Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-26
THE GALLOWS IN WASHINGTON
Execution of Queenan and Bedford.

:
years-of Joseph Neverson, alias Babe Bed
ford, and Edward Queenan, took place in the
corridor of the Jail, at Washington, on Fri
day afternoon lsst. Both of the condemned
we're colored men, and young. They, with
several others, comprised band of vagrant
MINISTRIES, and made kind of living by
singing about the streets and other places.
They were convicted in March last of the
murder of Mr.. George Philip Hirth, who kept
grocery store in the northern part of the
city, which was committed on the night of
the 18th OF January last. Another coored
man, Sandy Pinn, who belonged TO the same
band, was convicted with them of the same
crime, but the President a couple of eeks
since commuted his sentence to imprisonment
for life in the penitentiary. Pinn has been
sick ever since he has been in jail, and it is
thought he will soon die with consumption.
This fact, probably, was the cause of the
commu taton of his sentence.
THE STORY OF THE MURDER.
The murder for which Babe Bedford and
Edward Queenan were executed occurred on
the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 7, and was
so bold and brutal that it shocked the COM
munity more, probably, than any crime COM
ihittu lh " SlHCo lut dSSdSSludllO0
of President Lincoln Though nearly year
has elapsed, the facts connected with the
murder are still fresh in the public mind, so
deep was The impression created at the time.
The victon of the murder was George Philip
Hlrth, young man twenty-five years Of age,
who kept store on Fourteenth street, two
doors north Of p, where he resided with his
mother. Young Iiirth was LEADING member
OF Mt. Zion NJ. Il. Church, member of the Y :.
NJ e.. and of most exemplary habits. His
high character as Christian seemed TO add
tenfold TO the PIT bile horror which followed
the murder. Hirth, was engaged to Miss
Sinclair, the daughter of his former employer,
who lived on Nineteenth street, above p, and
the wedding day was fixed. He generally
spent part of the evening after closing the
store with his afiianced It was while on his
way 10 Miss Sinclair's house, buoyant with
hope, full of happy expectation, and pos
sessed OF the serene contentment of an up
right man, that he was waylaid and murdered.
The murder occurred at about o'clock in the
evening, on the north side of street, be-
tween Seventeenth and Eighteenth sts Hirth
was found lying near the curbstone with his
head covered with wounds, the blood from
which streamed over his face. He was re-
moved on an impromptu litter to u drug
store 1T the P-street circle, where he expired
about O'Clock, having remained SPECIFICS
from the time he was found until death.
remarkable circumstance related in connection
with the murder is that Mrs. Hirth, the mother
of the murdered man, about the time that the
assault was made became greatly excited and
declared that some one was killing her boy.
For week after the murder the excitement
was intense. Several arrests were made i'm
mediately by the police, but some days elapsed
before evidence was found which would jus-
thy holding any of the prisoners.
Bedford was arrested on the night of the
murder, suspicion having been directed to him
by his unusual actions at the drug store where
Hirth was taken. Though he was several
times driven out Of the store by the police,
he kept returning and persisted in lowering
about the dying man Sandy Pinn was ar
rested on the following day, remark of his
that "He knew Bedford was innocent, for they
had been together the nigh Before" having
come 10 the ears Of the police. Queenan was
arrested the same day, he being known to be
a companion of Bedford's, and sill yer dollar,
COVERED with blood which had been received
Al store, having been traced to him. 1t was
not until the night of Saturday, Jan 10, that
the mystery of the murder was cleared up.
That night Ben johnson, the fourth man con-
cerued in the murder, was arrested aud told
the story of the crime, duplicating Bedford,
Queenan, Pinn and himself. The murder ap-
pears to have been committed to crafty the
resentment of Bedford, who had been at one
time prosecuted by liirth on a charge of lar
ceny, though many have the theory that the
assault was committed fer the purpose of rob-
bling llirth. The excitement after the arrest
of johnson was so great thai the police au-
Ihorities considered it prudent to take the
utmost precautions TO protect their prisoners
from lynching
The murder created the most intense ex-
citement, the District attorney declaring That
he would use all the means in his power for a
speedy trial and prompt justice. johnson
was used as a witness The prisoners were
ably defended, every effort that was possible
being made by their counsel TO establish their
innocence. As the trial progressed, however,
the community were almost equally divided
as to their guilt, a great portion believing
that johnson and another coored man named
Roxy Ross were the real murderers. The
police authorities always declared, however,
that after careful investigation, Johuson's
story was true, and was corroborated in every
essential particular.
THE SENTENCE
They were first sentenced TO be hanged in
April, hut delay was necessary because the
"i'N"' NpuiN heh uOt ilhh tltDt W NEAR Autif
appeal The sentence being confirmed the
execution was fixed for September. The Presi-
dent set this aside at the request of the coun-
sci OF the accused, and fxed last Friday for
the execution. Frequent appeals were made
To the President to grant another respite, aud
he only decided the night previous that he
would rot use his prerogative and interfere
any more.
THE EXECUTION.
Though the warden Of the Jail, General
Crocker, declared that but thiriy-fve would
be allowed TO witness The execution, there
was crowd Of several hundred present. con-
s:sting OF sporting men, horse. owners reslau-
rant keepers, government clerks and probably
twenty-five cuored men. The condemned
devoted The entire morning 10 prayer and
singing, assisted by several colored minis
ters About l;l5 they were brought from
their cells 10 the rOlunda of the jail where
General Crocker read the death-warrants to
them. The aims OF both having been tied
behind them, they were led to the scalfold
which was erected in the northeast corridor of
the jail. The cells facing this corridor were
emphed OF their occupants early in the morn
ing, SO that few OF the prisoners saw the
hanging, The gallows was The same one that
was used in the execution Of James Stone, the
colored wife murderer, last spring. They
marched 10 the scaflold with heads uncovered.
beng cleanly and neatly dressed As each
passed persons they knew they nodded their
recognition and smiled. Both marched with
determination thai was urged upon them by
those of their friends who thought they were
not guilty not 10 show the white feather by
| their actions.
I Religious exercises were beguE by Rev. Mr..
Gibbins, who recled portions of the psalms
OF David, concluding with reading EXTRACTS
Of the l4th chapter Of the Gospel OF st. John.
I This was followed by singing, 10 which the
condemned men took part their voices being
MS strong as those of the ministers. Bishop
/ Brown, OF the A. NJ h. Church, offered the
closing prayer, all on the scatfoid kneeling
The men were then placed in position on the
I trap in the scailold, from which position they
spoke.
Bedford led oil. He said he was glad TO say
that he was able TO stand the ordeal, feeling
that the Lord had forgiven him; that he was
innocent OF the crime that was charged upon
him. an lose my life but | am not going
10 die, - he said. "You may choke this body,
but the soul will live" Tie then in a well.
con neeted speech, betraying only perceptible
nervousness, said that though his life had