Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-18
WAS HE DEAD?
The Question to be Settled Regarding
Mind-Reader Bishop.

NEW YORK, May 16.-There will be an
| inquiry, and perhaps another autopsy in
the case of W. Irving Bishop, the mind
reader, who, according to the medical tes-
| timony, died last Monday in a cataleptic
seizure that followed an exhibition of his
peculiar powers at the Lambs Climb. Mrs
Eleanor Fletcher Bishop, his mother,
clings to her belief that her son died
under the surgeons knife. Dr. j. A.
Irwin who was with Bishop when he was
seized and kept up until noon on Monday
efforts to bring him back to con-
seriousness, and who assisted Dr. Fer
guson. the pathologist of New York
hospital, in making a post mortem exami
anxious that there should be the fullest
examination. DR.. Irwin had known
Bishop for the last ten years, and says that
the charges made against him by Mrs.
first decided that Bishops funeral should
take place tomorrow, but the later deeel-
opments have caused it to be postponed I'M
til Monday. Mrs. Eleanor Fletcher Bishop
is still at the Hoffman house with the wife
of the dead mind reader. Today she sent
a letter to DR.. Allen McLane Hamilton
and DR.. Spitzka, asking them to assist her
in the investigation she was about to be-
gin. Mrs. Bishop also sent the following
letter to Coroner Levy:
I am of the belief, founded upon my
knowledge of previous attacks, that the
autopsy performed by Drs. Irwin and Fer
guson was unwarranted. | therefore de-
mand that further examination by made
with view to determine whether my son
died under the surgeons knife or from
catalepsy.
ELEANOR FLETCHER BISHOP.
By Mrs Bishops request DR.. Irwin, ac-
companied by John Richie and j. w.
Thomas, formerly Bishops manager, r.
L. Brigham Bishop, the cousin of the dead
man, called on Mrs. Bishop this afternoon.
Mrs. Bishop was laboring under great ex-
excitement. and when she saw DR.. Irwin
she demanded what right he had to under
take a post examination without
her permission. DR.. Irwin answered that
the circumstances warranted his action.
T. Brigham Bishop said:
Il have known my cousin since he was
years old and / am glad that the auto
posy was made. AS the male representa-
tive of the Bishop family here l say that
think Dr. .Irwln's action lin the matter
has been entirely honorable. and that the
charges of murder and brutality which
had been thoughtlessly hurried at him are
unfounded. DIR. Irwin has known w, Irv-
ing Bishop for the last 10 years. Irving
has several times asked DR. Irwin to see
that an autopsy was made
when he died, as he thought
there was something peculiar
about his brain and he wanted
the public to know that he was not a trick
ster. / think, however, that DR.. Irwin
was little hasty and might have waited
a few hours longer. Mrs. Bishop will
thank DR.. Irwin for his autopsy when it
is proved to her son was dead before he
was touched by the surgeons knife. |
have seen my cousin many times in a |
trance. At times he seemed perfectly |
dead and the blood would settle around |
his finger nails. 1 have seen him only |
short time before he was going on the
stage sink into a trance that coun-
terfeited death. I believe, however,
that he was dead at the time the
was made. ! have faith in |
the DOCTORS Judgment and fully agree
with him that he is bound to vindicate
bis honor. Both DR.. Irwin and my aunt
have agreed to another investigation"
Dr. Irwin has been greatly wrought up
BY the charges brought against him. He
made the following statement:
My action is this matter was dictated
Dy the regaid | held for Mr.. Bishop and |,
what / considered to be my duty. Bishop
was not fraud. The method of his death
goes to prove that he was what he claimed
% be- | did not know Dr. Ferguson per-
DR.. Lee as "a well-known pathologist and |
summoned him in the interests of science
The brain changes more quickly after
ieath than any other portion of the body,
md had we. waited longer the benefit of
he autopsy would have been lost. For
he trouble | have received in this case
lave received no thanks, bat have been
allied murderer and other vile names.
hink that an examination of the body
ven now will clearly show that the man
he'd hours before the post mortem. l
want the fullest investigation.
Both Mr. Richie and Mr. Thomas said
hat they had seen Bishop in a trance. In
heir opinion he was dead when the au-
Opsy was performed.
DR.. Allen McLane Hamilton answered
hat he would be ready to testify at the
proper investigation. Coroner Levy re-
eived Mrs Bishops letter tonight and
fter consulting with her and with Mr..
Bishops wife decided to subpoena the doc
ors and others Interested in the case to APP
year before him at4 O'Clock tomorrow after
loon. DR.. Hamilton and Dr. Spitzka viii
Re called upon as experts and Drs. Lee,
irwin and Ferguson will testify to the
acts. Adams, Dixey, Mr.. Richie, Mr..
Thomas and others who were at the Lambs
hub on Sunday night will be summoned.
Bishops body has been partly embalmed
nd lies in the undertaker's rooms at
Sixth avenue. Sadie Martinez and her
mother today sent lilies of the valley and
White roses to be placed on the coffin. The
uneral will be on Monday afternoon at
'clock in Grace church and the interment
will be at Greenwood.
DItNKCT CuOD MAD