Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-24
WIFE-MURDER TRIAL
THOMAS BISHOP, AGED SEVENTY,
CHARGED WITH KILLING HIS WIFE.
One Hundred Converts-The Liquor
Dealers Licenses.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Di.ps,ch.i !

PErERsDuRo. Va. April %. 1890.
Thomas Bishop was arraigned in the
Hastings Court to-day on an indictment
charging him with the fclonlous and ma
licious murder Of his wife, Sarah Ann
Bishop. on the night Of the Sd of March
last. Bishop is about sixty-hve years ot
age His hair and whiskers are long and
white, and their color gives HIM yenera-
BILE appearance. The specific charge IN
the indictment is that he caused the death
of his wife by beating and kicking. lie
stood and calmly faced the jury when the
indictment was read by the Clerk,
and his composure was such that one 20
look upon him could hardly believe him
guilty OF the terrible crime OF which he
was accused. Bishop is veteran OF tho
Mexican war; and rs such drew a pension
from tine Government OF about $50 every
three months. lie was also a Confederate
soldier. His habits lately have been some
what irregular, and only two or three days
before the death of his wife he returned
home after an absence Of two or three
months.
DREsWD AND LYING DEAD.
About 2 o'clock on the night Of March
Sd he awOke o neighbor--a cClOred woman
named Bette Ridley-and asked her 10
come in and see what the matter was with
his wife; that be had awakened and found
il impossible 10 arouse her. The Ridley
woman responded ut once TO the call and
found Mrs. Bishop dressed and lying dead
in bed, her head being discolored and swol-
len. Dr. RI. q. Leigh, the coroner. testified
TO having made pOs'-mOrtem examination
of the body and to holding an inquest. He
said that bruises were found on the lip, the
nose. above the right eve. behind the right
ear, and on the back of the head. While
there was no abrasion of the skin, showing
that no instrument had been used, there
was q marked extravasation OF blood be-
hind the ear and at the back of the head.
and clots of blood were found upon the
brain.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
These clots showed the cause of death
and no further examination was made. In
answer TO questions by the Common;
wealth's attorney the Doctor explained
that the presence Of these clOts upon the
brain might have been caused by the rup-
ture of diseased arteries, and that this rup-
ture might have beenthe result of excite
ment alone or combined with blows. Hts
inference was that the bruises which were
| found on the face, the side and back OF the
head could not have been cansed by q tall,
| but that they were inflicted by the INST.
| Dr. Leigh WAS examined at some length
| as an expert and gave an interesting eX-
| planation of the distinction and difference
as between apopleXv and paralysis. The
| dead woman was between fifty and sixty
years of age. and had suffered stroke OF
! paralysis from which she had never fully
recovered. IL ~ understood that the de-
| fence will claim that death was the result
of paralytic stroke and fall. There are
some ten or more witnesses to be examined
on either side. and the probability is that
| the case will not be given to the jury be-
| fore tomorrow afternoon. The prisoner
is ably defended by Messrs. W. B. Nell
waine and w. Il. McRae.
HUNDRED coNvRBTG.
| One hundred persons have thus far pro.
| fessed conversion under the preaching OF
| Rev. H. VI. Wharton at the First Baptist
! church, and from the great interest mani
tested this number will probably be
doubled bv the end of the week. This
morning Mr.. Wharton preached a ser
mon 90 rires. At noon, by special request,
he went over to Ettrick and preached 10
the employees Of Stewards trunk-factory
and tonight he addressed the men spe.
cially-no ladies being present.
PAYING IN MONEY.
The liouor-m are filing their applice-
| tiOns pretty freely before the Excise Board.
1t is now believed that the idea of making
test case here has been abandoned, and thai
all of the dealers Will pay In money. IL y
said that no guarantee Of protection coulS
be obtained from the agents Of the bond
holders in case coupons were rendered
The board is considering the question o
issuing licenses TO parties who have beer
convicted within the last year of selling
liquor on Sunday. The probability is tha
warning will be given that no licenses vii
be granted hereafter TO persons who mal
be guilty Of such violations OF the laws o.
the State and city.
BATTLE OF THE CRATER.
The next lecture before the A. y. Hi
Camp OF Confederate Veterans will be de
livered by George y. Bernard, Esq, Of this
city, whose subject will be The Battle oi
the Crater" Mr.. Bernard was one of the
active participants in that memorable
fight and can speak from actual knowledge
and experience. He made il point 10 keeT
full diary of all the events of the war ~
which he took part or which came TO hi'
knowledge a. the time. and hence bis lee
ture will be the more interesting.
Swift-Creek factory. in Chesterfield
county. is rapidly closing up its work and
will probably cease operations this week o.
least temporarily. A number OF the old
employees have gone elsewhere for work.
| ROBIN ADAIR.