Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-08

A YOUNG NAN BEATEN TO DEATH BY UNKNOWN
RUFFIANS.

YOUNG NAN BEATEN TO DEATH BY UNKNOWN
RuFFIANS
Last evening as Officer McDon aid, of the 9Th
police precinct, was going his rounds, he re-
cetyed information from two citizens, that a
man had been assaulted on p street, between
18th and 18th streets. The officer haStened to
the place designated and found lying on the
pavement helpless and speeches., well dressed
wounded about the head. 1t was soon aScer-
tanned that the sufferer was Mr.. George Philip
Hirth, grocer doing business at No: 1904 18th
street He was taken at once to the drug store
Of Mr.. r. Morgan Baldwin, fronting P street
circle, and Drs. Van Arnum and st. Clair were
summoned. They responded promptly, but pro-
within twenty minutes after their arrival. He
never spoke word from the time he was found.
Mr.. Hirth was some % or % years old, and was
formerly employed in sinclafrls grocery, also ON
14th street. BE resided with his brother on
Pierce Place, between 18th and 18th streets, to
which place his body was taken. For some
Miss Ella Sinclair, daughter of his for
mer employer residing on 10th street,
between r and streets, and he had been
in the habit of closing his store after O'Clock
and spending the evening with her. Last even
ing he left the store at 1920 O'clock taking with
him few dollars in his pocket, and it was only
about 10 minutes afterwards when Officers Nc
Donald and Hintun were called to the case, and
he was found wounded as stated above. Ser
geant Saffen and Officer Cant, of the second
precinct, arrived shortly after the injured man
curTence having taken place within their pre-
met they took charge Of the case. 1t seems
that gentleman and lady had stopped at the
drug store before the victim was brought there
and said to the clerk, "FOur men are beating
a man to death up here" the clerk ordered the
olored porter to go up and see what the matter
was, but Terry was afraid; that a few minutes
later Geo: Hurley. white man, and Thos. Will
liams, colored came down street and saw
young Hirth lying on the pavement, as they
thought in fit. Hurley picked him up and
an1 fr.pr.N l,f.,
Sergeant Saffen went at once to Major Morgans
house. in that neighbOrhOod. and telephoned to
police headquarters for the officers to look out
for the assatlants. 1t was found that there were
two frightful gaSheS on the back of HirthS
head. cutting through the skull, and an i'm
mense swelling under the left ear. The doctors
We're Of the opinion that cleayer or some such
instrument had been used Sergeant Saffell at
an early hour this morning arrested Moses Ross,
alias RockSy," and Babe Bedford, both col
ored, on suspicion of being concerned in the
affair. The latter formerly worked for deceased,
and last night, when the body was taken to the
drug store, he was one OF the first parties OBJ
served hanging around. Coroner Patterson was
summoned by telephone last night, and ordered
jury summoned for noon to-day.
ti1rthS pockets were found rified Of all Valu-
ableS, and his gold watch was gone.
Coroner Patterson telephoned to the fourth
precinct station house this morning that, in
consequence OF prior engagements, he could not
be present to hold the inquest until O'Clock.
ARRESTS.
The excitement in the neignborhood OF the
murder this morning was intense, a large crowd
Of men. women end children being on the ground
and officers running around to obtain clue to
the perpetrators of the brutal murder.
Last night, as stated, Officer Saffen ar,
on suspicion, and this morning a boy named
VIM. Myers picked up a bloody scarf, which was
recognized by several as similar to one worn by
nor's inquest. Moses Ross, another colored
mar, was also arrested, as above stated, by the
officers of the second precinct on suspicion and
is held at that police station; Very suspicious
circumstances are against him in connection
with the murder, it is said, and there are others
yet to be arrested.
DEVELOPMENTS TO-DAY.
1t IS also fact that the street lamp ON the
where the murder was committed, was eXtin-
guished, at the time of it's occurrence. The
sidewalk is covered with blood which flowed in
to the gutter, showing that nearly all the blood
flowed from the body of the unfortunate young
man. Nothing has occurred for years which
has caused such excitement and Indignation as
this murder, and lynching is freely and openly
1t. Guy, Of the fourth precinct, and his officers
are ready to act at the close of the inquest
should any developments indicate who the ruff
Hans were and where they may be found. The
TWO men arrested were seen last night about
O'Clock with gang Of roughS at the corner Of
2Sd and NJ Streets on their way to the scamp
in Hell's bottom, place said to be general
rendezvous for thieves and bad characters.
Their course was out New Hampshire avenue to
P street.
Detectives Voss, Acton and McElfresh. and a
number of police are securing Hel's Bottom to-
day for clue. Detective VOss arrested about
- O'Clock to-day Edward Queenan, a young
colOred thief on suspicion. He was found in Sam
son street. and it is stated that he was arrested
about year ago for larceny, and went through
the Police Court and sent to jail. When he got
out he accused Hfrth OF being the cuase of bis
arrest, and threatened vengence against hin.
He has been convicted several times of thelG,
and has also served time in the penitentiary.
He was seen last night with this crowd of
station, when he was searched and locked up.
In his pockets were found quantity OF matches
some Keys and handkerchief, with spots re-
sembling blood; also some dominoe blocks and
said, been skulking all the morning. The fami-
~, relatives and friends OF the young man are
thrown into the deepest anguish at the tragedy.
THE INQUEST POSTPONED.
Coroner Patterson was On the ground last
night and proceeded to summon jury at the
corner OF 10Th and P streets, and after swearing
them in notified them to appear at the 4th pre-
cinct station at 10 o'clock today. The jury are
as follows: W. H. Tucker, foreman; Richard
Sinclair, John l. Leitch, r. W. Scholl, VIM.
Terrell, T. P; kingsbury, Geo. II. Tice, Charles
Wahly and Edward Wohlfarth. At 2 o'clock
Coroner Patterson and the jury were on hand at
Lieut. Guys station house, and large crowd OF
spectors surrounding the building. Coroner
with Major Brock and Captain Vernon, where
conference was held, and it was decided to
postpone the inquest until Saturday at 10
O'Clock a. m. in order TO develop more proofs.
DR.. Hartigan made an autopsy of the deceased
this morning, and found three clean cuts
through the scalp on the back part of the head
and the skull terribly cracked in various ways
as many as forty pieces being loose and the
brain obtruding.
NEW CLUE
Detective Noss has procured a new silver dollar
rom a saloon keeper in the vicinity Of the
tragedy covered with blood which he had ex-
changed in payment of drinks furnished two
colored men-One a barber. On visiting the
barber he ascertained that colored man had
applied 10 have his mouStache shaved off last
night at a late hour, and as he could not make
the light change, the customer invited him to
the saloon to take drink and that he rendered
this dollar in payment. This may afford an i'm
portant clue 10 the murder.
Amusements, &c.
NATIONAL THEATER.-The new opera Gar
mem was sung by the StrakoSch company in
fyla 10 tod