The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-01

The Trial Creates Much Interest in Eredf-
cal Circles-Bishop's Mother Worked
Hard to Bring the Doctors Before the
Court-she Circulatss Photoprophs
Around the Court Room But is Com
PEELED to Remove Them Jury Out
Nearly Five Hours.
New YORK, June Characterization
was rife yesterday morning in the court
of general sessions as to the outcome of
the trial of DIR. John A. Irwin, one Of
the three physicians indicted for per-
forming an illegal autopsy on the body
OF Mind Reader Washington Irving Bis
hop, " ho died in cataleptic fit i'm.
mediately after giving an exhibition at
the Lambs Club on the night of Nav
12, 1889. That the trial is creating in
terest in medical circles was plainly
evinced when the doors wers thrown
open. Physicians, surgeons and medical
students almost blocked the corridors,
and when Judge Fitzgerald appeared
the small, cramped courtroom was un-
comfortably filed.
Mrs. Bishop, the mother of the de-
ceased, was the first person to arrive
She came into court some time before
the proceedings began with large pic
ture OF her son, which was taken shortly
after the autopsy in HAWKES. undertake
ing establishment, on Sixth avenue
She placed the Iicture in conspicuous
place on tho table, where the jury might
see 1T, but Assistant District Attorney
Weeks sent word from his office that it
must be removed. The picture shows
Bishop in his coffin with brand across
the forehead. where tho knife had boon
used. Bending over the coffin is Mrs.
Bishop, who was then considered re-
markably handsome woman.
1t is an effective piece of work, and
would probably have had some infiu-
ence upon the jury, especially ii the
change in the appearance of tho mind
readers mother is noted.
Mrs. Bishop says she has worked
ceaseiessly for three years to bring tho
case to trial, and spent not u little of
her time before this morning telling
the spectators what farce the law
Is 10 some OF the spectators Mrs.
Bishop gave copies Of tho picture Sew
eral of these had the sentence, This is
the way found my beautiful boy in a
strange undertaker's shop" written
above them.
When told that she must not circulate
these photog raphs about the courtroom,
she said she thought she was being
treated shame fully
just what caused Washington Irving
Bishops death is question that has
never been answered to the satisfaction
OF many persons. Drs. John Arthur
irwin, Frank Ferguson AMI Irwin Fl.
Hance were concerned in the autopsy.
Since that was performed Mrs. Bishop
has been unremitting in her efforts to
have the physicians indicted for murder.
n In nd hnr y
when the autopsy was begun. Tho
physicians we're indicted for a misde-
eanor in having performed an autopsy
without the consent of tho nearest rela-
tive OF the deceased.
All tho evidence in the case was taken
yesterday, and when the matter was re-
sumed this morning Lawyer Alfred
Pagelow, counsel for Doctor Irwin.
began summoning up for tho defense.
lie said that DR.. Twins come C ton with
the case had been purely accidental.
Doctor Irwin was the first of the doctors
to be tried. There was no precon-
ceived intent on his part. nor had he
been attracted by brutal curiosityg
Lawyer Pagelow wished the jury to re-
mem Der that all that had been charged
against the physicians was that they
had performed the autopsy without tho
consent Of Washington Irving Bishop
or his next kin 1T is enough" said
he, that we have his consent. All
that was necessary for us was TO have
his consent. The only evidepc, con-
corning that point was furnished by the
defense. Was there anything to show
that he (l'ishop) had given his consent
to tho autopsy. Tho prosecutions had
not offered particle OF evidence on
that. Thoy have not shown that tho
consentof Bishop was not given. They
have not offered a single word to show
1t was not Bishops intention and wish
10 nave the autopsy performed
The lawyer referred the testimony of
Ritchie, who had been with Bishop for
nine weeks before the death OF the lat
ter, and called attention to the fact that
he had stated on the stand that in con-
versa alton with Bishop concerning the
peculiar power which he was supposed
TO have that Bishop had said TO him
that he supposed it would all be found
out when an autopsy was performed.
You have only, gentlemen, to deter
mine whether or not Washington Irving
Bishop gave his PERMISSION that this
autopsy DO held on his body" said Mr..
Pagelow, and in conclusion asked that
the jury pay no attention to the lapse OF
time between death and the time the
operation was performed. Prosecutors
Weeks then commended that no permits
sion had been given by Bishop that an
autopsy might be held on his brain.
Judge Fitzgerald then commenced his
charge TO the jury. 1T is conceded by
the defense that an autopsy was per-
formed on Washington Irving Bisfrop,
and it is for you to determine whether
or not it was lawful or unlawful oper-