Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-12
The Hirth Murdere rs.

PREPARATIONS FOR TIE DOUBLE EXECUTION.
Work has been commenced at the jail on the
scaffold for the execution of Bedford and
Queenan, convicted of the murder Of youngs
HiIth. The execution has been ordered for to
in the execution Of J. N. W. Stone the LIST OF
Apdl last. when he " as decapitQed by the rope
IL was then new with the exception OF the iran
only alteration required is the enlargement OF
the trap ana the arrangement OF the cross beam
for two ropes instead or one.
THE sCAFFoLD
IS OF Georgia pine. and its extreme height will
be q feet, the cross beam being 6 by S inches,
supported py S-fnch square uprightS. From
the cross bean Will hang the two ropes OF
zs-inch manila hemp, arranged for fall or AZ
ground, reached by plain flight OF steps with
Ratings on the sides 1t Is ii feet square,
railing about feet high surrounding fG. The
by catch, worked by a line running through
q oox to one OF the cells. The sentence
reading that the execution shall take place
within the walls OF the Jail the scafrold will
De placed In one OF the corridors, probably that
In the east side OF the north wing. Con-
sequently there can be but few witnesses of
The hanging, even ii the authorities would per-
pr emit. and probably there will be smaller
Lumber to see the double execution than nave
ever witnessed an execution before in this
District.
on the subject provides as to executions that
there shall be invited to be present the Dis
tTlct Attorney, the counsel of the prisoners,
Two or more physicians, anu at the request OF
the person TO be executed ministers or the
gospel, not more than three In number, and
any of his or her near relatives are allowed o
De present. Croker, the warden, intends to
comply with the letter OF the law.
HOW THE PRIs 1NERs RECEIVED THE NEWS
The first intimatiOn at the jail on Tuesday as
10 the decision OF the President and Attorney
General on the application for Communication
OF sentence was about 100 O'Clock that day by
MeSSrS. Smith and Miller, Pinn'S counsel who
went down to see him. Plnn was called out
and ere he reached them he saw by their faces
mat they had good news for him, and he broke
out into hearty laugh. This acJion-the CON-
mutation OF MS sentence to Imprisonment for
n1e-Was all that Pinn was asking or expecting
at this time. In the language OF one of the
guards, 1.-The United States signal service Is no.
the prisoners, and the news ran through
graph could have ave. carried it, tn0 Alter Alter
spending some minutes In conversation with
his counsel. Pinn left with light heart for lis
cell, fairly dancing across the floor.
Bedford and Queenan had been hoping for a
1urther respite. IL not communication OF SEN
tence, and on learning that the President had
declined TO further interfere they became down
cast Queenan seemed quickest to realize his
position, and almost Immediately commenced
10 pray, and has since devoted himself to re-
ljgious reading and prayer; but states that he
finds 1T difficult TO do so. Bedford processes to
have found peace In believing In the Saviour
and says he Is ft 10 live or tiJ to die. When in
formed OF the decision OF the President he was
not so demonstfative as Queenan.
In an Interview with the prisoners yesterday
all OF them maintained that they were inno-
cent or the charge, and Pinn sal that he eX-
pected to live until the truth would come out
and show his innocence.