Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-12

His Mother Has Witness who Heard Her
son Under the Knife Cry Mother,
Hcf. fff- O,f., , ,gt.t..ueenOr.

.NfN OfN fuIEl1hI
The death Of Washington Irving
Bishop. the min1-roaicr. viii be in
quyred into on June 18th. Tie case has
been set for trial ON that date in Per, Ill
OF General Sessions. The css' was to
hsvo been tried yesterday. bu' Ia wyer
John VI. Bowcrs counsel for Or crank
Ferguson. obtained an adjournment.
In addition to DR.. Ferguson, Drs. John
a. Irwin ana Irwin ~. haucc are under
indictment charged with illegal dissoc-
ton. Bach Us under 81 3 ll bah.
Sensational developments are looked
for 40 the trial There viii bo g vast
amonut of expert testimony, especially
on tAe defendants side. awyers Mel
son Waterbury,. IT,, aud t. II. Moeran
VAL appear for DIS. Irwin and hance.
Mn. 4. o.. mother Of the dead
mind reader, was iu court She was
dressed ID deep mourning. To re-
porter ol the JOirJN She sand
WHAT SHE VIII PROVE.
81 have tried 10 have this case brought
20 trial time and again, bat have always
been put or with AL excuse. Mr.. NicOll
is not 10 fault lle Will, / have no
doubt. see that justice is done. I will
have d witness placed on the stanG VINO
viii testify that my son cried Mother
'Hclp as the surgeon saw entered his
BRAN.
Airs Bishop further said that in her
s0u's pocket vas letter il which lie
stated that he did not want an autopsy
made.
"My son feared he would be subjected
% iudiemty while in trance. Mrs.
Bishop continued: "but he did not
think any one would attempt TO hold an
autopsy until there was proof positive Of
lbs death. / shall do MI in my power TO
bring those implicated IN my sons death
90 justice
lls.uctAttorucy Nicoll, in speaking
on the matter yesterday, said the offence
is only misdemeanOr, punishable by a
tine Of 5000. or one year IS Imprisonment,
or both. Tie thought the physicians dis
obevod the law, which stipulates that an
autopsy snail lie made 10y coroner's
physician. This las can be violated
only in case the consent Of the deceased
persons nearest relative Is obtained.
Mr. Nlc0l does not know Of the ex-
istence Of any testimony tending 10 show
that Bishop was alive ut the time the au-
topsy was performed.
Washington Irving Bishop was famous
as a mind-rlader tie gave exhibitions
ofLis powers in this and other countries,
ana on the night of May j., 1882 gave
au exhibition at tho Lambs Club, IN
this city. His hosts on that occasion
were Henry Z. DiXey and Sidney Drew.
HIS LAST FEAT.
During one Of his most difficult ieats
Bishop fcu into q trance, from which be
could Dot be awakened. Physicians
were called ill., but they could not resus-
citte him until after working many
hours. he hardly opened his eyes but
10 close them again, and at noon May
18th DR. Irwin pronounced hun
dead. The holy was removed
t. Hawks undertaking shop, in Sixth
avenue. where Dr Ferguson performed
an autopsy. assisted by Irs. Irwin and
Hance although at the coroner's in
quest the three physicians were declared
innocent of the mind-readers death,
thew were Il month later indicted by the
grand Jury, the charge being illegal
dissection
Dr. Irwin, when seen, said he only
did bis duty in connection with Mr.
FsbOu's illness and death.