Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-16


the Way He Managed to Escape
and How He Gradually Worked
His Way Back Home-The Prisoner
Is Well Connected and Has Hith&
erto Borne an Excellent Characa
ter-Friend. VIII Stand by Him.
PETERSBURG, VA. December 15.-
(Special)-Arthur L. Bishop. who is
charged with the murder of Thomas j.
Wilson, on Tuesday night Of last week,
at the 1atters horne In Charlotte, N C.s
spent Saturday right and Sunday with +
his family III this city, anG early lass
night surrendered himself 10 NIayor Jones'
He sent a request to the MAJOR to coins
to his house. and the. Mayor responded.
and in person accompanied Bishop te
the Jail. and delivered him into the cus-
tody of the sergeant. to be held for the
North Carolina authorities. Governor Ay-
cock had offered a reward of $500 for the
young mans arrest.
Mr.. Bishop promptly and cheerfully
agreed to return to Charlotte for trial,
without the formality of requisition pa-
pers.
Chief Ragland at once at once corn-
municated with Chief Irwin. of Char
lotte. and that officer responded that hs
would come on Immediately for the pris.
oner.
SeIf-Defence Claimed.
Mr.. Bishop claims that he shot Mr.. Will.
son in self-defence and that he shot
only after he had been thrice strucE
over the head with a stick. He exhibits
| the bruises caused by the blows. He
says he never saw Mr.. Wilson before
! that fatal night, and that he would nor
| know him now if he were to see hin1
alive. The blows on his head were struck
| with such violence. he says. that he was
! temporarily dazed and shot. hardly
knowing what he did, save to protect
| himself. Mr.. Bishop declined, when seen
! this morning. to make any further state
! ment as to the shooting, deeming 1t best
! that all the facts should be withheld
| until the trial. It was the first time ha
| had ever been in Mr.. Wilson's house, and
he was there then by invitation
A Cheerful Prisoner.
Mr. Bishop. apparently, is one OF tha
most cheerful prisoners ever confined in
our city jail To see him and to talk
with him, one would not fh' an instant
think that any criminal charge rests
and during the day has received a large
number of friends. including ministers OF
the gospel. He talked very freely and
! laughingly with all, restraining himself
only on the one subject of the fatal
shooting. Mr.. Bishop is widely known in
Petersburg, where he was born and
reared, and where his family. his parents,
and all his relatives reside. and naturally
great interest. as well as sympathy. is
felt i'll his case. These were freely shown
to-day by the large number Of friends
who called to see him.
An Interesting Story.
While Mr. Bishop refused to talk on
the details of the fatal occurrence in Mr.
Wilson's house. he told without restraint
of his subsequent adventures After tha
shooting. he escorted to her home the
young lady with whom he went to Mr.
Wilson'S. Later, he was standing
on the street. man who was passing
stopped and asked him for match. The
match was furnished. and the stranger
volunteered the information that man
had just been killed down the street by
a drummer whose name he did not know
Mr.. Bishop lost his hat at Wilson'S
| and he borrowed q cap from friend,
which very much changed his appear.
ance. Wearing this, he returned to the
Buford Hotel where he had been stop
|
ing had not yet been brought. and boldly
went up to his room. He found his door
locked, and, feeling the need of rest. he
took the elevator to another floor, where
he found a vacant room, and went to
bed He was afterwards informed that
the hotel was being watched by the po-
lice. He remained In the hotel until Wed>
nesday morning. and about noon lefs
Charlotte on tramp of 50 miles by pubs
I To Narxy r q
uaily concealed his identity by sharin4
off his rnoustache and wearing the cap
that had been given him. and buttonin8
up his overcoat about his face. -
Walked Thirty-Tvvo Miles.
The first day he travelled 80 miles. and
a, night slept in 4 barn. The second
night, near New London. he slept in a
hay rick At New London he took o.
train to Salisbury. going about In public
and making no effort to conceal himself
Friday night he took a sleeper on tha
Southern railroad for Norfolk. reaching
the latter city Saturday morning. Ha
walked the streets a greater part OF tho
day, passed d number OF policemen. and
recognized a number OF friends. who.
however, failed to recognize him: and al
1:30 P. NJ. boarded the passenger tram
for Petersburg. He had considered the
matter OF surrendering himself IN Char
, lotte or at his home IN PETERSBURG. anc
decided on the latter course, because OF
the feeling against him in Charlotte And
then. too, the desire was strong with
him TO see his family.
He arrived in Petersburg about 10:9e
at night. and as the train slowed up neat
Fourth street he jumped to the ground.
and, avoiding the mucn-traveiled streets,
went to his home on Harrison street. by
a somewhat circuitous route. The night
} was dark and cold, and but few people
/ were out at that nour.
Remaining with his family until Sun,
, day night, he sent for Mayor Jones. and
gave himself up.
Who Mr. bishop Is.
/ Mr. Bishop is the son OF Mr. and MIS-
Jackson Bishop. Of this city. FIe Is mar
rted and has one child. He IS about 2
s.! or 50 years old. acd has for years beel
3 tr-,x yelling salesman. and very sue