Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10
THE CoRoNFRs INQUEST TO-DAY.

der OF George Philip Hirth, who wss brutally
killed on the evening of Wednesday, the It'll in
slant, by unknown tefsons on street between
18th and ssth Streets, while on his way to visit
the young lady TO whom he was afffaGeed, took
place to-day at the fourth precinet station
house, commencing at 10 o'clock-Corenef Pau
terson and all the. Jurysnen being present, With
Mr.. w. III. Tucker as their foreman.
Coroner Paterson in a conversation previous
to the inqueststated thai he feared that suf-
sficient proofs dad not been developed TO fix the
crime upon aIls individual. and that he would
probably hear sch testimony as was ready to
be presented and adjourn the inquest to some
future day. notwithstanding the united en-
erg1es OF the police department have been
directed TO the Development of this crime, SO far
they have not been very successful. All OF the
0ffh ers express Belief that 1t Is only a aues-
tioE OF short time when all the facts viii be
known.
TIE TESTIMONY.
Nj. JAS. T. Davis, a young white man, was the
first witness. He testified that he lived on
Boundary street, between 18th and 18th streets.
He was at the spot where the murder took place
on the morning after its occurrence and saw a
boy pick. up a scarf; this was about 40 yards in
the direction of the high school building where
it was found. 1t was red woollen scarf with
White stripes running down 1t leng5hwiSe. A
man named Winfield Taylor took charge of the
scarf and took the boy over to the second pre-
.cinct station nouse. Further than this he knew
nothing of the case. The scarf was on ap open
lot some distance from the sidewalk. He ex-
II
on the end OF it. The boy said it belonged TO
Babe" Bedford 1t was also examined by the
Officers at the station house, and all conquered
in the belief that the spots on it were blood.
Thomas Williams, colored, testified that he
lives at 20 Potomac Street Georgetown. On the
night Cd this occurrence himself and Mr.. Tulley,
the man he works for, were at ST. Luke'S
Church, on 18th street. They started home
out to p street. Going along near where this
man was murdered, he heard some one groan>
ing like an intoxicated person. He remarked
There is somebody. got al the whisky he
wants" They walked up to him to see whether
he was colored or white man. One of them
Tic a match, and they saw the man all covered
hand that he was white. They blew out the
match at once and called for the police. A
crowd soon gathered and broke Off Stats from
the tree box and laid the wounded man on
them; first came white man in his shirt
sleeves, then colored boy, and soon crowd
was present. The injured man was taken to the
drug store, corner of 18th street. Witness
did not know who the colOred man was that
came first on the ground.
Winfield Taylor testified to seeing black boy
find the scarf the next morning, between and
O'Clock. Witness was driving by in wagon,
and observed the blood, and While looking at it
saw the boy pick up the scarf Witness took
the boy, also another boy who recognized the
scarf as belonging to Bedford, to the station
Bedford'S is named Layman. 1.-THE scarf was
produced before the jury with the blood marks
upon 1t.
VIM. Myers, mulatto boy about fourteen
years old, testified that he lives on Meridian
Hill. 1.-THE scarf was shown him, which he
recognized as the one he foundl He testified
that he picked it up on vacant lot between
18th and 18TH Streets near where the body was
found.
Edward Lane, a youth, testified that he lives
on 18th street. He had seen "Babe" Bedford
wear that scarf, and he knew it perfectly well,
as Bedford had thrown it In his face, cracking 1t
like whip, while they were fOOling or playing
together, He had not seen it before he found
it laying on the lot for about month He rec
Ogn1Zed 1t at once when he saw the boy have il.
De. HarGgan, assistant coroner, testified that
he made an examination of deceased and found
three cuts on the head; one just above and be-
mind the right ear, about one and one-half
inches, long; another two inches behind and
lower down, of the same description; the third
was transverse wound OF the back of the
head, all made evidently with the same instru-
ment. There was bruise on the left forehead
over the left eye, and another, an extensive one,
around the left ear; which was considerably
swollen These bruises appeared as If they had
been made by kick There were no other
marks OF Violence externally. The surface of
was an extensive fracture of the skull confined
principally to the back and right sides, and un-
doubtedly had their origin at the seat of the ex-
lernal injury and were the cause of death. He
did not think the cuts were made by sharp in
strument, but by blunt missile Of some Kind.
The wounds could not have been made by an
instrument with SHARP. edge. One of the
wounds on the back of the head must have been
inflicted after he was down, or it might have
been caused by falling heavily on the curb
Bernard Tully testified that he lives on list
street, Georgetown. He was on his. way home
nom st. Luke's church, where he was working,
between and O'Clock ON the night of the
murder, in company with Mr.. Williams. They
went through 10th to street, and straight out
p. When about half way between 10th and 18th
streets. Williams observed, There is some one
happy" hearing the groans of some one lying
on the ground; They were early passed when
witness dtns heard moaning He stopped and
attention. They stopped and made an attempt
TO light piece of candle which he had In his
pocket and It was discovered that it was a
white man. The wind blew the candle out
twice While making these observations. They
then cried ''police" until they were hoarse
Both cried for the police. The fist per
son ~ ne saw was re man coming on The
police officer over al the school house. Witness
directed him to Sc for him. The next one who
came was man in his shirt sleeves, and soon
bucket OF water and witness asked the woman
TO wash the blood Off and see what the matter
was with him. 1t was then discovered that he
store and remained there until he died. He
could not say who the first man was who came
up on the other side OF the street, or whether
he was white or black. The wounded man lay
straight out on his back with his head within
six inches of the curbstone. His mouth was
perfect fountain OF blood, which was also com
ing from his nose and eyes
Sarah Taylor, cclored, testified that she lives
at l240 18th street. Her little girl lost a scarf
Wednesday morning while going to the
Minor school, The scarf was shown her. and
she did not identity it; it was somewhat similar
10 the one her little girl lost, but was not hers.
The little daughter OF Mrs. Taylor who accom-
panied her mother to the inquest no wever at
once said: Yes that's my scarf;' but after
hearing her mothers denial OF it. she began to
appear doubtful herself, and said She thought it
W as not hers, as hers had no black stripe In it.
This closed the testimony.
THE INQUEST ADJOURNED.
coroner Patterson, after a conference With
the jury concluded to adjourn the inquest until
Monday next at O'Clock, as the jury were not
satisfied 10 render verdict without furtheTtes-
timOny onthe case.
FIGHTING FOR CHILD.-Jn the Police Court
to-day VIM Cole, alias Pat Coleman, charged
with assault with intent to kill George Bean on
the 31st OF December, by cutting him in the left
side, was placed on trial. The latter testified
that about two or Two and half years ago
child was given TO him by its mother, and It has
been living in the house with Anna Miller;
mat on The day In question he called for the
child, and Cole, who lived in the house, got into
a dispute with him, and after cutting him. bit
him on the cheek, leaving the imprint of his
teeth white boy testified that Dean called
cole an opprobiOus epithet and they got into
fght. during which the cutting was DONE The
Court lntimated that the intent to kill was not
sustained, and that charge was withdrawn and
one for assault substituted in which the case
was submitted, and Cole was sentenced to six
months In Jail.
RgacEIESS SHOOTING nanrnjnfr in the