National Republican., 1880-11-20
TO DEATH.
Babe Bedford and Edward QuCcnan
Hanged Side by side.
rhoy ne Protesting Their Innocence, and
COuflylcnt of Happiness in the Life
Aftcr Doath--liravc aud Un-
ilinching TO tho Lust.
A ponble I.xecutIon at tho Jan.

Werc cNcru Cd ut the Uuitcd states jail in This
city, yesterday afternoon, and died protesting
their innocence of the crime with which they
were charged. Tho condemned men read aud
prayed until o'clock yesterday morning,
when they went to bed aud slept until about
@ o'clock. Bedford was awake first aud
asked for his breakfast, requesting that some
hardboilcd eggs in addition to his other food
might bo supplied His request was com.
plIcd with, and when Qlccnan woke, half an
hour later, he ordered the same things for his
breakfast that Bedford did. After break fast
they talked and prayed with each other for a
short time, and then broke out singing, In
which some of the other prisoners joined.
Bedrorl's fine baritone voice was heard 10
great advantage. Queenan aiding him in the
airs with his tenor, which WAS very sweet.
Tho song Are You Coming Home Tonight
seemed to be their favortc, aud
they repeated it again aud again.
About 8 o'clock Rev DIR. Gibbons OF
Zion baptist church (colorcdl was admitted to
the cell in which they were and prayed long
and earnestly with them. About half-past
a large crowd hal cougregatcl In the vicinity
Of the jail but those admitted to the building
were only such as had been provided with
passes. A detachment Of police under Lieu.
tenant Bltelcr wrro stationed around the
building, but their services were not needed
TO any great extent. At 10 o'clock the war
deus Office was filled with such as had se-
cured passes, and thoir friends and numerous
devices were rrsortcd 10 to get them past the
door leading into tho rutuuda. Every off
ciafs name that IL was thought could inAu-
cuCo the warden was presented to him, and in
nearly every case il WAS successful, so that
instead Of two or three doz,n persons witness
ing the execution there must have been at
least 2JO In the corridor when tho drop fell.
the CROWD
gathered about thu door in front of Bedford
cell and paid strict attention to all that oC
Cured Inside. Opinions were freely expressed
Us to the guilt or innocence OF the prisoners
but in most instances tho verdict was thai
the righ, men were to be hung. Shortly be
fore II o'clock Sandy Pinn was taken into
tho cell occupied by ths condemned men, who
kue!t down and prayed with him. at tho sam,
timo protesting their innocence. Tho three
men then sang "Whiter than Snow" aud th,
crowd in the rotuudu seemed deeply impressed
with the 50lcmnity OF tho occasion. Duriui
this scene "Big.Foot" Johnson who is OF
trial for the murder Of a coorcd man, formerl,
an associate of Bcdrord's was brought down
from the criminal court, aud, having TO pas
through the crowd in tho rotunda, was oh
served to turn pdlC and lean on the arm Of
guard for support. Among those who yisitot
the prisoners during their last hours We're twt
coorel girls und Bill Queeman, Edward
brother Bill cntreato his brother to confcs
the crime il guilty, and not die with lie oi
his tongue, but was met with the reply tha
he had nothing to confess as, he was innocen {
Bill then had short interview with Bedford
during which his brother smoked cigar tina
had been given him. Mcssrs. Coyle & Wells
counsel for tho prisoners, had aiinal talk witt
them shortly before noon, after which Gen
cral CrOClicr visited the men and asked if they
wanted anything. Thcirroply was that the,
would like to have Bishop Brown pray for then
on the sclGoid, and that they were done witt
tho world The ministers then went into th
cell again aud held another
SEASON OF PRAYER,
after which the hymn II Am so Happy ii
Jesus" was sung, Bedford's voice being heart
| above all the others, but in some passages
quayered, and the crowd outside became i'm
pressed with the idea that his strength wa
beginning to fail and that ho would brcal
down before being taken to the scatfold. Tn
time was consumed until about lis il
devotional exercises, in which tho follow
| ing ministers participated: Bishop Brown G
the A. VI. L. church, Rev. j. ID. S. Hall G
| Mount Zion NJ. Il. church, Rev. William Glib
| bons of Zion baptist church, and Rev. Nj
Brooks At the conclusion of these service
General Crocker read tho following papers
the condemned:
In the supreme court Of the District, holding
criminal term, lsSJ, June %, 1850 No. 1920
Criminal docket
The United States VS.. Joseph Neverson. alia
| Joseph Bedford alias Babe Bedford, EdWar
! Queen0n and sandy Pinu indicted for the murde
Of George Philip Hirlh: Came rs well the uttorne
OF the United states, as the defendants In pTopc
person. in custody OF the warden of the Jail of III
District OF Columbia, and thereupon it Is hercb
| considered ordered and adiudged by the cou1i
| that the sentence heretofore announced agains
| the defendants shall by carried into execution II
| the following manner; That for said o!lenso tn
| defendants and each ofthem be taken hence L
| the jail from whence they came, and that Of
| Friday, the lOh day OF September, in the year o
! our Lord 1850, they aud each Of them be taken L
! the place prepared for their execution within tn
walls OF the Jail of the District of Columbia an,
| that tncu and there, between the hours of IL N
aud p. m. of the same day they and each Q
| them be hanged by the neck until they shall b
| dead, 0ud may God have mercy on their souls.
hereby certify that the above IS atrue copy 0
the sentence OF the court Of June 70, lSsO.
| II. J ME!Gs, clerk.
l.. J. MIDDLEroS, assistant clerk.
| THE POsTPONEMENT.
| To all 10 IIhOm These Presents Shall Come GrcsfiB
| Whereas, Babe Bedford, Saud dy Plun and Il
ward Queenan on conviction of murder, were ser
fenced by the court of the District of Columbia o
! the I'D day OF June, 1850, TO suffer death by hans
| lingo the ION day OF September, 1850, and,
! Whereas, For sufficient reasons 10 me app0rcn
| II is deemed proper to postpone the execution Z
| said seuteuCe, you arc hereby tod that the OK,
! cuton OF said sentence is postponed until Friday
| the 10Th day Of November, 1880 on which day yU
| will proceed 10 execute the same in the maine
| and form as therein directed, unless you shall il
| the meantime be otherwise by me instructed.
IN testimony whereof have hOreunto signed m
| name and caused the seal Of the United states I
| be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this 10Th day q
August in the year Of our Lord 1850, and Of IN
| independence the l0jth K, b, HAYES.
By the president;
JouN HAY Acting Secretary OF State.
| THE FINAL DEATH WARRANT.
In the supreme court Of the District OF Columbl,
| June %, 1850.
| No. l32Sl, criminal dockot-The United State