National Republican., 1880-06-26
THE HIRTH MURD Err.
Tobe Brown Tells what lie Knows About II.
I-..LL.l n..L-i..L

AODc BfcWn lellH w Nhuf he NhONs ABOUT
When the United States district attorney
entered his Office yesterday morning he found
Richard I. Brown, better known rs "Tobo"
Brown, sitting there writing q letter. After
| 10 was finished he handed the following to
Colonel Corkhil:
WAsH1HGroN y. C.. June % 1850.
| DEApS1R was born In Washington city ON the
corner OF Market space and X street southeast. Oh
| the 22d day OF September, lSi3 | have always
worked for my living, aud cudeayored to lead an
| honest life. never have had @ criminal charge
of any character against me, aud never was
| arrested In my life except once when boy about
| sixteen years old with crowd Of other boys on
Eleventh street. / served in the United States
army and received three honorable discharges.
| have been given services Of special trust
by my commanding officers, aud any ono can
zee my character by reference to the records Ofthe
Seventeenth United States innntry-iOr over five
years iiEy life which served IN the army. Why
is II because happened on the night of the Hirth
murder to see Johnson, Bedford, Queeuan and
Piun together at the corner Of Seventeenth and 7
streets, ana heard them make certain remarks, |
should be publicly abused and accused of murder
i'll the papers During the trial Lawyer Coylc went
all over the Navy Yard 10 try and get evidence
against my cha acter, aud could only fluid Que
man. although had been here all my life. and he
one who had spite against me for giving evi-
denco against him in II criminal case. They then
tried TO get my stepfather drunk during the tral
by going into room adjoining my house and send
ing out for him and sending for beer. They stoned
my mothers house, aud they are now following
me every day with abuse. think have suffered
enough for telling the truth about this murder
They now say wrote Johnson q letter, and that 1.
him and Roxey Ross was the real murderers. 1
do think you ought to protect me. told nothing
in my testimony but the Gods truth. never
wrote johnson Il letter In my life nor had any
communication with him about the murder.
do not know the notorious burglar Bud Warner
personally at all. l never sent Johnson any
word. never sent anybody to see him.
have not seen or heard q word from johnson
since the trial ] was compelled TO give my
testimony on the trial and swear 10 what
knew and saw, and l voluntarily told tie
Fplt Nal haI nd har. an.
the night of the murder and you know that John
son recognized Inc in the hall of the courthouse
where the grand jury was in session. as the man
he had seen talking TO them the night OF the muir
der before had testified and before he had spoken
10 me aud told Tho jury that he had passed man
in the hall that he had met that night aud then
the jury sent for me to come before them in his
presence, aud he said was the man. Ali told
was the truth, aud don't think should be abused
for it. for If am poor and humble In life my char
acter Is Gs dear to me aud my parcuts as the law
yers who are making these lying charges against
RIcIiARD 7. BRowN
This letter was prompted by the intima.
tions, and in some quarters open charges, that
Brown was one of tho parties connected with
the Iirth marder, and lie takes this way Of
denying it. Despite his denial, however, it is
maintained by those who ought to know,
whether true or not, that Brown did write the
letter to Johnson spokcn of and at the proper
time ii will be produced. Nor is this tho only
evidence that it Is claimed exists touching the
completely of other parties in the murder Of
Mr.. Hirth, aud going to show doubt as to the
guilt of tho men sentenced to death for com.
mitting the murder. The counsel for these
unfortunate men have now certain evidence
10 their possession going to show a different
state of facts than existed at tho time OF the
trial, and are accumuating more. They pro-
pose to usa it, at the proper time, to the best
advantage, and If satisfied that either Tobe
Brown. Roxy Ross, Ben Johnson or others
were the real murdercrs, they intend to spare
neither time nor trouble to bring them to jus
tice aud IL the men convicted are innocent,
show tue same to the whole community. AS
tho matter now stands grave doubts have
sprung up as to the guilt of the three per sons
convicted aud sentence ed.