Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-19
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEO. p. HIRTH.
Trial of Bedford, Queenan and Pinn

The trial of the three colored men-Joseph
Neverson, alias Joseph or "Babe" Bedford, Ed
ward Queenan and Sandy Plnn-indicted for
the murder of George Philip Hirth on street
on the evening Of January 18th last, was con-
tlnued in the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner,
yesterday after our report closed-District At
torney Corkhill and Assistant District ttorney
Perry for the government: Messrs 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.
Mr. Coyle for the defendants Bedford and Pinn
concluded his argument. claiming that Brown
unworthy or belief, and that they would
show that defendants could not have been the
parties TO the murder.
Edward Queenan, one of the accused was
placed on the stand, and testified that he was
Is years old; that he had nothing to do with
HlIths murder; at o'clock on the evening OF
the murder he was at Dennis CoX'S shoe shop,
Samson street; stayed there half hour then
went to corner OF 14th and Samson streets; then
went with VIM. Ellis, colored, to Geo. Smiths
house on X street, between 18th and 18th streets;
Ellis went in there; witness went to a house on
street, between 18th and 18th streets; rung
the bell; white lady came to the door; witness
asked for Sarah, a colored girl: Sarah came to
the door, and she said she would not be ready
to go home for half an hour; went across the
street to Wallace MERGERS house; stayed there
TO 10th street, between T and streets; Sarah
and her mother occupied the back room up
stairs; there were some ladies and gentlemen In
the front room upstairs; while witness was
there young lady had spaSnS in the front
room; knew none there; left that house about
1890 O'Clock.
Cross examined.-Witness was born in Mary
land, and brought to Washington while baby.
He was examined by the District attorney In
detail as to his movements through the day of
the MURDER bat after long examination the
witness finished up by detailing his arrest at
noon, and Queenan then said he was talking
about the day Gtte1' the murder. The eXamina-
ton was then resumed: The attention of the
witness was directed to the fact that it was
Wednesday, and not Thursday, upon which he
was examined, and he again went over the
same detail. and again ended with his arrest.
For the third time the examina ion was re-
Sumed, and witness said he spent nearly the
whole day at MERGERS oyster shop, on Samson
street Witness went home about 8 o'clock
from Dennis CoXs shoe shop, which is opposite
the oyster saloon; could not recOlect where he
was between and O'Clock that evening; went
home at O'Clock and went to bed. Again wit
ness said he was not talking about Wednesday,
but Thursday. Again the same examination
was resumed, and witness again said he could
not account for his Whereabouts between 6 and
$ O'Clock on the evening of the murder. Wit
ness has spent year in the reform school;
knows Ben johnson; was not with Ben john
son nor Pinn on the night Of the murder; was
with Bedford on 1+th street; cannot tell where
he was between and O'Clock on the night OF
the homicide.
Mrs. Silvia Ridenour lives at 1923 T street.
Had servant named Sarah Turner on the night
that Hirlh was murdered; thinks she left about
$50. About O'Clock some one called for Saran.
Witness knows the time because Mrs Smith
in few minutes afterwards came in for supper.
The man who called was colOTed. Witness would
not know him again II she saw him. Half an
hour afterwards Sarah left for home.
Mrs. 5. i. Smith testified that she got to Mrs.
Ridenours about o'clock on the evening of
Hirth'S murder. When she got home she saw
a cOlOred man at the door, and Sarah coming
through the hall.
Mrs. Mercer, colored, testified that she lives
n,NyNn
was killed Queenan came to the house OF wit
ness between and I o'clock. Stayed ten min
uteS and went away.
Ann Williams testified that the night of Hirth,s
death she saw Queenan at Mrs. MERGERS about
6ocloCb. He stayed there half an hour and then
she saw him go off with Sarah Turner the ser
want of Mrs. RidenOur
Alberta Brown testified that at the time of the
Hirth murder Sarah Turner came to her mothers
room in her house and Queenan came with her;
it was very near O'Clock; witness had just
heard the clock strike; there was called meet
ing of the ChaldeanS at witnesses room that
night and when about 94 O'Clock Queenan
sought to pass out the front way, wit ness
stopped him, and he had to go out the back
way.
Tenth Day.
AT the opening of the court this morning there
were but few spectators present. 1t was notice.
able that most OF those outside the courthouse
fliends OF the prisoners. In the courtroom
were a number OF ladies, friends Of the de-
ceased.
Alberta Brown was called to the stand for
croSS-eXamination and falling to respond the
government asked Tor an attachment.
The defence stated that 1t was OF the utmost
Importance that they should have Sarah Turner
present, but she was sick yesterday and they
asked that messenger be sent for her.
Alberta Brown appeared aud the attachment
was recalled. She was cross examined by Mr..
Corkhlll, and said she was married woman,
and described her house of five roomS-twO
rooms above and three Demonstrated on 10th
street, between T and U. Mrs. Turner occupied
the upper room back In January and Thornton
Sanders the front room. They had to pass
through witness room to get in and out. The
society the Chaldeans) met at her house only
on this occasion, and it was to arrange for
burying member-Sarah SnoWden living on
street, between 9th and 10th. Henry Harris
was the secretary of the lodge, and nine or ten
members met at her house and went from there
to be held at O'Clock; did not reach the hall
until ten minutes after O'Clock, and there were
two other lodges meeting there. They then
went back to her house. Her lodge was West
ern Star, No. 16. Had not known Queenan very
long;l he came there to see Mrs Turner before
Christmas, and he came home with this girl
nearly every night, generally about 6 or
O'Clock. Noticed the time that night because of
the meeting, and knows that QUeenan was there
before they left the house.
By Mr.. Perry:-Had seen Queenan In Samson
street some time ago, and when he came home
with Sarah recognized him as the same one.
Redirect by Mr.. Coyle:-Thinks she first heard
Oh QueenalS arrest on the Friday morning
following the murder; had not seen him after
that night.
Mrs. Maria Sanders colored, testified that she
lived on 10th street, between and o.: saw Ed
ward Queenan on the night of the eth of Jan
uary, the night or the murder; heard of 1t the
night afterwards; had known Queenan for
year, also Sarah Turner and Maria Turner; saw
Queenan at her house On the night of the MUIR
der In her room (the front up stairs; it was be-
tween 6 and o'clock The number of the
mouse was 1918. Ella Smiths father was there;
Ella tlueenan and witness were in the room
He remained there 10 or 10 minutes and went in
Mrs. Turner'S room; don't know anything about
the society meeting. Thornton Saunders was
there. BY Mr.. HayWard:-DonJ remember that
IL was dark when Queenan arrived.
troSS-eAamined by Mr.. Perry:-Had known
Queenan about year, but was only in his COM
pany twice; was positive the night she testified
10 was the night OF the murder: remembers that
IL was after sun down, for she had her lamp
lighted. Ella was In the bed sick before Quee-
nan came IN. Queenan was in the room before
George Smith came in; don't know that Ella had
been taken sick before Queenan and Sarah
came III the house. She was taken sick about
DUSK. Witness was present when Ella was
taken sick, and she called for help, and Mrs
Turner and Melvina (AirS. rs daughters child
ceme In and they put Ella on the bed, Sarah
came III also. Questionable you tell Mr. Wells
so?
Nitness.-I did not think OF 1t then.
thornton sanders testified that he lived on
10th street, between 7 and L, In Mrs. Browns
house, knows Queenan; saw him in his room on
the night OF the murder; witness got home
little after six that night, stopped at a rastau-
nj CT roo In