THE BISHOP TRAGEDY
THE SHOOTING OF A GISBORIiITE. SflLt FURTHER PARTICULARS. THE OCCURRENCE—RESULTS —THE FATAL SEQUEL. CONSCIOUS UP TO DEATH. THE WOMAN PERFECTLY CALLOUS. NO WILL MADE. VSRDIOT 07 WILFUL MURDER. A SPECIAL TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE.
THE MAILBOAT IN AUCKLAND. Since the publication by us of the dreadful shooting affair on board the Alemeda on the occasion of hft lasAyric from San Francisco to New Zealand, j yirival of the first boat with the mail, has been eagerly awaited both In Auckland and Gisborne. Bishop, the victim, was well known in the former city as an old resident. He had an interest in a pawn-brpklrig establishment from which he derived a considerable sum of money. From there he went to Coromandel where he opened a chemist and photographer’s shop. He was very successful In both these calling, and retired with a Considerable addition to his banking account. On returning to Auckland he resolved.. J to try his fortune in Gisborne, and his career in this town has already been fully detailed in our columns. Knowing the interest taken in this district in the awful end of Bishop, we made every arrangement ‘o obtain a full account of the assassination, and in conjunction with an Auckland paper, forwarded a request to a correspondent in San Francisco to forward by letter to our agent in Auckland a full account of the tragedy. From there the particulars were immediately wired to us. The account is full of thrilling details, and shows a determination on the part of the woman to avenge her supposed wrongs. She seems to have acted her part in a cold premeditated way, for she had waited and watched for a favourable opportunity to carry out her design against Bishop. She had evidently obtained information that “ her friend ” was about to return from whence he came, and as he was about to quit the gay and festive city of San Francisco he received the contents of a pistol, necessitating his removal on shore. There appears to be no possible doubts that the result of the civil suit brought by Bishop against Mrs “ Dr.” Von for the recovery of certain property, and his treatment of her after he found she was making no effort to pay the rent, was the cause that incensed her to commit the dreadful act. Bishop himself said that he knew of no other reason. All will remember the particulars of that action, and what a sorry figure Bishop cut in it. The woman evidently desired to appeal against that decision, for she stated she had waited for some time to serve notice of appeal on Bishop. Fearing that he would escape her clutches, she took the very summary procedure of lodging the •• notice " in Bishop’s body. The particulars do not state that the woman made any remarks before the shot was fired, but this was probably owing to the fact that those who were close by at the time of the occurrence left almost immediately afterwards by the Alemeda. It is not probable that these witnesses will be required at the trial. The first intimation that the " little fat man" answered to the name of Bishop was from some remarks the woman made in an interview with a reporter' Her various statements show her character in its true light. She was absolutely indifferent to the result of her deed, and was unmoved at the intelligence that Bishop's in. juries had terminated fatally. Bishop lingered in the moat intense agony for nearly three weeks, and although perfectly conscious upto the time of death, he made no response when requested to make a will. The par. tioulare do not record that the deceased left any instructions as to communicating the news of his death, for he must have been aware that hia recovery was hopeless; but from the private cablegram received at Auckland some short time back it is very evident that he gave some directions to those who attended him in his last moments. The woman was in the first instance conveyed to prison on a charge of shooting with intent to kill, but the case had to be adjourned owing to Bishop's critical State. Up to the time of the Mariposa’s departure, beyond the fact that a charge of murder had been laid against Mrs Von, no information as regards the trial have coma to hand. No one can but feel some pity for the unfortunate man at his untimely death, even the most unsympathetic cannot but feel that his wrongs did not justify a violent death at the hands of a woman who, by her own showing, had sunk to the lowest depth of degradation. Let us look at the facts of the case. The woman appeared only too anxious to be bought by the highest bidder, and she was knocked down to Bishop, and he took possession of his property. Soon tiring of his bargain he sought means to recover some of the property he had so lavishly bestowed upon her, and he succeeded. That success brought with it his death. These are the simple facts, and If they are sufficient to justify a man’s death we fear a great many would suffer. The present case is in no way parellel with the great Langworthy scandal, which has caused such an immense amount of indignation throughout England. If ever a man deserved shooting Langworthy did,
