Bishop - Perry
PERRY BISHOP
Source: Crawfordsville Review, April 10, 1917 p 4
Rockville April 8 - Perry Bishop, an elderly timberman living beween Armiesburg and Mecca, died this morning at his home. Bishop was found Thursday evening in his yard by his son, William, Seriously wounded by a shot in his head, and never regained consciousness. According to a statement by the coroner last night, it is thought the man was murdered. The coroner will make known his final verdict tomorrow - kbz
Knew this sounded familiar -- I had the Parke GenWeb page for quite some time (a decade) - had found something similar in a Rockville paper then a viewer sent the rest to me. THANKS SO MUCH to both the contributor and the Parke County GenWeb (James D. VanDerMark who took the page over from me has done an amazing job)
Source: (probably Rockville Tribune) -- unknown newspaper
Mystery surrounds death of Perry Bishop near Catlin in Wabash Township --no arrests. - Sheriff Charles Thompson and Deputy Everett Marlar, accompanied by Coroner J. R. Bloomer and Squire F. M. Bryant rushed to the cabin of Perry Bishop in Wabash Township Thursday night when notified by neighbors that Mr. Bishop who was past 76 years of age had been found in the dooryard by his son, William. It seems that old man and his son, William, who is about 50 years old, kept batch in a cabin on the farm of Samuel McCune about a mile East of Armiesburg, the father working at odd jobs for farmers of the neighborhood.
The son being employed at the Indiana Sewer Pipe works in Mecca. The son had worked at the plant during the day quitting about 4 p.m. and after purchasing a few groceries went home and claimed that as he entered the yard, he found the body of his father lying in a pool of blood about 40 or 50 feet from the house, a gunshot wound in his head. The son threw a cover over the body and ran to the house of Mr. McCune, crying that his father had shot himself. Mr. McCune and France McCalment accompanied by the son, hurried to the cabin and were surprised to find the old man alive, he having crawled several feet from where the son first claimed to have found him. Peculiar and suspicious things were found that will lead officers to make an investigation.
While the son claims that the father shot himself, he avers that he did not see the act committed and there were no powder burns on the face, although an old single barrel muzzle-loading shot gun was found by his side. Deputy Sheriff Marlar found a locust club about 3 feet long and claimed by the son to have been used as a poker at the fireplace. On this club there were splotches of blood, although there was no blood on the ground near where the stick was picked up.
It is alleged that scratches were visible on William Bishop's face the night the old man was found. Mr. Bishop never regained consciousness and Saturday evening around 5 p.m. he was taken to the county Asylum, dying 2 hours later. On Sunday the body was brought to the undertaking establishment of Teague and Chapman and an autopsy held by coroner J. R. Bloomer, assisted by Dr. J. J. Connelly and Dr. J. F. Swayne of Mecca.
These physicians are said to have counted about 40 wounds where the shot entered the left side of the face and head, some of them penetrating the brain causing paralysis, and that there were unmistakable evidence of a wound on the side of the head that had been caused by a blunt instrument. Coroner Bloomer has not made his report, but it is almost sure that he will not pronounce the case one of suicide. Mr. Bishop is survived by 2 sons, William and "Tip", and one daughter, Mrs. William Straughn, the latter living 4 miles south of Rockville, where the body was taken and burial made in Arabia cemetery Monday morning at 10 a.m. -
Source: Rockville Tribune April 10, 1917 Shooting of Timber Cutter Is Mystery--Perry Bishop found wounded near Mecca, still unconscious-- One side Paralyzed. -- By Special Correspondent. Rockville, Ind., April 7--
Perry Bishop, of Wabash township, who was found lying on his premises yesterday with 35 shot from a shot gun in his face, head, and neck is still unconscious, and the case still remains a mystery. He has become paralyzed on one side. Bishop is about 70 years old and a timber cutter, and lives between Armiesburg and Mecca. He was found by his son, William, near an out building. A shot gun and a bloody poker were found near.
There is some hope for his recovery, according to the physicians. Arrangements are being made to take him to a hospital in Terre Haute. - -
Source: Unknown newspaper - April 7, 1917 -- Perry C. Bishop, son of John P. and Elizabeth Bishop, was born May 12, 1841; departed this life April 7, 1917, at the age of 75 years, 10 months and 25 days. He was the last of a family of 18 children. He was married to Minerva McCool Sept. 11, 1869. She departed this life June 3, 1891.
