Evening star., 1880-02-12
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEO.P. HIRTH.
Trial of Bedford. Quecnan and Pinm


The trial OF the three colored men-Joseph
Neverson, alias Joseph or ''Babe' Bedford, Ed
ward Queenan and Sandy Pinn-indicted for the
murder OF George Philip Hirth on P street on
the evening OF January 7th last, was continued
in the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner, yesterday
after our report closed-District Attornef Cork
bill and Assistant District Attorney Perry for
the government; MeSSrS- T. Z. Miller, G. Maui
rice Smith and John F. Riley for Pinn; II. II.
Wells, jr., r. Coyle and j. A. Hayward for the
other prisoners.
The cross-examination of johnson was con-
tinued. and he testified that he was employed
by Mr.. King in January; was not there on the
5th, 9Th or 1th. On the morning of the 7th he
went down 18th street, between U and V, to
Hester Johnson's house; remained 10 or Is min
uteS; went to the corner of 11th and streets;
saw crowd OF boys there. Levi Jackson among
them, and remained there II or 30 minutes;
don't remember where he went after this ex-
cept to shoemaker's shop on street, between
Boundary and 10th streets, and this was after
~ O'Clock; went home and had no idea how long
he staid home, 10 minutes or an houc; no one
had told him to answer that way. Witness got
his dinner before he left home didn't
know what time 1t was, for they have no regtl-
lar tme. Alter repeated efforts of counsel TO
get him to say how long he remained at home
the court succeeded in getting him to say that
he remained there about half an hour after he
had his din nner. 1t was before dark when he
left, and he went around again to 18th and V
streets: had no particular object in view except
to meet the boys; did not remember what boys
were there then. This locality is known
IS Goose Level, not Hell'S Bottom.
TIE sun was shining that ternoOn. Knows
. RockSln" Ross or Moses Ross WitleSS then
went home; it was after dark: his folks We're
there; took no supper, but stayed home all that
night.
It was generally understood that the exam
inatfon concerned Wednesday, the day of the
homicide, but when Mr.. Smith asked "what
night was this?" the witness answered sit was
Tuesday" The court said that by his notes
questions about Wednesday, the 7th, had been
begun. Then the questions went back to Tues
day night, and continued. 1t was agreed that
tI thls part @ OF the examination be stopped until
the notes OF the stenographer were Witten out.
witness reSuming related again his visit to
the drove-yard after Ruppert5s hogs and his
return, saying that after coming from Ruppert's
he went to JackSon'S shoe shop, near Boundary,
then went down on 18th street. between and
', to Hester JOhnson's; saw Hester and her
daughter; does not know whether Moses Ross
was there; thinks he was not; then went home
does not know how long he stayed home; thinks
he stayed there until dark; then went again to
JackSOn'S shoe shop; thinks he saw Wash BraXton
there; does not know where he went then; does
not think the lamps were lighted then; next rec
elects himself standing at the corner of 18th
and T streets; does not know whether the sun
was shining then; thinks it was dark; stood on
The north corner OF the street; stayed there
good while. had no object In going there; had
no expectations OF meeting any one there. Can
not say how long 1t was he stood there; it was
more than an hour saw no one that he knew
While he stood there. 1t was kind of cloudy
night; does not know whether or not it was
raining. 1t was near about ] 4 hours witness
was there. Can tell Of no one he saw there
until the three men. Bedford Pinn and Oueenan
came up They came from towards Boundary.
on 18th street. Does not know whether or not
the lamp on that corner was lighted Has
known Bedford for about six years; has worked
With him many times Without proceeding
further with the cross-eXaminatiOn the court
adjourned until to-day.
Previous to adjournment Mr. Miller made an
explanation in regard to what he said about the
witness CoaIley or Copely. 1t seems that two
officers OF the court went for him in carriage
after MI. Miller let him go home, and these We're
the two persons whom the man Murphy sent
SO that there was no tampering with the wit
ness, as he was at first led to believe
Judge Hagner remarked that he was glad to
hear it, and adjourned the court.
Fourth Day.
There was crowd about the courthouse door
again this morning, but the room was not
allowed to become so uncomfortably jammed as
on previous days. The prisoners were in the
courtroom a few minutes after o'clock. There
were number Of ladies present to-day.
johnson resumed the stand for further cross
and he said that Jackson's first
name was Madison; never heard Hester john
son called Maggie. On the night of the 7th
and dark pants; did not notice his vest Hehad
big shoes on; don't know that they shined. He
gave the description simply from having seen
l9em I5fh .Wd when II ne was on the corner Of
a dark night. Pinn had on dark
coat, pair Of light pants (old); doesn't remem-
Der whether they were patched or ragged did
not notice his vest; his hat was a black SlOuch
and he wore white handkerchief around his
neck; don't remember that he had an umbrella;
don't remember whether the lamp was lighted
or not at 18th and T streets; no one said any
Wont you come over and sing with us at the
church on 18th street." He said further: '.Come
on. Wen have some fun" Witness said '.all
right" NoRe of the others said anything. Had
known Queenan several years; went to school
with him at the Quaker school; don't know how
long since he went to school nor how long he
since he went to school; never knew Where he
lived. Had seen him in Temperance alley, on
Goose Level between and L and 18th and 18th
streets, at Mrs. Dorsey's house, saw Mary Dor
planned OF being sick and talked rather low
He was allowed chair. 1t was very difficult
for the reporters to hear him.l Saw Queenan
pass MT. Kings house the Sunday before the
got acquainted with Pinn; don't know that he
ever knew him more than to know his name;
had had conversations with him; never
visited him at his house. Knows Phillip
Hungerford; don't know that he saw him that
night; did not notice the pants of Pinn except
that they were light and old. Bedford said
on 10Th street, and Bedford was speaking going
along about the good time they had had before
and the good time they expected now. They
walked down on the east side of 18th street, and
they started TO sing, Babe leading; don't know
what the piece was; his part Is alto. Don't
know that he had ever sung with them before
unless 1t was out at Rock creek (back of Me-
ridian hfll) Used to meet them olt there on
Sundays; don't remember ever going out there
or returning with these men. They used to 90
out there to sit in the shade and read. Don't
think he ever went with these men previous to
this occasion-the night of the homicide Don't
remember that they stopped on the corner OF
18th and S streets; then crossed a vacant lot
or rather the vacant lots, for there are several
Witness was then walking with Sandy and talk
ing; don't know what it was about "a rough
and Streets was exhibited, and witness ex-
pla1ned the direction they walked, coming out
on r street near 14th.l Then went to 18th
street; don't remember that they were singing,
Witness expected that they were going to sing
and have good time singing: did not expect
TO receive pay. They crossed over to the west
side OF 14th street; did not know Lighter or
store; don't remember that they
stopped IN any candy store except one near
company with Pinn conversing about the
good time they expected. They started
TO sing several times on the way down,
but don't remember what the pieces
were. They did not say what the songs
were that they were going to sing, nor say
what part he was going TO sing. Thought that
they had 1t all fixed Walked down 14Ih street
to Samson street, where Bedford asked a man
the time. 1t was young man, but don't know
at the southwest corner, (near Green's storey
thinks the store was lighted. Saw the man pun
out his watch, and heard him say, ..25 minutes
after l." but don't know whether the watch