and it is a pity that he did not meet with a woman of Mrs Von’s stamp instead of the highly cultured and virtuous woman whose fair name and fame he tried to blast. The tragic ending of the attempted assassination should prove a warning to those men whose inclinations lead them in the same direction as did Mr Bishop’s, and, in conclusion, we echo the sentiments of Mr Justice Burke “ a man who goes to a matrimonial agent for a wife should be under the care of a guardian.’! [Since writing the above it appears from a late Auckland paper that the deceased had made a will, for it says:—“ A caveat was recently lodged in the Supreme Court against the will of Mr Bishop, who was lately shot in San Francisco, the objection being raised by
Mrs Bishop. Mr Napier, BOlicltor, inovCd that probate be granted and the caveat be Set aside, The hearing of the motion was adjourned." This must mean that a will had been made by Bishop previdus to hie departure.] The Sail Francisco Chronicle; gives a lengthy report of the case, from which the following telegraphic account has been sent to ua; — A Womaa, tall, portly, an! r&thor
overdressed, Was noticed by the police and the ship's officers to be lingering about the Oceanic dock from which the steamship Alameda was advertised to sail for New Zealand direct. On being interrogated by a policeman and others whom she accosted, she said she was
Waiting for it friend who intended to leave for Auckland. She was quiet and self-possessed, and her demeanour gave those who spoke to her anything but an impression that she was to be the perpetrator of the tearful tragedy that os soon afterwards took place. She appeared as if she was an ordinary woman waiting to give an ordinary good-bye to one of her friends who was going away on a long journey. The woman, after waiting some considerable time about the dock, stepped aboard the Alameda and walked up and down the deck for a short interval. She then was noticed to go through the state rooms, and appeared anxious to ascertain the whereabouts of some person. The search not proving successful, she deliberately and calmly ransacked every corner of the ship in search of her friend. After a very minute examination she walked up near the [gangway, wearing a somewhat disappointed expression. There she stood until the passengers began to come on board, A number of came on board, and their countenances were eagerly scanned by the woman. Finally : A little, fat, old. ana, carrying a lot of luggage and bundles, waddled up the gangway, and made his way down to the steerage quarters. On the [appearance of this man the woman suddenly became very excited, and followed him down the hatchway.
Sh» had found hor friend 1 A moment or so later on the persons in the steerage apartments were startled by the report of a pistol in their midst. The little man, who had apparently just that minute slung his luggage on a bunk, then turned round, and was pressing his hands to his abdomen convulsively, whilst he bent himself nearly double, as if suffering the greatest torture. A few feet in front of him stood the tall and portly woman, a smoking revolver in her right hand, which she still pointed to the little man. Everything was confusion in an instant, and ex-officer Patrick Coyle, who is now a railroad agent, and who was standing near, sprang forward, and knocked down the woman’s arm, and
Had her taken Into custody. The woman appeared to be utterly indifferent as to the result of the shot she had fired. When the officer struck up her arm, she was standing with her face firmly set, and not a muscle of her body moved. Officer Clinton, who waa on the dock at the time of the occurence, called a cab, and had the woman and her victim conveyed to the old City Hall. The victim the whole of this time was in the greatest possible agony, groaning in his pain. The Police surgeon in the meantime examined the wounded man, and Discovered a bullet
in the back of the left side of his body, near to the floating ribs. It had entered near to the centre of ths body, just below the point of the breastbone. The surgeon successfully extracted the bullet, as It had lodged near to the surface of the body. After a careful examination he came to the conclusion that the wound was dangerous, though the bullet had not penetrated the abdominal cavity. With proper care he thought the wounded man might recover. The woman was then removed to prison, and as she entered the prison portals she was instantly recognised, having been there before, as Mrs Mary “Dr.” Voa, a " mind outlet and Christian healer," formerly know by the name of Mary Hammersmith, The victim was in too intense pain yesterday from griping of the stomach, to describe the circumstances attendant upon ,the shooting with any minuteness, but managed to give the following account; " I had concluded to return to my home in New Zealand, and had purchased my ticket, I left my lodgings about one o'clock, and proceeded to the steamer. I went on board, and proceeded down to the steerage department, and had just placed my luggage on my bunk, and turned round and saw that woman. She said something to me, but I could not understand what it was. At the same instant she drew out her hand from under her shawl, presented a pistol and fired. This was the work of a second. I felt something go through me like Rod hot Iron, and knew that I had been shot. I recognised the woman as Mrs Von, but had never seen her since I had sued her for the restoration of some goods which shj had of mine, I know nothing of her whereabouts. The only reason I can assign .for her having shot me is because I beat her in the suit—please don’t talk to me; it hurts me so.
