Bshop speak the possibility OF autopsy aftor death
had seen him before staieptie state but In
anything Ike the nna state, which Dr. Irwin said
coma general conversation was held soon after the
death In which Messrs stewart Ward Charles w. Thomas
and Dr. Irwin took part DR.. Irwin said Il was desirable
to have au autopsy could be held by the consent
OF the PARTIES interested by order Of the He
considered the former the desirable. never heard
Bishop sneak Of his mother. did not know OF any at
tempt being made his mothers consent T. the
autopsy.
s G.. Richie said:
l am theatrical manpgcr-was Bishops manager for
four weeks and few days ] summoned 10 the
lambs by Charles w. Thomas about 80 a. tho
day " Bishops death and there immediately. SID
ncy Drsw. Charles Thomas, Mr. Wolsey and Mr. Stewart
Wcro Bishop seemed recognize slightly, but
passed into comatose state unlike anything had
ever seen him IN Dr. Irwin administered hypoderno
Injections believe Of brandy aud milk hea-d DR.. Ir.
win say that an autopsy should be made. l tce.
gram TO Bishops relatives address in Philadelphia
found az the HOFFMAN House.
Al this stage Coroner Levy adjourned the hearing
TIL O'Clock to-day
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