The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-20
FINAL FAREWELL
TO EARTH NY THE WASHINGTON
CITY mURDERERS.

Two OF the Most Atroclous Murderer
Known TO Modern CRIMINAL His
tory Expiate Their Crime, Pro.
testing Their InuoCenee and
ProfessIng RsIIgian.
WASHINGTON, November l9,-JSme
Neyerson, alias Bate Pellord, md Edwart
Queenan, the negroes who engaged in thC
brutal murder of George P. Hirth, a yopnl
merchant, on the night OF January III
last, were hanged 10 the District Jail 10
day in thepresence offs limited number o
spectators. The men have sturdily main
tanned their innocence, and as the murde
was somewhat surrounded by mYsterioul
circur stances their friends believed then
innocent to the last. The execution
took place in the northeastern corridor
OF the jail and the scafold was the same
on which the wife murderer Stone was 81
tragicaIly executed last spring. The his
tory OF the crime for which their live
were forfeited to-day can be briefly re
called, as the notice 1t attracted all oyeI
the countrv impressed II upon the minds
Of many. Young Hirth was passing along
somewhat lonely section OF that city, T
street, near Eighteenth, to pay visit to q
lady, when three men crept up behind,
felled him with a stone and after
crushing in his skull ritied his per.
son OF watch. ring and small
sum Of money aud fed. The hody was
discovered Immediately after the attack
and carried 10 drug store, but the victim
was dead. The murder created intense
excitement, and in their efforts 10 secure
the right parties, q dozen persons were
arrested. Among them were Queenan
and Bedford aud Sandy Pinn, who were
convicted aftera most thorough and in
teresting trial, March 9lst, the' principal
witnesses against them being Ben John.
son, coFored, and Table Brown, q white
man. Johuson's testimony was
very damaging, and created
suspicion that he too was one ol
the principals, but he proved his limo.
cence and was subsequently, released. He
was with the party when the attack was
made, but ran on seeing the blows struck
by the others. HeturDed States evidence,
and thus got of. The men were sentenced
10 be hanged on April so, but the case
went up on an appeal, and necessitated
several postponements OF the execution.
II was set for September 10, but respite
was granted until to-day to allow
new evidence 10 be produced, but this
failed, and, the council and friends
made every effort. The President re-:
fused TO interfere except In the case OF
Pinn, whose sentence was commuted TO
life imprisonment on account OF previous
good character. The men have shown
considerable nerve all along, and proiessed
religion, being regularly attended by
colored preachers. Another effort IN their
behalf last night failed with the President
and Attorney General, who telegraphed TO
the jail at 8 o'clock that the execution
should certainly take pslce this morn.
ing. The condemned men passed
the night quietly, both sleeping well
and apparently undisturbea by the
approach OF death. They were up at
six o'clock, cheerful and tslkative, and ex-
pressed no fear. Neither indicated de.
sire to confess, indeed they both stoutly
asserted their innocence. They were
kept in cells adjoining each other. but
were allowed no communication. Pray.
ing and singing was engsged in at inter.
walls, and at times as their voices rang out
in songs Of praise, the prisoners in other
cells Joined aud swelled the chorus, max.
ing most impressive scene. Their
counsel talked with them, and the fare
wells were expressed without tremor.
The condemned men expressed thanks iol
the vigorous efforts made in their behalf.
Sarah Turner, Queenan's sweetheart,
the woman whom he claimed to have
been with during the night OF the mnr.
der, visited him among others this morn
ing and parted with him in tears. They
both gave vent 10 their grief piteously
Immediately after that Queenan and Bed.
ford began 10 lash themselves into high
state OF religious excitement, q most un.
natural spectacle. The collins, stained
imitation Of walnut, with officers, arrived
at II o'clock, at which time the men dress
ed for execution. Bradford wore gray
trowsers and vest, brown coat, white shirt
and black tie. Queenan was attired In q
dark blue suit, black tie and white shir;
and sang while dressIng, and O noticeable
feature was that Sandy Pinn. their com
pauion in crime, sentenced for life, lay
calmly in a cell overhead, where theil
voices reached him, rejoicing over his mar
row escape. In going to the jail this morn
ing Queenan's brother said TO gentleman
in the carriage with him that he ought mol
to have done it, which was natural con
fession that he knew OF the crime
He said that he had q bulldog at home and
between the dog and his brother he would
rather the dog would live. At 1915 re-
ligious ceremonies were held by the Rev
Mr.. Gibbons, Hall aud Brooks, all col.
ored, Bishop Brown, Of the African N. E
Church, being present. The services
consisted Of the singing Of hymn, read.
ing OF scripture, and the burial service,
followed by the benediction by Rev. Mr..
Gibbons. While the services were going
ON, Jim johnson, q young white man,
also under indictment for murder, passed
through the corridor on his way 70 his cell
aud seemed visibly affected. Just before
the services Randolph Coyls, principal ol
the prisoners counsel, had an interview
with them. Bishop Brown also had an
interview with them, and believed In theil
innocence. Messrs. Coyle and Wells, after
talk with the prisoner stated that they stil
continue to hold ther innocence, Counsel
made IN examination OF the death war
rant, and:discovered what they claimed Il
be flaw in 1t, In view OF this fact Warden
Cracker determined TO delay the exc
Cution to the last moment.
At 1:l5 the procession entered the east
corridor, the men walking firmly, ant
Bedford even smiling as he saw the gal
lows. When the prisoners were placsC
on the scafo!d, the hymn,
"oh, for an overcoming faith to cheer my dyin
hOurs,"
Was sung, both men joining in. ThsI
followed the reading Of the Scriptures
after which Bishop Brown offered up I
prayer for mercy. Bedford made shor
address protesting his innocence ant
charged that his life had been sworn ava,
falsely. QleeuAn also made 0 simila
speech, saying thst he had nothinl
to do with the murder and concluded b!
hnninN that all nrnaank Hrnnlh rnaak hin