Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-25
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEOP HIRTH.
Trial of Bedford, Queenan and Pinn.

The trial OF the three colored men-Joseph
Neverson alias Joseph or "Babe' Bedford, I'd
ward Queenan and Sandy Ptnn-indicted for
the murder of George Philip Hirth on street
on the evening Of January 7th last, was cen
tinued In the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner,
Yesterday after our report closed-District At
torney Corkhill and Assistant District Attorney
Perry for the government; Mesers. 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 Court ruled on the offer to put in a state
ment made by johnson On the Sunday after his
arrest, that the defence having attacked his
credtbiltty such statements could be given.
James Croggon, OF TIE STAR, testified as to
the statement made to him by johnson at the
second precinct station on the Sunday after the
murder, which was in substance that which he
has since made. Witness is certain that he
then told him that Bedford had asked the time
of gentleman at the corner Of 14th and Sam
son Streets and that he said 1920 or 7:25 O'Clock
Cross.examined thinks that some
one OF the crowd said he (Johnson) would be in
dicted with the rest, but hole would be left for
him to get out; witness, Detective Coomes, Lieut..
johnson and DR.; Buckley were present; does not
recoilect who said 1t; might possibly have said
so himself
Matilda Mullens (reealled for rebuttaL wit
ness met Bedford, Kate Dixon and Elmira Bal
ley at the corner of 18th and streets, and asked
If they knew Phil, who stayed In Sfnclair,s
store, and when they answered yes" then She
said don't you know that some one has knocked
MIN III Ufle nedQ ana ne is Ut du up 10 U1e QFHg
store; witness did not tell them that four men
had jumped on Phil Hirth and killed him; wit
ness heard, on the Sunday after the murder. Sue
Barber tell Elmira Bailey that they were going
to say ait was o'clock when Babe Bedford came
to Mrs. Halls, and they did not want her to go
back on it."
E1mira Bailey (recalled) testified that on the
Sunday after the murder Sue Barber said to her
they were going to say that Babe was at her
house at : O'Clock. Witness replied that she
could not say that, because she did not get to
nm C1rn cold
she had been sent there by police officer to see
If Bedford had given her anything to conceal, and
witness said, Certainly not
Robert Pierce was introduced to show the
time it would take to walk from Mrs. Halls
house to the scene Of the murder. 1t took wit
ness five minutes to walk it at moderate gait.
Witness went across the open squares.
d. NJ. Lighter recalled.-Wttness had told
Mr.. Falls he could not fix the hour when Bed
ford was in his store on the night of the MUIR
der.
Wash. Braxton testified that on the Saturday
morning johnson was arrested witness, passing
on street, near 18th street, met johnson and
SAID, How do the boys come on for numbering
that MANI" Johnson then said he was along
with them and told witness they {Pinn, Bed
ford and Queenan) asked him to GO Serenading.
and on the way up P street Bedford had picked
up stone, and soon after he struck man: they
all knocked him down, and then he (Johnson)
ran away. Cross eXamned:-WttneSS did not
tell any one except his homefolks until some
johnson had said
Robert Parker testified that Eimra Bailey
was living as domestic with witness on the
Sunday after the murder; Sue Barber and
another girl came to see her; witness read to
them from the sunday Chronicle an account of
the murder; then they called Elmira out in the
area, and witness heard the words ..Seven
o'clock repeated several times; heard nothing
else.
Fifteenth Day.
This morning prior to the opening of the
court there seemed to be considerable anxiety
on the part of the general public to get into the
court room. AT few minutes to 10 o'clock
Sergeant Saffell came into the court room with
a good sized young colored man. In a moment
there were numerous conJectures as to who this
man was. and in little time it was aScertained
that he was Roxsy Ross, the party whom the
defence claim was with johnson on the night Of
the murder. He was taken to the witness room
as soon as the court convened.
On the converting of the court Mr.. W. S. Hoge
was called in rebuttal and testified that he sold
cattle to Henry Yost on the 31st of December
and none on the 18th Of January. [The object Of
this testimony was to contradict Craig as to
driving cattle from Queenstown, and the gov
eminent said that they proposed to show that
what Craig testified to having occurred on jan
uaIy 18th occurred December 31st.l
Henry Yost testified that he bought no cattle
from Mr.. Hoge or any one else on the 18th Of
January, but had bought some December 31st
These the boy said got wild, and they left them
at Cissel's. The boy was Sherman Eamenston.
and the cattle were killed at C1ssell's.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wells:-Had memo
vi uIS sale VI CdLlle Oh SlSC OF De-
cember, "a billy
Mr.. Wells.-Let me look at it,
The court said that it was dangerous, for they
might make it evidence.
Mr. Perry-If he produces it., I'll offer it.
Mr. Wells.-Il not look at it, then. Laugh
teri
Thos. F. Cissen testified that he lives at
Brightwood, and saw Craig and Edmonston at
the Queenstown drove-yard Dec. 31st and on
Jan. 9TH; saw them coming from Brightwood on
the 31st The cattle were killed on the Friday
.afr In lnff fl,a
night except his own.
BY the court:-The cattle on the s1st were
Mr. 1osts, and were slaughtered on the follow
ing Friday.
Nose Ross, otherwise '.RoXey" Ross was
called, and rather rough looking colored boy
was produced.
Mr.. Perry-Now, gentlemen, ITO the defence),
here is the man whom you have said was out Of
town, and you may examine him.
Mr. Miller-We would like Benz. johnson to
plete.
Col Corkmll said that they proposed to show
that he had been In town all the time.
Mr.. Miller.-We do not want him as witness
but to put him in the dock.
Judge Hagner said that they could prove that
this man was .'Roxey" Ross.
sergeat Saffel was recalled, to prove this, and
said he knew Ross.
Mr.. Wells-I object
Judge Hagner sold this was in rebuttal Of
Johnson's statement on cross examination.
examining the testimony of johnson and Ser
geant Saffell. The court said he was so sure that
the witness had been examined on this point
that he would allow the question.
Witness resumed:-Knows Roxy Ross; had
known him several months; arrested him on the
night of the murder; he had been in the city
since having been arrested once since; he had
been about the city.
Cross examined by Mr.. Miller. Had seen Ross
twice since the murder.
Colonel Corkhin said he had brought Ross
I1lnf tn hi
James c. Little recalled:-Witness has known
Richard t. or 'TObe" Brown for twenty Five
years; saw Brown the afternoon after the muir
der.
Mr.. Perry.-We propose to ask what state
ment Brown then made
Mr.. Miller objected; but the question was al
lowed.
BROWNS STORY THE DAY AFTER THE MURDER.
witness reSumed.-BroWn came to witness
mouse, S19 NJ street southwest, the afternoon
following the murder, between and G o'clock
witness said that Brown related to him that he
had been up town towards Boundary the night
before looking for Mrs. LaRue; had met crowd
OF colOred men who wanted him to play cards.
that they went on and got to Scuffilng among
themselves, and he thought they must be quar-
rell1ng. He saw afterwards the full account in
the paper, and Brown came to his house and
witness told him that from the locality named
and what he had stated this must be the same
party. ana told him he ought to make the facts
known.
Cross examined by Mr.. Coyle:-Had been a
witness in liquor cases (Shea'S Gates and Do
q N on nRayT cod AINt