Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-15
WAS HE REALLY DEAD
Did the Autopsy on Mind.Reader
 Bishop Kill Him?
But Dr. Irwin, One of the Phy sicians Who Performed the Operntinm, Says That Death Had Certainly Occurred Before the Knife Was Used.

NEW YORK, May 15.-The body of Washington Irving Bishop lies upon it's icy couch in Hawks undertaking shop, 8 Sixth avenue, while the story of the dead mans life continues to occupy al- most as much public attention as when he was living.
 All over New York can be heard con- meuts of Bishops friends on the nasty autopsy that had been performed on q man who was known to be sub ject to catalepsy, and ill almost every case the holding of a post norton was deemed ill-advised.
 Those who were unaware that an au- topsy had taken place doubted that Bishop was dead, asserting that he was only ill one of his frances or fits to which he had been subject. The autopsy, of course, settled all doubts as to whether he was alive or not. Mmc. Bishop, tho dead mans mother, has arrived from Philadelphia and lies in the Hoffman house exceedingly i'll and in the care of physician and two nurses. She is pros trated mentally, and does not believe her son is dead, and is constantly calling for him.
 Mrs. Bishop, the widow of Bishop, also occupied rooms at the Hoffman, and is accompanied by her sister. She de- nounces the holding of the autopsy in the most unmeaSured terms and believes there has been foul play.
 Ut seems very strange to mo" she said to a reporter, "that l only knew of my husbands 5 death by accident. My sis ter had taken me to the country for day or two and had returned to Philadelphia to do some shopping and had stopped at the housc where she heard the news. She came at once to me and we arrived in New York at 1 o'clock Monday. 1 went to the Lambs club but got no satisfaction, and from there to Dr. Irwine's.
 II then went the undcrtakers and saw the body. 1 thought it strange that: the glass ease should be over my husband s face and had it removed. His hair was disarrangcd,, and 1 took a pocket com b from my tas to smooth 1t. While so Co- ing the conl9 caught on the incision made in the skull and the horrible fact Was re- veaell tU tHe.
 "'Who has done this?' asked. I was nearly hysterical from pain and grief, and ] could get no satisfactory answer. N Fl don't believe that his brain is with tho body, and l feel certain there has been foul play
 Do you mean that he was alive when the autopsy was made?"
 Il certainly think so. He had cata- leptic attack once in Malta that lasted forty-clght hours and was given mp for dead. He has told me hundred times
 
 decomposed. He had a horror of being buried alice, and 1 consider that autopsy to have been a shameless, cruel outrage, to say the least"
 What motive could they have had?'
 They wanted hls brain, and seen <, him insensble wanted to be the first to look at 1t, that's all It is horrible, hor- rible !"
 Dr. Irvine, one of the physicians who performed the autopsy, said there was no undue haste in performing the operation and that it was better to have the work done by skilled scientists than by bung- ling coroner'S assistants.
 The man was certainly dead," he as serted vehemently. Il can tell when life has left the body"
 He further added that in order to re. move the body from the Lambs club he had to give death certificate, which ht did, saying that hysterio-catalepsy was the cause.
 This was done with the understanding that there should be an autopsy in order \ to confirm his judgment. Permission was given by John G. Ritchie, who was tC have been Bishops manager, and Advance Agent Thomas