The Press., 1906-12-26
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
 FOR BISHOP.

, ferences were being held by the de-
 fense as to the advisability of having } the prisoner change his plea, and the
 state were conferring to see if the plea } would be acceptable. States Attorney
 Charles Phelps and Attorney R. H.. } Fisk conferred with their doctors, A..
 R. Deffendorf of Middletown, W. L.. } Higgins of South Coventry, E. F..
 Davis of Ellington, T. F. Rockwell of } Rockville and Cyrus B. Newton of Stafford Springs. The attorneys for } the defense, Thomas F. Noone and Nj. D. O'ConDell, conferred with their doctors, Dr. Thompson of Hartford and Dr. Downs of Hartford. Judge Robinson was also conferred with on the part of the state.
 At t11.3O court opened, and it was announced by States Attorney Phelps shat the prisoner desired to change his plea to guilty of murder in the second degree. Bishop was then ask ed if he so desired, and replying in the affirmative, he was ordered to stand up Clerk of the Court Tingier then read the indictment to him and asked:-
 "To this Indictment, read in your
 hearing, what is your plea?"
 T Bishop replied: "Guilty of murder in the second degree.''
 The plea was made in distinct, in- telligent tones, and Bishop then sat down. The state's attorney then an-
 ncunced that the state accepted the plea.
 The jury was then discharged by
 Judge Robinson, who thanked the jurymen for their attendance in court.
 The court then took recess until
 3 o'clock. At 21O Judge Robinson
 entered from the retiring room and
 took his place on the bench. It was
 moved by States Attorney Phelps
 that the sentence be passed upon the
 accused, as he had pleaded guilty.
 Judge Robinson ordered Bishop to
 stand up and then pronounced sen-
 tence, saying: "Bishop, on the charge
 of murder in the first degree, you at
 first pleaded not guilty, and after the
 trial had proceeded several days you desired to change your plea and did
 change your plea to guilty of murder , in the second degree, and the attorney for the state has accepted your plea. This course meets with the approval of the court. The court believes that you were wise in taking tho course you did. The court believes from the investigations which have been in progress for the past few days that you are at least guilty of murder in the second degree. As you have pleaded guilty, it is the duty of the court to sentence you. It is the sen- tence of this court that you be com- mitted to state's prison at Wethers- field, and there be confined during the
 rest of your natural life." Court
 then adjourned for the term.
 Bishop was escorted from the court room by Deputy Sheriff Cowles, who has had charge of the prisoner in court each day, to the cage in the office of Police Captain Cady. He re-
 mained there until 3 o'clock, when
 Sheriff Dickinson started with him for Wethersfeld.
 >I The outcome of the case is con- sidered just. Bishop no doubt was mentally deficient, and at times ap- peared brighter than others, but it does not seem likely he would have
 been adjudged insane.
 )l On Wednesday the first witness for the defense, Fred Southmayd, agent of the state board of charities of Massachusetts, who had charge of Bishop for two years, testified that he considered Bishop mentally deficient. Nathan Coe of Springfield, a visitor for the state board of charities, stated that he first knew Bishop in October,
 1906. He took him from the New ton home and put him in the Will Hams family in Holland. Since placing him there he had visited him twice year regularly, the last time being in the spring of 1906. From Appearances Bishop was pleased with \ 6u0 nOm0s h0 COuSAUo1oO OA5AOP mentally deficient.
 Policeman Henry Mellen of Stafford Springs was recalled, and said at one time he had found Bishop on the street dancing with crowd. of boys watching and applauding him. The incident happened late at night. He always considered him foolish. The witness said that he had sent Bishop home a number of times. He had seen him hanging around Benton's pool rooms, where the boys were constantly poking fun at him.
 R. ". Ellis, J. M. Leach, G. l.. Dennis, Napoleon Pero, Jr., of Staf- ford Springs all testified that they considered Bishop feeble minded or foolish. In the afternoon Lott o. Hal loran, Michael O'Halloran, Frank Carpenter, Mrs. Kate King all testi- fled that they considered that Bishop was not bright. Seth Schofield of Wilmington, Mrs. Carrie Herre of Vernon, Mrs. Rose Hanson, George Otis of Everett, Mass, Michael Dona- hue and Henry Ladd, both inmates of the Holland jail, all testified to Bishops lacking in intelligence.
 Mrs. Annie Bishop of Everett, Mase., mother of the accused, was called to the stand by the defense. She said that she had borne six chill dren, of whom two, one son and one daughter, now live home. Charlie was born in Nova Scotia and when he was two years old they moved to Massachusetts, settling near Boston, and living in that vicinity since. Witness testified that there was in- l.nrs&~ Sx, %ha Fn,,nilx, o,, hoth hor aida