BACK

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - MAY 1, 1903

KILLING AT BUFFALO HUMP

George Ash Shoots John Bishop with a Winchester

A dispatch from Grangeville says: Word was brought out from Buffalo Hump today of the killing of John Bishop by George Ash.

Ash was proprietor of a hotel in the Hump and Bishop was waiting on table. They quarreled over the affections of the woman who cooked for the house and over business matters.

Ash said he came downstairs, finding Bishop up and a fire lighted. Ash demanded a settlement. He says Bishop replied: I’ll get something to settle you,” and started upstairs, as if to get a weapon. Ash had a 30-calibre Winchester and demanded that Bishop return. As the latter started out the door, Ash fired, the bullet entering Bishop’s side and coming out over his heart, causing instant death.

No one lese was near to affirm or deny his story. There was talk of lynching when the story was known. Ash is under arrest.

THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE – DULUTH, MINNESOTA

MAY 9, 1903

FIRES FATAL SHOT AT HIS PARTNER

Geo. Ash, Believed to Be From Duluth, The Assailant

A brief item of new has been telegraphed from Spokane to the effect that George Ash, a hotel man at Buffalo Hump, Idaho, has shot his business partner, John Bishop, killing him. The friends and acquaintances of George Esh, formerly of Duluth, say that the dispatch refers to him, and that the name is misspelled. Esh has been in Idaho for the past three years.

The particulars of the killing are meager. It seems that Ash, or Esh, was conducting a hotel at the mining camp of the Buffalo Hump and John Bishop was his partner. A quarrel arose between them over a woman cook and Ash demanded a business settlement. Bishop is quoted as saying in a threatening and angry manner: “I will settle you,” and started up the stairs. Ash seemed to be satisfied that Bishop was going after a weapon, and called on him to stop. Bishop paid no heed and Ash shot him with a rifle.

What action was taken b y the authorities in regard to the killing is unknown in Duluth at present. The scene of the shooting is 75 miles from a railroad.

The friends and acquaintances of George Esh in Duluth say there is no doubt that Ash and Esh are the same. George Esh was well known in Duluth up to a few years ago. In 1898 he joined the rush of Klondikers, taking the Edmonton route with a party from this city. He returned to Duluth the following year and later went out to Idaho. He has since visited Duluth and reported that he was doing well out there.

George Bishop, a Duluth bartender, fears that the John Bishop who was killed by “Ash” was his brother. He has a brother of that name somewhere in the west, but does not know whether he was at Buffalo Hump or not.

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - MAY 13, 1903

GEORGE ESH CAPTURED (Misspelled in newspaper)

He is the Man Who Killed John Bishop at Buffalo Hump

Grangeville Free Press: George Esh, who shot and killed John Bishop on April 26 at the Hump, was arrested in A.W. Moore’s barn last Friday by Deputy Sheriff Joe Vincent and City Marshal Brown. After the tragedy Esh went to the Wise Boy mine, where he had been conducting the boarding house, and after telling some of the men that he had shot Bishop, started through the mountains and reached Grangeville Thursday night. He had avoided the road and his four days’ journey through the mountains of snow and ice with practically nothing to eat left him in an exhausted condition. When arrested he claimed that he had not heard that the coroner’s jury brought in a verdict of self-defense. He carried a rifle and revolver with him and they were found in a manger in the barn. The body of Bishop was brought out and buried here Sunday. Bishop had about $600 on her person when killed, and also money in the bank.