National Republican., 1880-11-13
BEDFORD AND QUEENAN.
A Talk With the Condemned Hirth Mur.
derers at the Jail.
Preparations Commenced for the Execution
Next Friday-What the Prisoners
Think OF the situation.
r.ess rhnnn Wool, of Ito.

Less Ihnn n week OF Alltos
At twelve o'clock on Friday next Babe Bed
| ford and Edward Queenan, tho convicted
murdcrcrs of young hirth, will suffer tho cx-
trcme penalty Of the law at the United States
| Jail, near the eastern branch. The execution
will take place in the cast corridor Of the
/ north wing Of the Jail, aud only such persons
rs are legally entitled to admission will DO
permitted inside tho building Representa-.
/ tivcs of the press, ministers attendant upon
| the condemned and few medical mon will
comprise the attendance, as tho capacity of
| the corridor is limited. The galows will be
| the samo used In the dccaptation of Stone
| last April the only alterations being the ar
! raugcmont Of the cross.beam for two ropes
! instead Of ono and the enlargement OF the
| trap. Carpenters were at work on the gallows
| yesterday in the large room leading from the
rotuuda, and the sound Of their hammers
could be plainly heard by the condemned.
Bodford's cell is on the first floor In the west
side Of tho south wing Immediately opposite
/ that In which Stone was confined. A repre-.
sentative Of The REPUBLICAN, while at the
Jail yesterday, had q short talk with
| each Of the condemned men. Bedford
| was tho first seen, and in reply to Il
question regarding his health said he was
better now than at any time since his conhne'
neut. lie looked very haggard, aud while
! talking his under lip was very trcnlulous. lie
reiterated his innocence OF the murder Of Mr.
liitth, but said he wasrcady to leave this world,
as ho had made his peace with Jesus. Leaving
Boll0td's cell Queenan was next visited. III
is in the second tier on the cast side Of the
same wing, aud is in as good health rs when
he came. In fact, Of the trio, he has been lrs'
trouble to the attendants than either of the
others who have suffered with chll5 ana
fever. lie seemed glad TO sec his visitor, hi'
first sa.utatiou being Boss, l am in
uoocut ot this thing. Still If they say
l must so, 1t makes no difference t.
me. Even if they let Pnn and Babe q
aud hang me | will still say am innocent
that Ben Johnson sworo to lie when he sai,
| was with him that night. 1-did not know
him except by hcarsay, and when the dclec
tivcs told me they had Johnson did not kno'
what they meant Could you do me a favor
sI?'
"What is it, Queenan"
II want to see Mr. Perry, the assistant pros
ccuting attorney"
"What do you want vita him?n said Til
REPUBLICAN's representative, drawing close
To the reil.door, anticipating the long g'desire
confession.
Wu,i sir, want to ask him to have mere
on me aud try and save me. don't blam
MIN for the manner in which lie acted duriu
the trial. lie had to do it, | suppose, but
was hard to have my life sworn away b
tHoso men" Upon being told that Prcsiden
Hayes was the only one who could help hit
now, he replied "Wrll, l am done for. NJ
lawyers say he won't do anything for me an
| suppose | must prepare TO meet God. l ain
quite ready yet. When | heard the othc
day that Babe aud were to b. hung l bega
, to pray, but have not felt any change ye
| guess il will come, though. You mark wha
tell you, boss; the right men will be foun
one of these days, and then people will be sorr
they hung u.s. Sandy Plum was next in orde
\ pleasant smilo lit up his face as his visitor
stopped at tho door, and before word wa
uttered by tEcm he said II had q might
close shave for life" That you did Sandy,
responded one Of the party, and now that yo
are safe why not tell what you know abou
the murder of Mr.. HlrhY "In deed eau
toll yuu anything about it. l wasn't theI
that night. If knew anything God know
| would toll IT," Pinn looks consderabl
the worse for wear, which ho explained b
saving that he was just getting rid OF the chill
His cell was not MS well kept rs Bedford
or QucruUms aud his clothing was dirty an
: i'll arranged. Qncenan is the tandy of I'll
trio ANA takes great pains with his toilet an
clothing wearing the whitesJ linen, sho
coat dark pants, standing collar aud blac
> necite. IL cell IS decorated with numb
of Autographs and pictures taken from illu
trated papers, considerable taste being eyInct
in their arrangement. Bedford spends mo
Of his timo peering through the grating OF Il
- cell at visitors to tho other prisoners, but do
not care to talk much. Tho condemned me
are visited daily by two colorcd minister
Messrs Gibbons and Lee, to whom they a
very talkalive about salvation. ms VIII
the first double execution that has taken pIa
in the District, aud tickets for tho haugil
are in great demand. Several OF the relatiy
o. of the murdered man have requested = nul
- Der of tickets, but General Crocker says Tia
y no more spectators than the law allows W
} be granted admttancc. The tickets "
probably be ready next Wednesday, aud t
jury required by law will be composed
newspaper men exclusively The condemn
a99 men seemed convinced that the preside
." will decline to interfere any more in thoir
v half, and are putting themselves in condigI
to meet death next Friday.