Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-28
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEO. p. HIRTH.


Neverson, alias Joseph or "Baben Bedford,
Edward Queenan and Sandy Pinn-indicted for
the murder OF George Philip Hirth on street
on the evening Of January It'll last, ives con-
tinued In the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner,
yesterday after our report c}osed-District At
torney Corkhill and Assistant District Attorney
Perry for the government; Messrs T. r. Miller,
C. Maurice Smith and John T. Riley for Pinn;
II. Fl. Wells. Jr., r. Coyle and j. A. HayW ard for
the other prisoners.
MT wells continued his argument for the
prisoners, claiming that the position in which
the body was found proved beyond doubt that
JohnsOns testimony was ialSe. He maintained
that there was not any evidence against his
clients, excepting that OF Ben johnson and
lobe Brown, whose testimony he characterized
as unworthy OF beliet-Johpson, because he
and Brown because he had been so strongly CON
tradietcd especially by Craig, who denied being
In the mans company at any time on the even
ing in question. Further, that bis clients had
accounted for themselves and their wherea bouts
during the entire time this deed was committed.
Their alibis had been made out to his satisfaction
and he had yet to hear the first reasonable con-
tradiction Of it by the government of rebuttal.
To the blood stains, no Importance was at
tached, as it had not been proved that they
BILE with being received while attacking or rob
bling the deceased, being all inside the clothing.
He held up an extremely dirty and ragged pair
wore that night, and asked whether he was In
costume to pei form at concert? He appealed
to the jury to render verdict consistent with
the evidence. and said he had no feaf If they
weighed the evidence well, but that the prison.
ers would be acquitted. He closed at $50 o'clk
having spoken hours and 20 minutes.
MR.. MILLER'S ARGUMENT
Mr.. T. F. Miller, for the defendant Pinn, fol-
lowed in the closing argument He said that
the haste made in this trial was the result of
public clamor. The law had two objects in view
In the punishment of criminals: One that they
Shall be put in place Of safety to protect the
community, and by their example deter others
from following in their footsteps. The eommu-
nlty, the cry for justice the prejudiceS and de-
mands for the conviction of these men. had
nothing to do with the case. There had been
great pressure of public opinion to expedite this
were passed and permitted to wait until this one
was disposed of. But with all this haste and
clamor they could not rush beyond the law, nor
the protection it held out to all persons.
These men must be tried as others, and pc.
United to enjoy the same rights and privi-
leges guaranteed to everybody under the law.
the fact that the first evidences of the crime did
not come from the hauuts and associates of
Bedford, Pinn and Queenan, but from the home
tives and officers knew the fact that Johnson
was party to the crime and to bear out their
theory OF 1t. which johnson promptly acted
ne GT }he IN the Parties trial as his
told them that Johnson had not been granted
or promised immunity; then johnson knew that
If he did not go on the stand and by his state
ments convict these three men, that he would
be tried for the murder. Surely the induce
ment was powerful enough for johnson to do
his utmost to have these parties convicted.
Eighteenth Day.
This morning, on the opening of the court
large crowd soon filled the room.
Mr.. Miller resumed his argument, referring
briefly to what he claimed to be improbabilities
In the statements OF johnson. If Bedford was
to watch around Hirth'S store to ascertain what
time he would leave the store, was it reasona-
BILE that they would go out of their way to 18th
ana e !. streets to get johnson, man they knew
but little about, to participate in the horrible
deed? Would Bedford, had he heen guilty,
looked over the deceased, not knowing that he
was dead? Would he not have feared that the
deceased might recognize him, and In some
manner point him out? There are no witnesses,
except Brown and Da1ngerfield who corroborated
johnson. Counsel then referred to Pinn as
show his whereabouts; but johnson, self-con-
feSSed yagrant, was unable to show his where
abOuts. He then read Pinn'S testimony, ana
claimed that it had been corroborated by the
most respectable WitnesseS-not by his assc-
ciates but by bis employers The statement of
the conversation Pinn had with ex-Policeman
Brown before it had been detailed by Brown was
an 1ncontrovertible fact In the case, proving
the truth Of Firms statement. Is it possible
that P1nn, had he been guilty, would have gone
to To-. MS employer lMr sbleyl and told him Of it?
OF Pinns story? He was sorry that the charge
had been made that there was perjury on the
part OF the defence, and he defended Mrs. Hall
denied that Sue Barber had attempted to get
the others to swear falsely, but she and the
others only compared notes. He remarked that
IL mad been developed that the governments
drag net had been thrown out, and the wit
resses FOR the defendant had been brought in
tnat statements might be dragged out of them.
He denied that there was "put up alibi," for
in such clock would have been used He de-
MED that there was a single identification OF
SANDY P1Dn, except by Benjamin johnson. and
that Johnson's statements are untrue. he then
appealed to the jury not to commit judicial
murder In connecting these men With the muir
der OF George Philip Hirth, and asked that they
deal out justice to them.
COL coRKHILL FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
At 11:40 O'Clock Co.. Corkhin commenced the
concluding argument for the government. He
knew that they had already become weary with
them needlessly. They had been selected from
their countTymen to perform very important
duty devolved upon them by the laws. While
these three men were anxiously looking for The
verdict there were hundred thousand helpless
citizens behind them waiting to see whether
murderers may work through the portals of the
fell at the hand of Bedford it sent thrill of
horror through the community, and there were
but few houses In the city in which the females
did not urge their husband and fathers to be
careful how they walked out at night.
If these men who butchered this young man
can escape, he had missed his Judgment OF
IC6oOu'uS uSu. LUX DIT ILLS Case ana JOo C6St1-
mony. The defence own that this man was not
killed as men are ordinarily killed, but he was
butchered. The jury were told that the police
had theory, and the detectives had theory
The police had enough to bear, and he was sorry
that there was not more OF them. He denied that
there were any theories, and said that after the
discovery OF the murder there were thir-
teen arrests made. Bedford was among
these-the first after the commission OF
the crime-Pinn and Queenan next The
police then went to work to ascertain
who the guilty parties were, and stripping these
parties they found the evidence OF their guilt
the marks OF blood from the victim. They were
told that this was not blood. Ii these parties
were innocent why did they not account OF it
when their lips were unloOsened by the law
They did not do it, but the counsel labored to
show that the blood was under Tie right arm
pit Why did they not speak as to Pinn having
blood on his cuff and on his bosom. AS to Bed
ford'S shoes the blood on them was very dis
tinct, and thank God for SCIENCE you NAV blur
it over, but the blood which this man Bedford
received On his shoe when he kicked the dying
form OF his victim remains there. While it was
impossible for science to determine what was
human blood yet under the microscope there is
no observable difference between the blood
marks on the murderers' clothes and known
human blood 1t WAS somewhat remarkable
tnat out of all arrested these three were the only
ones who bore human blood on their pants. He
then rec1ted that after the coroner's Jury had
passed on this case 1t went to the grand Jury
when there was full Investigations; and
1t was not until February 5th, nearly one
ffnr fh1