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James Bissett Jr.

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James Bissett Jr.

Birth	:	25 Mar 1867 Mineral County, West Virginia, USA
Death	:	16 Oct 1897 Bloomington, Garrett County, Maryland, USA
Burial	:	Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery, Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.4842453, -79.0393143
Plot	:	Section A, Lot 39
Description	:	The Herald, Piedmont, West Virginia, Friday 22 Oct 1897: A FATAL SHOT-JAMES BISSETT STRICKEN DOWN IN HIS YOUNG MANHOOD-Coroner's Inquest-Funeral of the Deceased-Arrest on Suspicion-Prisoner Discharged- James Bissett, aged about 27 years, son of Mrs. Jas. Bissett, of Empire, W. Va., a station on the line of the W. Va. Central Railway, about two miles South of Piedmont, was shot through the heart during an altercation which occurred at a dance given in the 'brick hall' at Bloomington, Md., a small town nestled in between the Alleghany mountains, at the confluence of the Potomac and Savage rivers, last Saturday night. The... Read More	The Herald, Piedmont, West Virginia, Friday 22 Oct 1897: A FATAL SHOT-JAMES BISSETT STRICKEN DOWN IN HIS YOUNG MANHOOD-Coroner's Inquest-Funeral of the Deceased-Arrest on Suspicion-Prisoner Discharged- James Bissett, aged about 27 years, son of Mrs. Jas. Bissett, of Empire, W. Va., a station on the line of the W. Va. Central Railway, about two miles South of Piedmont, was shot through the heart during an altercation which occurred at a dance given in the 'brick hall' at Bloomington, Md., a small town nestled in between the Alleghany mountains, at the confluence of the Potomac and Savage rivers, last Saturday night. The dance was given by several persons interested in the Gilbert Military Band of Piedmont, for the benefit of one of its members, Mr. Thomas Clark, who recently joined the band. Mr. Clark has been out of employment for some time, until recently, and the money was to assist in defraying the expenses of moving his family and household goods for this place from Monongah, Marion County, W.Va. It is a difficult matter to ascertain all the facts about the shooting or what led to it, but near as we could learn they are about as follows: During the dance, and some time after ten o'clock, Ed. Listie, who had been drinking to excess, fell down on the floor in the room where the dancing was in progress. James Bissett, with the assistance of Walter Cox, assisted Listie into another room. As they were passing out of the room Herbert Montgomery (who for the last nine years has been en employee in the Herald office, and who has always been a good character) patted Listie on the head with his open hand, which action Bissett resented. After placing Listie in the ante-room, Bissett returned to the dance hall and struck Montgomery, but friends parted them. Montgomery then went out of doors. Bissett followed him almost immediately, and the trouble was renewed on the platform. Friends again attempted to part them, but in the scuttle that ensued the crowd moved from the platform to a point about fifteen feet from the East corner of the building. Here, the two men were forcibly separated, and at that instant a shot was heard, a flash of fire seen, and James Bissett exclaimed, 'I'm shot,' and leaned against his brother, Kern Bissett, who had hold of him, and laid him on the ground. Death ensued in almost eight or ten minutes. THE INQUEST-Justice Jacob Stump at once, though it was near the midnight hour, summoned the following coroner's jury: Elijah Kemp, foreman, F. H. Tibbetts, W. Tibbetts, John Rowlands, Calvin Simpson, George Morehead, Lafayette Crobie, Adam Elliott, Grant Harshberger, James Beard, Patrick Grimes and George Miller, with John Dougherty as clerk. The jury met at two o'clock a.m. Sunday morning and remained in session about two hours. Thomas Barnhill testified that he saw the flash and the man who held the revolver, as he thought, try to pass it to some one behind him, and that he grabbed for the man, and by mistake in the dark, caught James Welton, of Piedmont. Welton's innocence was clearly established without any trouble, and he was immediately discharged from custody and suspicion. After examining seven or eight witnesses the jury took a recess until seven o'clock Tuesday evening. AN ARREST Sunday afternoon a warrant was secured from Justice J. W. Vitte, of Westernport, for the arrest of Herbert Montgomery, on suspicion of having done the shooting. Montgomery was taken to Oakland, the county seat of Garrett county, on train No. 55 that evening, and committed to the care of Sheriff Austin Brown, to await the verdict of the coroner's jury. The air was full of rumors of all kinds, but none could be verified. CORONER'S JURY RECONVENES The coroner's jury reconvened at seven p.m. Tuesday, in the 'brick hall,' and examined a large number of witnesses, among whom were Miss Annie Flynn; W. Bryant and Dewee Beck, (of Piedmont); Walter Cox, Keyran and William Bissett, brothers of James Bissett; Wm. Hogan, Maurice Lamband, Brade Shupe, (of Westernport); Thos.. Barnhill, Chas. Spicer, Ross Fisher, Dennis Groves, Geo. Whisner, Harry Hookinshell, Chas. Flynn, Austin Ward, John Dougherty, Robert Ritchie, John Baldwin and others. Prosecuting Attorney F. A. Thayer was present and examined all the witnesses. Sheriff Austin Brown and Attorney W. A. Dailey were also present. The testimony throughout was more or less conflicting, and there was no positive evidence incriminating any one with the shooting, as owing to the darkness and the crowd around no one appears to know who fired the fatal shot. The jury rendered a verdict stating that Bissett came to his death by a pistol shot fired by some one unknown to the jury. The jury not having charged Montgomery with the crime he was released from custody Wednesday morning and returned home on the 11:18 a.m. accommodation. THE FUNERAL The remains of James Bissett were brought to Westernport on the W.Va., Central train at eleven o'clock, Wednesday morning, accompanied by a large number of relatives, friends and companions who escorted them to St. Peter's Catholic church, where Requiem High mass was sung by Rev. Father Drake, of Keyser. The choir sang 'Cross and Crown' in a very beautiful and impressive manner. The funeral was largely attended. His sudden death was a great shock to his widowed mother, sisters and brothers, who have the sympathy not only of their immediate friends but every one in this entire community. The floral tributes of respect were exceedingly beautiful, among them being a wreath, a cycle, a cross and cut flowers. The pallbearers were John Laughlin, Thomas Barnhill, Jos. Carney, Patrick Hoban, Patrick Laughlin, Dennis Carney, John Henley and Peter Fitzwilliams. James Bissett was a coal miner and had been employed for some time by Davis Coal & Coke Co., at their Hampshire mine. Those in charge of the mine and his associates all speak of him in the highest terms, as being a quiet, peaceable and upright young man, one in whom all had implicit confidence. His sudden death under such circumstances is indeed truly sad. He was just in the prime of his life, and Fancy was weaving her brightest garlands and strewing them before him, but alas, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, he was prostrate in the arms of death, and his should had taken its flight to that bourn from whence the traveler returns. Peace to his ashes."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Bissett Jr.'s memorial?
James Bissett Jr.'s memorial is located at: Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery, Westernport, Allegany County, USA.
When did James Bissett Jr. death?
James Bissett Jr. death on 16 Oct 1897 in Bloomington, Garrett County, Maryland, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Bissett Jr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 39.4842453
Longitude: -79.0393143