To this union were born five children, one boy dying in infancy, Charles T., of Catlin, Ill.; William of Mecca, and Mrs. William Straughn of Rockville and Mrs. Harry Lorimer of Taswell, Ind. Mr. Bishop lived in and around the neighborhood where he died for over fifty years, and was ever ready to help the sick and needy. He joined the Christian church at Rockville under the ministry of T.J. Freed, and taking the Bible for his guide lived up to some of its teachings. He leaves to mourn his departure four children, 17 grandchildren, two great grandchildren. -
Source: Unknown newspaper
A MYSTERIOUS DEATH --Perry Bishop, aged seventy-eight years died Saturday from the effects of gun shot wounds received last Thursday evening, at his home, near Mecca, where he and his son William Bishop lived in a cabin on the Sam McCune farm, near Armiesburg. Sheriff Thopason was called over the telephone from John W. Newton's place, about a mile and a half from the Bishop home, to come and bring the coroner with him, as a man had been shot. Mr. Thompson, Coroner Bloomer, Deputy Sheriff Marlar and Squire Bryant left Rockville about seven o'clock and went at once to Newton's. Sam McCune, who had telephoned from the Newton place said William Bishop, son of Perry Bishop came to his place and told him that when he came from work at the Mecca clay plant, he found his father in the yard, by the south side of the smoke house, bleeding profusely from gun shot wounds in his face and head. McCune and France McCalment went at once with the son and when they reached the scene, the old man had crawled to the northeast corner of the building. The son, a man about forty years old, and McCalment carried the wounded man into the house and placed him in bed. When the Sheriff and his party reached Newton's they supposed the man was dead.
The Sheriff and McCune left for the scene in a buggy and the others walked down the track. When Sheriff Thompson entered the house, he still supposed the man to be dead, until he saw the bed clothes moving. He drew them back and a horrible sight met his eyes; the wounded man, literally covered with blood, was groaning and struggling, more like a wounded suffering animal than a human being. Dr. Bloomer dressed his wounds and he was taken to the poor farm, where he died Saturday evening about eight o'clock, without regaining consciousness. Sunday the body was removed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Straughn, south of Rockville, where funeral services were held Monday afternoon, with burial at Arabia cemetery.
An autopsy was held on the body at Teague and Chapman's undertaking rooms, by Dr. Bloomer, assisted by Drs. J. J. Connelly and J.F. Swayne of Mecca. They found that at least forty shot had entered the left side of the man's face and head and that there was evidence of a wound on the side of his head that must have been caused by a blunt instrument.
The Coroner is of the opinion that the man's death was not caused by suicide. A large wooden poker, covered with blood was found about fifteen feet away from where the man was found, and the gun was lying a little distance away. Sunday night, Prosecutor Dowd and Deputy Sheriff Marlar went to the Bishop home and procured the gun. The case is being investigated thoroughly. Suicide or Murder? --Sheriff Thompson was called to Wabash township, Thursday night, by telephone message stating that Perry Bishop had been found dead in the yard surrounding the cabin in which he lived on the farm of Samuel McCune, east of Armiesburg.
The sheriff, accompanied by Deputy Marlar, Coroner Bloomer and Justice Frank Bryant went to the place but found Bishop still alive. He had been shot in the head and face with a shot gun. He was unconscious and died Saturday evening at the poor asylum, where he was taken, without regaining consciousness. An autopsy, held at Teague and Chapman's undertaking rooms, revealed the fact that death was due to a blow on the head with some blunt instrument or a club. Not far from the body a stick that had been used as a poker was found, and it is presumed he was struck by this in addition to being shot. The gun was lying by his side when found and the supposition at first was that he had killed himself. However, the direction of the shot in his head and other suspicious circumstances point to murder. The officials are still investigating. Coroner Bloomer had not filed his report this morning. Bishop was about 76 years old. He is survived by two sons, William and Tip, and one daughter, Mrs. Wm. Straughn, living south of Rockville where the body was taken after the autopsy. Burial in the Arabia cemetery at 10 o'clock Monday morning. (thanks to Sherry Grunhaus for the ones on the Bishop murder? -- doesn't make you wonder just what happened and who did KILL??? him ???)