Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-11
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
THE MURDER OF GEO. p. EFIRTH.
Trial of Bedford, Queenan and Pinn

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 Pinn-indlcted for the
murder OF George Philip Hirth on P street on
the evening Of January It'll last, was continued
in the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner, yesterday
after our report closed.
THE TESTIMONY.
Rev. E. ID. Owen, pastor of Mount Zion n. f.
church. of which Rirth was member, testified
to having been in the store of the deceased
about O'Clock on the day he was killed De-
ceased was treasurer OF the Sunday School So
ciety, and it was thought that he had about one
hundred dollars OF the society's moneys. Did
not see him again until the following day.
when he was lying dead at his brothers. on
Pierce street, between l4th and 18th.
MIR. Bernard Tully was next examined and
testified that he left st. Luke's Church, corner
OF 18th and Samson Streets where he had been
working on church organ about TAO Or 7.45
o'clock p M, In company with Thos. Williams,
who had been assisting him, and walking along
on the north side OF p street. between 10Th and
With fountain Of blood flowing from his open
mouth. They lighted candle and cried smur-
der" and "police" when man in his shirt
sleeves came towards them, but witness could
not make out whether he was black or white.
He said that there was an officer near the school
house. The dying man was removed to a drug
store which they reached about 81 O'Clock.
CrOss-examined by Mr.. M1ller-What was the
character OF the service at the church? Answer
Very respectable Qaughter.) Q.-Was it YES
per service? Ans.-No, sir, veSpers are Gus
tomary in the Catholic church. ThiS was a
Protestant Episcopal Church, and it was what
they call evening service supposed to COM
mence at ~ O'Clock, and the minister was on
his knees when we left.
MI. Miller, after questioning him, and recelv-
ing an answer that the first man he saw was
one in his shirt sleeves and he did not come so
near TO him that he could even tell his color,
questioned him about the wounds. These the
witness described, and being pressed for
more minute description of them, remark
doctors to describe the wounds. The court in
timated that the physicians would fully describe
the wounds. It was very dark night, but not
raining. Q.-Were the stars shining? Ans
The stars never shine when the nights are dark.
Odd you see the man who first appeared
after you called any more that night? Ans
How could | see him or know him If | did when
| have already told you that / did not know
whether he was White or black. That is a silly
ask.
Thomas Williams, who was with the last wit
ness and who lives at 20 Potomac street, George
town, repeated his testimony as to the finding
OF HirthS body Which he gave at the coroner's in
quest
on cross-examination he said that the second
man whom he saw after finding Hirth's body
and who, when they hallOed Police" came to
the middle OF the street, ana said there were
after them, and who then ran towards the
school-house, was .colored, and seemed about 10
years OF age. When witness and Tully halloed
" MuIupT ana - IOHCe,' he NPalC party over
toward the school-house cry Smallpox"
" Smallpox"
This closed the case for the day.
JUDGE HAGNER REPRIMANDs COUNSEL.
District Attorney Corkhill brought to the at
tenton OF the court case in which an attorney
had called upon one OF the government witness
ses and told him that if he sWore falsely the pen
itentiary would stare him in the face.
Judge Hagner said: 81 am obliged to say that
this was extremely reprehensible, unprofession.
al conduct. 1t was an indictable offence, and
The only excuse the court can find in the matter
is in ascIfbing such conduct to ignorance" The
court said he would pass it for the present. Adj
Journed
Third Day.
Long before the court convened this morning
there was jam outside the bar, while within
the bar every seat was taken by 10 o'clock The
prisoners were brought up some time before the
opening OF the court, and the jury, having taken
a walk after their breakfast at the National,
came in at 9:45 o'clock. Before the court con,
vened, Pinns mother had long conversation
with him as he sat in the prisoners dock.
The first witness called to-day was Miss Mary
b. Wynne, lady rs or 80 years of age, who
testified that she lived in the house OF Mr.
Hirth, 1904 14th street. On the It'll OF January,
went home, she noticed several colored men In
front Of the store, and Bedford was among
them. She pointed out Bedford. When she
reached the door she found it locked. The men
were talking on the pavement. They were in
the habit OF gathering about the door, Knew
Pima and Queenan but did not remember that
opened the store, and thinks that MI.
Hirth came in about halfpast o'clock,
and waited on a lady, and she saw that he took |
a handful of silver out. He then read the paper
and he took out his watch and told her. He |
had only gone about half an hour when she !
heard that he was dying; did not see him again
until she saw his body at his brothers on Pierce
street the next day. Witness had known de-
ceased about three years; his age in october or
November last was %. He had but one eye and
wore false one. He was not a tall man and
weighed some where in the neighborhood OF
1876 pounds. He was delicate and frequently
took medicine He was in the habit of walking
out street TO visit Miss Alice Sinclair, on 10Th
habit OF carrying money about him. Did not
know that Bedford was outside when deceased
was making change for customer. Witness
described the store as having a double door. the
upper part being glass: but did not know that !
il was open.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wells:-It was 6:2o
O'Clock when she left the Office, and thinks it
took her 20 minutes to walk home. Bedford
was there, but he did not recognize her as was |
his habit. Don't remember that the others
were there. 1t was not unusual for several to |
about there frequently-laughing, talking and
singing. Witness was asked If she knew where |
store was, the defence stating |
they expected to show that Bedford was en- |
ployed at this store, but the question was ruled
out. Hilth came in within half an hour after |
she reached home and remained only few |
minutes. MT. Hjfln was single man.
DR.. j. French Hartigan testified that he had |
had much experience in making post norton |
having made 100 or 500, or per- |
hapS thousand. Remembers the post mortem |
on deceased; made IL at the house Of the brother
Of the deceased, on Pierce street. in the presence
OF Drs. Ramsey and PettiS;..fOund three cut |
wounds on the head-one behind the right ear. |
gaping, with ragged edges. one and half inches |
long and half an inch wide: another similar one |
about two inches behind it, and the third was a |
transverse wound on the back OF the head |
They all extended to the bone. and were evil |
IDENTIFY made with the same weapon or missile |
There was also bruise on the forehead over |
the left eye. and another larger. one |
about the left ear, which appeared |
10 have been made by kicks. The |
surface OF the brain was covered with |
blood the skull was broken into innumerable |
pieces. just like broken china. These fractures |
from one to the other and death was |
caused by shock and hemorrhages. The wounds |
on the head could have been made by some
blunt instrument. TWO stones tied in hand |
kerchiels zone OF them bloody were exhibited
and DR.. Hartigan said that the wounds could |
have been made by that in the handkerchief
about pound. and 1t was the one
probably used. He doubted II the other the
heavier one, weighing nearly pounds, could have
been used, as 1t would have crushed In the skull
Cross examined by Mr.. Smith:-The wound ON
the front OF the head, near the eye, was bruise
about The size or quarter OF dollar and the
other bruise was on the ear. These wounds
may have been contributing cause OF death,
but not the Immediate. He described the other
wounds on the back OF the head more infinitely.
lie did not think that il the wounds on the front
no FnI1 I'll.