Family Members:

Parent

James Bissett

(1845 - 1896)

Bridget Manning Bissett

(1850 - 1908)

Siblings

William Jeremiah Bissett

(1871 - 1957)

Anna E. Bissett Murphy

(1872 - 1933)

Ellen Ida Bissett Healy

(1873 - 1958)

Keyran Aloysius Bissett

(1875 - 1944)

Margaret Josephine Bissett Spicer

(1879 - 1935)

John Francis Bissett

(1881 - 1933)

Joseph Michael Bissett

(1884 - 1936)

Liguori Edgar Bissett

(1887 - 1960)

DeSales Aloysius Bissett

(1890 - 1961)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4842453, -79.0393143

2. Philos Cemetery
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4858060, -79.0394320

3. Old Saint Peter's Catholic
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4837360, -79.0431080

4. Duckworth on Hampshire Hill
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5016900, -79.0345300

5. Bloomington Cemetery
Bloomington, Garrett County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4799995, -79.0699997

6. Duckworth Cemetery at Stoney Run
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4984280, -79.0136400

7. Kight Family Cemetery
Bloomington, Garrett County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4829780, -79.0719940

8. Miller Cemetery
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4888110, -79.0043140

9. Morrison Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5127983, -79.0233002

10. Sigler Family Cemetery
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5081480, -79.0691470

11. Saint Gabriel's Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5224991, -79.0203018

12. Joshua Kight Cemetery
Piedmont, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4486000, -79.0679000

13. Fazenbaker Farm
Fairview, Garrett County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5238930, -79.0657950

14. Michael Cemetery
Westernport, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5182140, -79.0780450

15. Jacob Sigler Stone House Cemetery
Garrett County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5281380, -79.0559330

16. Michaels Cemetery
Fairview, Garrett County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5281380, -79.0559330

17. Saint Thomas Cemetery
Keyser, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4406900, -78.9960300

18. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Keyser, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4403000, -78.9963989

19. Moore Cemetery
Barton, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5277760, -78.9951670

20. Thorn Rose Hill Cemetery
Keyser, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4374352, -78.9929199

21. Corbus Cemetery
Barton, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5436940, -79.0178990

22. Locust Cemetery
Keyser, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4449577, -78.9769135

23. Sinclair Memorial Park
Cross, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4338989, -79.0877991

24. Town Hill Cemetery
Petersburg, Grant County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4351762, -78.9882074