Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-13
ON TRIAL FOR LIFEl
THE MURDER OF GEO. p. HIRTH.

The trial of the three colored men-Joseph
Neverson, alias Joseph or babe" Bedford, Ed
ward Queenan and Sandy Pinn--lndicted for
the murder Of George Philip Hirth on street
on the evening Of January It'll last, was con-
tinued in the Criminal Court Judge Hagner,
yesterday after our report closed-District At
torney Corkhill and Assistant District Attorney
Perry Tor the government; Messrs. T. F. Miller
c. Maurice Smith and John F. Riley for Pinn;
II. II. Wells, Jr.. r Coyle and j. A. Hayward
for the other prisoners.
The cross-examination OF Johnson was con-
tlnued, and the Court having objected to ques-
tons as to where Johnson spent his time after
the occurrence Mr.. Miller claimed that it was
competent to show where the party was what
not fled or secreted himself, whether he had not
told other parties OF the murder, &C. The Court
ruled these questions out. unless confined to
what had been developed in his examination in
chief, viz: stating the occurrence to Braxton
and going to the O-Street market Saturday
morning. Exceptions noted.
Witness continued as follows: Braxton lives
on street, between Boundary and 10th; told
MIN OF the occurrence on Friday morning, as he
thought about O'Clock. This was the first
statement he had made to any one; knows Bur-
rel johnson, who lives between and U, 18th
and 18th streets He is married man; knows
bis Wifes name; she is deaf and dumb; had not
seen her from Wednesday TO Saturday morning;
life
MT. Miller.-"Call In Mrs. Johnson Mr.
Wells.-"She is deaf" Mr.. Miller.-"Cal her
husband then" Mrs. johnson was here brought
in, and witness recognized her. Did not re-
member having seen her in the period named;
did not visit her house on Thursday Did not
show her anything:-not watch nor ring.
The court here objected, and The defence said
that they desired his answer as to specific
articles. The court said, to save time. they
could ask the question. johnson again denied
showing her watch or ring. Don't know her
children; don't know that She has any. DID
not show watch or ring 10 this woman In the
presence OF her son. Don't know Joseph Jefrer-
sen SEN La maiay er jefferson R Or Fade yefer
not with them after the murder. Knows
moses Ross; was not with him on the
night OF the murder: don't know where he is
now; Did not have any occasion to wash his
hands that night, after the murder; took supper
al ms motherS that night; eat no where else;
had dinner next day at home; don't recollect
mat he eat at Mrs. JohnSOn'S that day. Saw
ROSS on saturday, after the MURDER in the
morning. Witness read of the murder Thurs
day evening, on V street, between Boundary
and 10th. at Jacksons shoe shop; read it in THE
STAR. There were several people there, but did
not remember who they were.
BY Mr.. Nliller:-WitneSs knows Ella voolfolk,
Alice Gray and Howard Copeland. These were
brought in, and witness pointed out each by
name. Don't remember that he saw them the
day after the murder at the corner of 18th and
' streets. There was always crowd of boys
there whenever he was there. Don't know Levi
jackson. Don't remember to have said that
Nose Ross and him had nearly killed a man on
18th street. Witness had seen these parties at
recess and talked to Alice Gray; don't remem-
Der that he told her that it was true that he
lad said that Nose Ross and him had killed or
nearly killed man. Witness said Alice told
MIN that she was sorry he was In this scrape,
but nothing about he and Ross having killed or
nearly, killed man. He had not been promised
anything to testify against these men. Mr.
breast of it.
Mr.. Wiswell, by permission of the court, said
he had never seen the boy lJohnson) until he
came on the stand.
johnson continuing said that at the time he
made bis statement in the Station-hollSe he had
heard of the arrest Of Bedford, and he heard of
the others on Saturday; did not know whether
he heard 1t before or after he made his state-
ment; knew that Bedford was arrested by read
ing 1t In the paper; he did not think there was
any account OF the others being arrested in the
article.
AT this point, $3.50 o'clock, the cross-examina-
ton was completed.
Redirect by Mr.. Perry:-It was Tuesday even
Ing that he saw RoXsy Ross at the house of
esther Johnson; 1t was Thursday morning that
ne was at the drove-yard; on the day Of the
murder he got up and washed his hands, ate his
breakfast and went out on the corner. He then
repeated the story Of his whereabouts on that
DAY, as given before. He had on the same shoes
that ne wore on the night of the murder. lex
hibited to the jury.l The clothes OF the prison
ers worn on the night of the murder were shown
Witness. He recognized Pfnn'S Shoes but not
the pants and shirts. The coat shown as Quee-
mans, ne said was the one worn by Bedford on
Wednesday; he recognized Bedford's hat and
scarf. The coat shown as Bedford's. he said
was P1nn's. He recognized Bedford's shoes; he
could not recognize the handkerchief in which
the stone was tied, neither could he tell whether
that night
thought Bedford had on the pants now that he
wore that night; Pinns shoes did not button.
lP1nn'S coat ShOWn.] He recognized it as PjnnS
Goa ana said that he wore it on the night OF
This concluded the examination OF the wit.
ness, and the court adjourned
Fifth Day.
This morning there was a large crowd abour
ibe east end OF the City Hall long before tbs
wan" nom the jail drove up with the prisoners
at ~ O'Clock. The marshal's officers, with the
assistance OF some policemen, opened a Way on
The pavement to the basement door and the
prisoners were led In that way to the court room
and but small portion OF the crowd got a sight
OF them. 1t was noticeable that when the court
opened the air OF the room was pure and orders
being g1vento keep out the crowd the afr was
much better during the entire morning.
THE FIRST WITNESS TO-DAY
was Philip Hungerford, colored. about twenty
years old, who testified that he last worked for
I. M. Steele, 18th and streets; left there about
der; walked along in an angular direction to
18th and T streets; saw Ben johnson and two
or three others there; said to Ben, '.I'o Ben"
and and. Ben sad How are you, Phil?" and then
there, colored men; did not recognize them
CroSS-eXamined:-HaS known johnson four
teen years; he lived between V and w streets
and witness about square off; had heard John,
son sing In Sabbath school of which witness is
a member, the Fifth Baptist school. Disremem-
Der whether II was raining, the stars Shining or
the lamps lighted. Did not see johnson again
that night or the day following
WITNESS RULED OCT
Mr.; Perry proposed to call VIM. Dangerfield,
VINO had not become known to them till Friday
last and his name and residence were served
ON the prisoners on that day-thus giving them
two full days Qncluding Sunday to INQUIRE
about him. The statute required two full DAYS
He asked whether the defence, having stated
that they were ready, were not estopped from
He read on this point State of Ohio
agt. Fuchs.
The court said that the simple question was
whether Sunday was day In law
Mr.. wells remarked that In this court Sum-
days were not treated as dies non. Veriicts
may be given on Sunday, but the entry is made
as OF Saturday.
Mr.. Miller said the object of the statute was to
give the defence two full days in which they
might use the process OF the court, and the
name OF the witness having been furnished
them on Friday, the two full legal days did not
remain before the case was called for trial
Inc court said the purpose OF this statute was
PLAIN, ana that under 1t prisoner could more
certainly waive the Indictment than he could
waive the provisions OF the statute The object
was to give the defence at least two entire DAYS
to make inquiry, Sundays were not to be
He therefore decided that this wit
ness could not be called,