Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-09
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEO. p. HIRTH.
Trial of Bedford, Queenan and Pinn


This morning, in the Criminal Court, Judge
Hagner, the trial OF the three colored men
Joseph Neverson, alias Joseph or babe" Bed
ford, Edward Queenan and Sandy Pnn-indicted
for the murder OF George Philip Hirth on street
on the evening OF January 9TH last, was called.
There was perfect jam about the courthouse,
many people being anxious to get view Of the
prisoners.
THE PRISONERS IN COURT.
The prisoners arrived In the van about 90
O'Clock. and were at once taken to the dock.
The marshal's officers anticipating crowd of
members of the bar, who with the jurors and
witnesses would I'll the room, guarded the
doors against outsiders, and it was well they
did for before noon there was a perfect jam in
the room. Queenan and Bedford were neatly
dressed, the former with his hair cropped and
parted, but Pfnn's clothes were somewhat solid
and ragged. His hair, which last week was
quite long, was closely Shorn.
HOW HIRTH WAS wAYLAID AND MURDERED.
IL will be remembered that young Hirth, a
most exemplary young man. a member of Mt.
Zion NJ. Z. church, had a store on 18th street,
above P NV. He was engaged to be married,
and the ceremony was to have taken place
about ten days subsequent to the date on which
he was killed. On the evening in question he
started out street to visit his affanced, a Miss
Sinclair, daughter OF his former employer resfd-
ling on 10th street, above street. While quiet
ly walking along this street he was wayla1d by
assassinS, and short time thereafter was found
with three or more terrible wounds on his head
Having been removed to drug store near by,
from the time he was found until his death. so
that he could give no clue to his murdererS.
Shortly after the injured man had been taken
TO the drug store, one Of the prisoners-"B
Bedford-waS In the crowd, anxious to see
whether or not the victim was dead and made
minute inquiries as to the injured man. This
caused the officers to suspect him, and when
further inquiry was made it was ascertained
that Bedford had been in the employment OF
the victim and had been discharged ON suspicion
Of having committed a larceny.
ARREST OF BABE BEDFORD
1t was finally determined by the police to
arrest Bedford, and the second precinct officers
went to his house in Samson street and there
found him asleep with a companion and took
him into custody. BY an oversight his CON-
panion was left In bed and when the officers re-
turned to make further inquiry he had left and
has not been heard from SINCE This missing
man is relative "a cousin) OF Bedfords, and it
Is now thought that il he was not party to the
crime he, at least, would have been an impor-
tant witness.
TWO OTHER ARRESTS.
on the day following the murder Pinn, who
was a known companion and neighbor of Bed
fords. employed at Sibley'S feed store, '.gave
himself away" when he heard that Bedford
had been arrested by stating that he knew
Bedford was innocent, for he (P.) was with him
the night before. Queenan was arrested on the
same day, he being known as companion OF
Bedford and Pinn, who had up to few months
before resided in Samson street. Seven or eight
other persons were also arrested on suspicion,
and When the jury was summoned to hold an
inquest the following day, there was so little
Known OF the circumstances that the coroner
determined TO adjourn the investigation to a
future date. Although the entire detective force
with the officers OF the I'd precinct dn which the
murder was committed and those OF the 4th
and 9th precincts were working up every clue,
it was not until Saturday evening, January 10TH
that there was any substantial ground for the
belief that they had the right parties in custody.
a
sultation on every clue and circumstance, came
TO the conclusion to release all but these three
his possession a silk parasol which it was
thought might have been taken from the VIC
tim. All the other suspected persons were
therefore set at liberty. 1t had been ascer-
tanned with some degree OF certainty that there
were four persons in the attacking party, and it
became important that the other one should be
secured.
TIE FOURTH MAN CAPTURED.
Through some OF the neighbOrS OF BENJAMIN
Johnson colored boy residing on 18th street.
near W northwest, it was developed that he was
probably the party wanted This was learned
by the detective officers, as also by the second
and the sixth precinct officers, and they were
all on the lookout for him. Word was left at
his house that they wanted to see him on some
ordinary case. About O'Clock Saturday eve
ming johnson walked into the second precinct
station, and, giving his name. he was locked up.
JoHNsoNTs STORY OF THE MURDER
on inquiry he stated that he met the other
three parties on the evening named at the cor
ner Of 18th and Il streets and Bedford asked
him 10 20 over 10 near the Quaker College to
sing with them, and they went over to 18th
street, and thence along Z street. and Bedford
picked up Il stone, wrapped it In his handker-
chief, and walking behind Hirth. struck him a
blow which staggered hin. Hirth. recognizing
Beuford, exclaimed, For GODS sake Babe don't
Kill me-" but Babe followed up the assault
aud Queenan also struck IIirth and Pinn kicked
him. He Johnson after telling them not TO
kill the man. ran off.
THE FUNERAL or THE MURDERED MAN q
TOOK place on sunday, January 18th, from the
church OF which he was a member. II was at
tended by one OF the largest assemblages ever
brought together on such an occasion in this Dis
u1ct. the number OF people In the vicinity Of the
church being estimated at from 900 to 5000
persons. There was much indignation felt over
This murder and during the services the FEAST
bility OF getting hold of the prisoners was fully
discussed even by the ladies present. Remarks
were made at the church by Rev. E. D. owen,
the pastor, and Rev. W. |. Mckinney, the for
mer pastor, who had received the deceased in
church as member, and on the same evening
revival was commenced, which has been con-
tinuously in progress since, and thus far there
have been about 100 conversions, nearly all
adults, and the majority part men.
THE INQUEST.
The Following day the coronerS jury reas-
sembed, and after hearing the testimony OF
Johnson and others, returned a verdict that
death was caused by Bedford, Queenan and
coroner. While the inquest was in progress at
the 4th precinct station, an immense concourse
ten or twelve thousand men--Were in the
streets adjacent, and 1t was with the utmost
difficulty that the prisoners were placed In the
police ambulance under a strong guard and
taken TO the jail. It IS stated that In the jal
one Of -Queenan-inferentially admitted
that he was with the party. but the others have
steadfastly asserted their innocence and
claimed that johnson is mistaken; in fact that
he has got up lie to save himself.
THE GRAND JURY
examined the case very thoroughly. and as
johnson had been frequently under arrest 1t
became necessary that his statement should be
cOrroborated. The officers continued their in
quirieS and found witnesses who saw the par
ties on the corner OF 18th and 4 streets; again
on 18th and T. at the corner OF 18th and Sam
son street; when Bedford, it Is alleged. asked
the time and urged them to hurry or they
would be late. II was stated that there was
other important evidence before the grand
jurors:-that of party who knew Bedford, ana
While in company with colored man on the
night OF the murder was overtaken by Bedford
and the others on p street and they walked
some distance together, Bedford stating that he
was on a LAY out" and intended to '.get even''
with some one, and that this testimony has
been corroborated in such manner as TO make
II perfectly incontrovertabe. Since the indict-
ment was found~ it is said that outside the
lhlrty-iNe witnesses whose names are endorsed
on the Indictment, that other testimony has
been found which Will tend to make the proof
stronger.
THE ACCUSED MEN.
The prisoners are well known in the north