Oh, I guess I shall die ” The “Dr” (Mrs Von) appeared to be in excellent spirits, and was very communicative. She made the following remarks to one of the officials:— *• Somebody shot! Really, you dont say so ! Tell me, please, how it occurred, for I am awfully interested in sensations.” She then broke into a rollicking, mocking laugh. She talked on any subject, and appeared wholly indifferent as to the serious charge hanging over her headexhibiting A ‘‘ don’t cara.” stvlo right through. She chatted about her “ new book.” [lt might be explained for the ininformation of our readers that the “ Doctor ” had, after her release from the San Quentin prison, in which place she had served a sentence of two years for unlawfully wounding set to work to compile an “Expose of the treatment of convicts, especially women.’’] “ I am no physician, you know,” she said, “ I cure people with my mind, of course I could not go in there and take the bullet out of Bishop's body.” A reporter, who was present explained to her that it was cut out already. The woman continued “ But I 0 nild heal the wound through the action of my mind on his.”
“ That is the kind of woman I am.” Mrs Von is, strictly speaking, (though her conduct in this affair would lead anyone to suppose she was not) a very nervous woman, talks rapidly, and laughs a great deal. She is strikingly similar, in temperament, to the notorious Mrs Kerrigans, and looks not unlike her in personal appearance, “ I’ve been feeling quite lonely ” she said, glancing about her cell. “ I am glad you have come to talk to me.” The next instant she would say “ I have no pistol, and you are quite safe.” Later on in the evening the prisoner,
during her garrulous remarks, stated that she Mad made arrangements with the steward of the vessel to go to Australis with him. She alsb said she had bceri
Ssarohinr fa? Btahcp for over two weeks in order to serve notice of appeal on hhii in the case which earns befori the Court some time previous, and in which she was the losing party; but bad been unable to discover his whereabouts Bishop, at ,a late hour, was writhing in agony, and, by the order of the police-surgeon, was retnovsd to the hospital. At a quarter past four on the afternoon of Saturday the 3rd ot July,
SUhop died after aufleriuff exaruaiatlag atsay at his lodging house, at the corner of Wash* ington Street and Dunbar Alley. Deceased was very troublesome while in the City Be* ceiving Hospital, refuting to.-. permit Drs, Buiskley and Martmant to make an examination ot the wound, or to take any medicine offered to him, He insisted upon lesving the hospital, and the medical men, thinking it wise to accede to his request, .permitted his removal to his lodgings. The only person present at death was one John Ireland, • hired nurse, who states that Bishop was perfectly conscious when he expired, but although he was Asked to maxo a wIU
he Made no response to the request. The doctors beliekc that death resulted troffi lbs chest cavity being perforated by the bullet. Mrs Von did not express the slightest sorrow when she was informed of the fatal result Of her shot. In the first instance the prisoner was charged with assault with intent to murder, but, ae Bishop could not give evidence, the case was adjourned for a time, Hia death neceseitated an inquest being held at which a
Aver diet of wilful axdrdw was returned, The proceedings lasted eve* two days, and thk prisoner was defended by able counsel. During her Mrs Von said “ I shot Bishop to detain him in 'Frisco pending further legal proceedings I intended to bring against him. I only in tended to wound him.”
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 30, 20 August 1887, Page 2
Word Count
2,573THE BISHOP TRAGEDY Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 30, 20 August 1887, Page 2
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