Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-19
THE GAllOWS.
DOUBLE EXECUTION.
BEDFORD AND QUEENAN HANGED
THEIR LAST HOURS.
They Die Asserting Heir limo
CenCe.
Facts About the Men, and the Crime
for Which They Suffered Death.

The execution Of the two col0red men,
Joseph NeyeTson alias Babe Bedford and Ed
ward QCeenan, who were condemned 20 death
for the murder or George Philip Hirtn. took
place this afternoon at the Washington jail In
the presence OF perhaps the largest number OF
spectators that has ever witnessed an execu-
ton in the District OF Columbia 1t viii be re-
membered that the first day set for the
execution was April 30Jh last. but IL was post
poneG from time TO time: first owing 70 the ao-
peal from the rulings OF Judge Ha 5ner opera
tirg as suspension OF sentence and afterwards
by two successive respites OF the President OF
the United States.
THE CRIME
was most atr0cionS one, and when the details
weIe developed It threw the community into 2
great state or excitement. The victim OF the
d13bnltcal deed. an exemplary young man. had
3 store on 18th street, above northwest. He
was engaged TO be married 10 Miss Sinclair a
daughter OF his former employer, whom he was
on hts way 70 visit at the time he was stricken
down by the assassins. The marriage ceremony
was tO have taken place about ten days SuoSe-
Quent TO the date on which he was killed. While
quietly walking along street he was waylafd
by the asSaSSinS. and short time thereafter
was found with three or more terrible wounds
on his head. Having been removed TO a drug
store near Oy, he soon afterwards expired. He
was speeChleSs from the time he was found until
his death, so that he could give no clue TO his
muTderers. Shortly after the injured man had
been taken to the drug store, one OF the
priSOnerS-"Babe" Bedf0rd-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 IL was as
certained that Bedford had been In the employ
nent or the victim.
THE ARRESTS.
The second precinct officers went to Bedford's
house il Samson street and there found him
asleep With companion, and took him into
custody. By an oversight his companion was
left In bee and when the officers returned to
make further inquiry he had left and has not
been heard from since. This missing man is a
relative "a cousin) OF Bedford5, and 1t is thought
that II he was not party TO the crime he at
least, would have been an important witness.
On the day following the murder SANDY" Pinn
who was known companion and neighbor OF
BedfordS, employed at S1oley'S feed store. gave
himself away" when he heard that Bedford
lad been arrested, Dy stating that he knew
Bedford was innocent, for he (Pl was with him
the night before. Queenan was arrested Oh the
same day, he being known as companion of
Bedford and Pinn, who mad up TO few months
before resided in Samson street. Seven OF 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 ID
future date. Although the entire detective force
with the officers OF the 2d precinct lin which
the murder Was commltted) and those Of the 4th
ard 9Th pTe-tEc:s w5Ta working up every clue
II was not UEtiI SATURDAY evening January 10Th
that there y "a any substantial ground for th5
belief that they had the right parties Ia custody
sUltatiOn on every clue and circumstance, came
10 the conclusion TO release all but the three
parties mentioned.
Bedford was arrested on the night OF the mur-
der about "a O'Clock by surgeon Saffell and
Officer CAN'T, OF the I'd preclLcU. Plnn was
taken into custody about II 4 O'Clock by Officer
Mcdonald. of the 9th precinct, and turned over
10 Officer West Of the I'd precinct and he was
very much excited, in fact so much so that he
made four different statements in as many min-
utes. Queenan was arrested by Detective Voss
hfs
time about the only clue to the perpetrators or
the crime was scarf recognized as Bedford'5
found near the Scehe OF the murder.
AN BYE WITNESS OF THE MURDER
Benjamin Johnson, cOlored boy residing or
18th street. near W northwest, having made
some suspicious remarks, IL became known TO
the police, and they were all on the lookout for
him. Word was left at his house that they
wanted 70 see him on some ordinary case. About
o'clock Saturday evening he walked into the
second precinct station. and, giving his name,
he was locked UP. When questioned he stated
that he met the other three parties on the eve
ming named at the corner OF 12tn and T Streets
and Bedford asked him to 60 over near the Qua
ker college 10 sing with them, and they went
over 10 18th street, and thence along street,
and Bedford picked up stone wrapped IL in
his handkerchief, and walking behind Hlrth,
struck him blow which staggered him. Htrth-
recognizing Bedford, exclaimed, For Gods
sake BaDe. don't XII me- but Babe followed
up the assault, and Queenan also struck Hirth,
and Pinn kicked him. He, (JOhnson.) after tell
Ing them hot 10 Kill the man. ran of.
TIE FUNERAL OF THE MURDERED MAN
took place on Sunday, January 1Ith, from Mt
Zion NJ. E. church. OF which he was member
and IL was attended by one OF the largest ss,
semblages ever brought together on such an
occasion IN this District, the number OF people
in the vicinity Of the church being estimated at
from 5000 to 5000 persons. Remarks were made
at the church by Rev. E. ID. Owen. the pastor
and Rev. W. /. Mckenney, the former pastor
who had received the deceased In church as
member, and on the same evening revival was
commenced. which resulted In about 100 con-
versions
TIE INQUEST.
The coroner's jury reasSembled the next day,
and after hearing the testimony rendered
verdict that death was caused by Bedford
Queenan and Pinn. and they were committed
10 jail by the coroner. While the inquest was
IL progress at the 4th precinct station an i'm
mense concoUrse-ten or twelve thousand men
were In the streets adjacent, and II was with
the utmost difficulty that the prisoners were
placed IN the police ambulance under strong
guard and taken TO the jail.
The INQUIRY BY THE GRAND JURY.
The grand jury examined the case very thor
cughly. and as Johnson had been frequently
under arrest il became necessary that his state
ment should be eorrobOrated. The Officers con-
unued their inquiries and found witnesses who
saw the parties on the corner OF 18TH and L
l4th and samson streets. when Bedford, 1t IS
alleged. asked the time and urged them to
hurry or they would be late.
III was also stated that they had found white
man who would testify that on ina niyht Of the
occurrence, he, with another man waS oyar
taken by Bedford and his conpanIons ThIs
white man. known as ''Tobe Brown = ras,tino,
IL the eastern part OF the city, was looked On aS
an important witness; but his associations ySars
such that IL was feared the jurors Would not
give much credence TO his evidence unless in
was corroborated. He was therefore told n
the detective officers 70 find his companion n
poSSioie, and several days elapsed before the
grand Jury could do anything further. Finally.
~hlie Ben Johnson was before the grand i,ry
Celng examined, the officers had Brown Costai
IN one OF the corridors or the building and
Johnson, when be came out or the grand tury
room, seeing Brown. remem 0eTed nifn and
gong back, stated that Babe" Bedford while
passing along z street, had talk with a Whit.
man. and stated that that man was then In the
building. This seemed 70 clinch the matter.
and the result was that true uiu ,i-s r0uld
THE TRIAL
Al effort was made Oy The government 10
have the TRIAL within q week after the indlct-
ment was found. so as 70 commence it within
one month OF the commission OF the crime, bur
rims friends having secured the services OF
AeSSTs. 7. F. Miller, G. NJ. Smith and j. z. RI
icy 10 defend him aud AeSSr5 X CoyIe and II.
"a. Nells, Jr.. appearing for the other Two pTis-
oheTs and Hr. j. A. Haywood for all three OF
Inc accused men, the Court, 70 give them ume