The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-07
CHARGED WITH A
HEIHOUS CRIME
j. M. Bishop accused by His
Step daughter.
TWELVE YtAR-OLO CHILD
Declares Bishop Assaulted Her Several Times
DUriTg Past overwhelmingly Hearing
Today Before Magistrate
H, fin.
TWELVE YtAR-0LO CHILD

james Nj. Bishop was arrested yesterday
morning on the charge of carnally know
ing his twelveyear-old stepdaughter.
lie was taken at once before Magistrate
j.. l.. Helm for preliminary hearing, but
owing TO the illness of one of the principal
witnesses, the child's grandmother Mrs.
j. IL. Novel;, the magistrate was COM
PEELED to postpone the hearing until this
afternoon u. . o'clock.
Magistrate Hcflin said he would accept
a bond OF $500 for the prisoners appear
ancc today, and Bishop was taken to the
county Jail pending the securing of this
bond.
Yesterday evening the magistrate in
creased the bond to SEQ, which Bisop was
unable to give. and so he was committed
to Jail.
The child is Flora Combs the daughter
OF Mrs. Bishop by her first husband.
II seems that Bishop and his wife went
to Richmond on the excursion the other
day, leaving Flora at her grandmother
NoNclls house, where yesterday morning
she told OF the alleged crime in the pres
encc OF j. III. Novel; and his wife, her
grandfather and grandmother, r. p.
HOLMES, a nephew of Mrs. Novel; j. n.
Mciiary, Keeper of the Market and JUS
tice of the Peace r.. l.. Hefln.
The girls story is that during the past
year Bishop used 10 take her to a cucum-
Der patch ne had near the city farm, and
there would accomplish his purpose, and
when she cried out he raised his fist and
told her he would KIN her if she hollered.
Upon this statement R. p. Holmes
swore out warrant before Magistrate
Helm and the arrest was made by Dep
uty Sheriff Stell at 80 yesterday morn
ing. The charge III the warrant is car
nal knowledge with girl under fourteen"
The hearing was to have been at l
o'clock yesterday, but at that hour it was
learned that Mrs Novel;, the girls grand
mother. was too i'll to leave the house
Bishop said that it would be a great in
justice to him to postpone the hearing,
that he was poor man and a man of
honor. lie was thirty-nine years old, had
never been arrested before and did not
want TO have to go to Jail. He was willing
and anxious to go on with the case at once
hut it must be postponed, he had $3.50
worth of personal property that he would
offer as chattel mortgage and he would
be willing for the postponement if this
bond were accepted. otherwise he in
sisted upon am immediate hearing as he
had never been in Jail and did not wish
60 go there.
Magistrate HefliE said he appreciated
Bishops position. but he could not do
otherwise than continue the case, on ac-
count OF the unavoidable absence of Mrs.
NOVEL; II very material witness.
Bishop contended that the child herself
was sufficient evidence one way or the
other. and that the coroner was there, who
could he called upon TO make an exami-
nation
The girl was twelve years old on the 18th
Of last May. She is quite deaf. Her rea-
son for not telling her story before is that
she feared Bisop would make good his
threat 10 Kill her. Shc says the assault
was committed some six or seven times.
Bishop when asked yesterday for a
statement. said:
1T Is an infamous charge and damnable
lie. The girls grandmother Mrs. J. H /
Novel;, and her cousin. II. p. Holmes |
promised her a fine farm house and a |
Piece of land If she would swear to "A lie |
against me, and the girl did it. not know |
ing what she was doing because she is |
deaf. She thinks she is my daughter,
and shall never know she is not, unless
somebody else tells her l have been a !
father to her and shall always be She
does not know now what she said this