The evening world., 1889-05-18
WAS HE SMOTHERED?
A New Theory Advanced to Prove
that Bishop Was Dead.
InClOSed In an Twilight CaSket for One
Hour.
DIR. Robinson Says That Would Kill the
Mind Reader.

A new point IN the case OF washington
Irving Bishops autopsy was developed to-day
by the fact that for one hour before the
autopsy took place the mind-reader's body
was incased in an alright casket.
This, It was claimed by many, would be
sufficient to cause death, even II he were III a
trance. and the accused physicians, Drs.
Irwin, Ferguson and Hance, feel somewhat
relieved at this discovery
The gentleman in charge Of Hawks under
taking establishment, where the mind
readers body now lies. informed al EVENING
WORLD reporter this morning that Bishops
body was brought there in an air-tight casket
about 8 o'clock last Monday afternoon.
Gould any air get into the coffin ?" asked
the reporter.
There is q small hinged lid, about six inches
square, in the centre Of the coffin, aud q mo-
dicum of air could get in through there"
How long could u healthy, man live in
that coffin with the lid screwed down? ?"
About fifteen minutes, but l would hate
TO be in it as long as that even. A man would
be nearly dead after that length of time"
How long was Bishop shut up in it before
the doctors made the autopsy 7" asked Til
EVENING WORLD representative.
About IN hour"
Then, even If he was only in a cataleptic
trance when removed from the Lambs Club.
you tnlDk ne WOulu nave DB6n bIlOLneTeu Dy
the time his body was taken out of the coffin
here. where the doctors performed the
autopsy ?"
Undoubtedly" replied the gentleman.
" although that never occurred TO me be-
fore. That surely settles all doubt about
Bishop being alive or dead when the autopsy
| was made"
The reporter then called upon DIR. Thomas
5. Robertson, Of % East Twentieth street,
one of the most eminent physicians IN town.
When the reporter explained how long
B shop had been in the coffin he declared
well, that surely settles all doubt as to
whether Bishop was alive when the autopsy
was performed.
"Aman in gaod health could not live in a
coffin such as you describe for ten minutes.
| When you take into consideration Bishops
! condition., l am sure that even If he were
only in a cataleptic trance when put in the
coffin at the Lomb's Club. he must have been
smothered before arriving at the under
takers shop.
Air is Just as necessary to q man In q
trance az TO a healthy man.
- attended Bishop professionally from
the do Q of his return, after ten years ~sojourn
in Europe in 1886 until he left the city again
| 1887"
Did your ever attend him IN a cataleptic
trance 2" was asked.
II did on two occasions. The first time
was after | had performed a difficult opera
ton on aim. He dropped right of in q
| i houkh DC - hNhls
For five hours / worked over him, al
though 1 fully believed he was dead: but
something impelled me TO continue my en-
deayors to restore HIM to life. At the end of
five hours he opened his eyes and regained
possession of his senses.
The second time he came in here to see
me, and while talking to me dropped of
again. He lay in a trance that time for three
hours before / brought him to-"
Did he ever say anything to you about
dissection after death p,
frequently. He had a horror of it. 1t
was q hobby with him.. Don't, ont ever
cut me up when l de- he has often said to
me-.
he would be cut open alive when In q cata!ep-
tic trance. He has often told me that he told
every physician who ever attended him not
to cut him open after death"
Do you think he was really dead when
placed in the coffin in the Lambs Club or
only in q trance ?" asked the reporter.
DIR. Robertson refused to discuss that
question or to say anything concerning DR..
Twins action beyond the simple statement {:
- think that the autopsy was performed
IN too much of a hurry. would never hold
an autopsy in less than twelve hours" he de-
clared.
On the other hand, il is claimed by scien-
fists that q person in q trance has no need of
air, as all animation Is suspended that if
Bishop needed air he must have been able to
breathe, and 1t would be ridiculous to sup
pose that the" physicians who made the au-
topsy would do SO while the person was
breathing.