National Republican., 1880-11-10
I'INN no BESAVED.
Tho Presi dent Commutes His Sentence
Bedfo rd and Oueenan TO be Hnnged.

|
The president after a lengthy conference has
| decided to commute the death sentence imposed
on sandy Pinn to imprisonment IN the Albany
pcnitentlary for life, and let the law tako he
course in tho case Of Bedford and Quecnan. who
Till thCrel9re be hanged, on ,the lolh inst, the
| DAY set lur the execution. Last Monday arguments
were made before the attorney general by the re-
| spectivo counsel In behalf OF the three men,
Messrs John G. Riley aud 6. Maurice Smith ap-
| pcarlng Tor Plnn, At that tme Mr.. Thomas Nil.
| Ter, associated with the above gentlemen IN the
| case, was III aud unable TO be present. Late on
Monday eycuing Me-, Muller was notified that the
! attorney general ccsitcd to hear thc counsel OF
| Pinn again. Although sick, Mr. Miller yesterday
| morning procure II carriage aud In company
with Mr.. Smith proceeded to the attorney goii-
elal > 3llee, whore they were at once granted an
| interview
They Immediately began reviewing the tcstl.
| mony, pnyiug more particular attention t) certain
1 points IN ihc evidence Indicated by the attorney
| general In this connection II IS only proper 10
STATE mat The subsequent andGylti that have been
put H. together with The "1obc Brown letter" were
cas-! aside aud received no notice IN Tie GxRmina-
ton, neither wore they referred to IN the argti-
mont The evidence presented TO the Jury and
gong 70 make mp the case was the only data dis
cu@ed, all eNiroucouS matter being cast aside In
coming over the testimony the contradictions
were pointed uut aud the excellent ulibi set up by
strong were these established that the attorney
general himself admitted that evidence as to Pnu's
! cOmpltcty In the crime was very conflicting,
and evidently becoming ai'sled in his own mind
aS to the best and proper course D purSue brJr1nt
thc argument 70 close by telling the cDrSscl that
| thgy need not proceed further In the matter.
| The gentlemen then retired, feeling sauguiuc
| from the favorable words let fall by General
DevGns that t!'r tide had turned, aud there was
gool groSnd to hope that tho life OF their client
| wC,id be spared They went to their respective
Offices, aud about o'clock wcra scut tor by Dis
,Tict-AiuoLney IS i,y Norkhll VINO announced to them
that INC death soncnc9 Of Pinn had been com
| muted to imprisonment for life This was only
the fulillment Of their expectations but the rcali.
Ation OF their hopes caused them much
| gratnCutiOn, Securing q tlpy
| drove TO the Jail, and In a few minutes informed
| linn Of the result lie received the news in q
manner indicating that II great weight had been
| lifted or his mind and heart. A smilu came over
! his ince AS he thanked the counsel FOR the good
tdings that they brought, at the same time he pro.
tested MS innocence OF the crime, and asserted, us
he has repeatedly done before, that he knew moth.
Ing OF the bloody deed ur those who committed it..
After brief conversation the attorneys withdrew,
leaving Ilnn lar more cheerful than they found
| him.
In going oat Mr. Miller saw Bedford aud spoke
| TO him, but said nothing about the result reached
IN MS case; AS lie was not one of Bcdiord's coun-
sci and had nothing to do with the management
ol ms cause, he felt that II would be an intrusion
Tor him to say anything. aud left il to BediOrd's
lawyers to inform him of the decision reached by
the president and the ctturncy-geucrul.
Great credit is due to Messrs Miller, Smith and
| Riley for the able conducting and issue in the
case Of Pinn. Originally assigned to the case by
the court, without fee or prospect Of reward, they
| laborod IN aud out OfscasOn. working Assdunusly
ana without ALTERING In every way tliat might re.
donnd to the benefit aud welfare OF their client.
Inc scumS Of the city were secured IN tracing up
every shadow that might lead 10 substantial proof
| TO oid the cause and their client Not only did
they traverse the streets. ALLEYS and by-ways but
furnished money from their own private purses to
expedite and assist their Clients case. Their un-
scIhsh ana constant devotion 10 n poor lad, from
the inception Of the trouble. AMI their relentless
light with the law through all ITS intricate travels
have won them tle esteem OF their brethren OF ,he
bar and words Of commendatlon from tho public
generally.
A mother who had experienced ages of grief IN
The past few months viii not forget the work That
they have performed for her only son, and, be-
nevng that their efforts succeeded In the prnlOnca.
ton of his life will give them her prayers aud
! blessings for years TO come, regrcttlng that her
poverty Ia this worlds goods prevents reCugni.
tion Of the services rendered By them.
Mr.. j. \. Hayward. of tho counsel for Bedford
and Queenan, also had n inHl interview with tho
attorney general yesterday IN behalf Of HIS clients
lie submitted an argument based Oh four aniiaviis
lending to show that the murdcrtrS came from the
direction of Georgetown and not from Twelfth and
| 1 streets, as held by the government
He discussed the testimony Of the parties used
! in relation to Johuson's journey from Twelfth
and + struots to tho place of thcSlurdcr also the
competency Of the testimony that proved the Elibi:
also the testimony of Johnson having part Of the
| plundcr from tic body of IIirh. The SuppositlOn
that four men had jumped upon lIirth ana killed
him was traced TO It's course by an aildaylt and
the reports OF the newspapers.
Tho pupeTs IN the case were presented at the
attorney generals office yesterday afternoon, and
will be sent down to the jail to-day. Bedford aud
Quccnau. who were evidently hopelil that thay
tive. were in the best of humOr all day yesterday,
laughing aud joking with their visitors, but whom
The news ortho presidents decision reached them
IN the eVcnlnga change came over thcm though
thcy showed little emotion and bore themselves
with the same sIolidity that marked their conduct
IN the courtroom.