Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-19

10 prepare, assigned day In tne early part OF
March. and after trial OF Is days the three
men-Bedford Queenan and Pinn-were con-
Victed. The trial was remarkable one In sew
eral respects. The boy, Ben Johnson, an ad-
mitted accOmplice. was the principal witness,
and was subjected TO about as searching
cross examination as man has ever under
gone, but did not vary in the least from his
first statement Then came the effort TO intro
duce the testimony OF a deaf and dumb colored
witness that Ben johnson had shown her
watch, &c, supposed TO have belonged to young
Hrth. Circumstances were, however, devel-
oped which convinced the jury that the test1-
mony OF johnson and Brown was true, and that
the statement that johnson and RoXey Ross,
the latter OF whom Ii was alleged had fled the
District, committed the murder and that Brown
knew OF IL, was false. and verdict OF guilty or
murder was rendered In the case Of all three
prisoners. AS has been heretofore stated the
judgment was sustained.
EFFORTS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE PRISONERS.
The effort TO set 1t aside having failed efforts
were made TO secure communication of sentence
for Ptnn, which were successful, and pardon
for Bedford and Queenan, which failed. So
confident had been all three OF the parties that
their lives would be ultimately spared that 1t
was not until August that Bedford paid any
serious attention TO religion, ana Queenan had
spent but week or ten days in considering his
future life. This was probably owing to the
more than usual efforts made by their counsel
TO save them: in fact, Ii may be said that they
worked almost continuously for their clients.
From time TO time Ii was alleged that light had
been thrown on the case tending TO show the
alleged that what purported TO be the watch of
Mr. Htrth had been found in an ash heap; then tt
was asserted that Ben Johnson the witness.
had made an admission to BUD Warner, a
notorious COlored burglar, IN which he admitted
that he and RoXey Ross had committed the
crime.
FORGED LETTER.
next it was reported that letter had been
Intercepted at the iail directed TO Ben Johnson
and purporting TO have been written by 'TObe"
Brown, telling Johnson to remain tirm In his
statements, and Intimatlng that Brown, john
Sol and ROXey Ross had committed the crime.
All these alleged facts were placed before The
President and Attorney General and ample
opportunity was given the counsel TO inye5ti-
gate them. Brown denied the authenticity OF
the letter, and 1t was compared with his hand
Writing and pronounced by experts to be for
gerry. The allegations made by Warner were
Dot corrobOrateG. and in fact the defence We're
unable TO satisfy the authorities that the SEN
tence should be further delayed
CoLoRBD MINISTER'S CALL On THE PRESIDENT.
Bfs1des the counsel, several delegations in-
cludiDg Bishop Brown and number of color,d
minlst erS pleaded with the President for a com
mutation OF sentence, giving as a reason tlat
The same clemency should be extended to BED.
Iord and Queenan as was extended TO Sandy
Pinn. The President did not give them much
encouragement, except to say that he would
hear any thing further tending to show why be
should inteTpOSe.
1t having been rumored that the counsel for
the prisoners intended TO apply for writ OF
habeaS corpus based on some technicalittes in
tie papers sent TO the jail, an informal but care
ful examination or them was made yesterday
by some OF the judges, and they were found TO
be legal documents in every respect.
THE RUSH FOR PASSES.
Yesterday there were many applications at
The 1a1l for passes. and hundreds OF people
asked TO see the scaffO.d, which Was rully d.
scr1bed in yesterdays STAR, but this privilege
was accorded to only few. During the day
the ropes were put in place. and bag contain
ing 155 pounds OF sand (the weight OF Bedtor,i)
being placed on the trap. The ropes stood the
test OF fan OF four feet, ana the apparatus
worked well.
VISITORS TO TIE JAIL YESTERDAY.
During yesterday the prisoners were visited
by Rev. Brown. OF the A. NJ. E. Church: Rev. j.
ID ;. Hall and Rev. John A. Clark, OF the NJ. E.
Church, In addition to Rev. VIM. Gibbons. who
called early In the day. They were found cheer
ful, and continued TO assert their innocence.
SINGING AT STONES EXECUTION.
The three men, as was stated by them, were
raised In Or near Samson street, and the singing
club TO which they for some years were attached
was well known In the northern part OF The
city, and there we're some fine voices among
them, and those who were present when Stone
was hung for wife murder on April 1sJ last viii
not soon forget their singing on that occasion.
'BABR" BEDFORD.
Joseph NeNerSOn, otherwise - Babe Bedford
was about feet or 10 incneS in height an /
weighed about Loo pounds. He was between
II and % years OF age. He was strongly built,
had dark brown skin, and small, round head.
with thick neck he was boyish looking, and
had rather pleasant c0untenanCe. He Was
born in Montgomery county, Md. but came
here during the war, when only about year
old, with his father and mother; and his father
having enlisted some time atterward. his
mother heard that his father was dead, and she
married again one Bedford. subsequently,
s. Babe having grown large enough to work
for himself, his Iaother moved back TO Mont
gomery county. and he made stopping place
OF Mrs. Lees, In Samson street Up to few
years ago Bedford bore O. fair character. but
finally became known as lover OF mischief aud
6f
EDWARD QUEENAN
was about 20 years old. feet or inches In
height, and weighing near 100 pounds. He had
a peculiarly shaped head, with high cheek
bones, q bold, defiant look, and a SWagger In
his walk. His color when he was committed
was quite dark, but after his Imprisonment he
bieached out TO somewhat lighter hue, and
his countenapce lost also It's aggressive look.
He was born In Maryland and was brought here
when baby. His father ana mother are both
living In this city-the former hackman, and
On New York avenue. He had rather the worst
reputation OF the three men. having been fire.
quently under arrest for fghting, dtSorderly
conduct &C. On one occasion ne served nine
months In jail for an assault. He had worked
as bootblack and cart driver, but for some
years had done little or nothing more than
roam the streets. He was the leading bass OF
tie singing club.
the convicted man who was fortunate enough
TO escape the gallowS for Imprisonment for life,
Is dDCuI u years OiQ anu OF Dflglt yellow
color. He IS about nve feet seven inches high
With straight black hair, and weighs about AS
or $50 pounds. He is said to be descendant OF
the Pinn'S OF FauQufer county, Va, whO 1t Is
claimed have Indian blood In their veins Hei
the most Intelligent one OF the crowd and bore
rather the best character. He had been por-
ter IN lth-street gents furnishing store, aud
had been generally trusted around the neigh
b0rhood. He had, however. been running In
Father questionable company for the past two
or three years.
BENJAMIN JOHNSON,
the principal witness, was (after the motion for
new trial was refused In General Term last
September) released from JAIL and after re-
naming short time In the northern part OF
the city left here and Is now said 10 be In Bo5-
Ton, where lie has a brother.
Six Hours Sound Sleep for BOrh Men
Last Night.
Queenan, who had occupied the first cell on
the west side OF the second tier OF the south
wing since his Imprisonment, was removed last
evening 10 the second cell on the opposite side
or the lower tier. Both men appeared to be In
good spirits last night and resigned to their fate
Dr. Alex McWilliaTns and Capt. James Coleman
were on duty during the night at their cells
They talket little to each other during the
INST part or the night and then engaged In
prayer, both praying earnestly though in low
tones. Between IL and 12 O'clock pm two
reporters called and the prisoners having stated
tnat they would see Them they were admitted
but only spent short time IN the CELL About
souBdIy until about O'Clock this morning.