Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-18
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
TEE MURDER OF GEO.P. HIRTR.
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-indcted for the
murder of George Philip Hirth On street on
the evening of January It'll last, was resumed to-
day, In the Criminal Court. Judge Hagner-
District Attorney Corkhill and Assistant Dis
,rict Attorney Perry for the government
John F. Riley for Pinn; II. H. Wells, .jr., R.
Coyie and j. A. Hayward for the other prisoners
The government called the boy, VIM. Danger
field, but he failed to answer, and an attach
ment was asked for.
VIM. X. Speare, undertaken, was sworn, and
defendant noted an exception Witness first
saw the body OF young Hirth on the morning of
January sth, between and o'clock. The
body was then fully clothed, with an overcoat
on, and the collar was torn off; saw no watch
or ring. Witness prepared the body for burial
and found a brutSe on the right hand. after the
blood had been washed Off. 1t was between the
thumb and foref1nger, and was about inches
long, and it was very black, resembling that on
the head.
Cross-examined-The blood was on the shirt
'front.' and on the overcoat; did not notice that
the overcoat was bloody.
The defence then presented bill of excep-
tons as to the admissability Of Mr.. Speare'S
evidence, but the Court declined to sign it. init
mating that the facts were not fully set out.
DIR. VIM. Pitts testified that on the hight of
the murder he was called to the drug store and
saw the body OF George Philip Hirth, whom he
had known for two years. Hirth was then dead;
did not see ring or watch. Saw him next day
when he assisted in the post mortem examina-
ton. Witness then described the wounds-an
ncised one behind the right ear, another two
inches back and one inch lower another imme-
diately on the back of the head, one over the
left eye and one In front and around the left ear
three inches in length. After the completion
OF the post mortem he noticed bruiSe on the
right side, just above the hip, about as large as
and In the shape OF his hand; did not observe
Nh
by blow, kick or fall
Cross examined by Mr.. Coyle:-Was certain
this 0ruise was on the right side; coagulated
blood covered the brain; blood was on Hirth's
Sh1rt and his hands were covered with blood
and dirt.
Mr.. Wells presented bill of exceptions as to
this w1tneSS--notice of this witness not having
trial.
The court asked the necessity of signing this
exception, unless those noted previously were
acted on. What becomes of those?
Mr.. Wells.-There is no bill of exceptions, I'M
less it is written and presented to the court.
The Court.-1t will require fully an hour to
prepare bill embracing all the points, and he
would not stop the proceedings for this purpose.
The counsel could certainly remember the point,
and If they could not and would pass up the
paper he would take care OF it. He remarked
that 1t was somewhat singular that the very
question involved had been passed upon in
general term in the case or Werrick, in 1917. He
was glad now he had not yielded.
Sarah Lee, mulattO woman of middle age
testified that on the night OF the murder. on her
way home, she stopped at house On P street.
to make the people hear her. Then passing
down towards the alley about half way she
heard some one saying .Oh! OH" and went
down and saw some men and heard more groan-
ing Then getting frightened she went across
the lot towards the Minor building and met a
man running who said to her, &C d-you,
where are you shabbing to-" This phrase was
understood by some to mean showing or going
and by others shadowingl Witness here eX-
planned her evidence by means of the plat
pointing out the spot where she met the man
(aEout the same place pointed out by Johnson
Cross-eXamined by Mr.. Miller.-The man was
running at the time; didn't think she was sing
Ing at the time, but when the man rubbed up
against her and made the exclamation she
thinks she said, '.The Lord be with me-" Only
about three minutes elapsed after she heard the
groan1ng when she saw this man running. Wit
she met ''big fat policeman" and asked him
to show her the way to T street. Heard no
cries of ''Police!' Rc-direcL-She could not
The boy, VIM Dangerfield, was next called,
and the defence objected and took an exception
Witness was ID years old; recollects the night of
the murder; was going home and saw these
ner OF 18th and T streets; had known Bedford
some time; {w1tness pointed him out;) also knew
Queenan, pointed him out3 also, Pinn; 1t must
nave been about 6H O'Clock when he saw them
Judging from the time the clock struck.
Cross-examtned by Mr.. Smith for Pinn.-Lived
on 18th street, between T and U-1932-went to
school last In September; it was Wednesday
night the murder was committed; heard of it
the next morning from his mother; first told
what he had seen to George Hayden, on @
tony it was about four days after the murder;
did not notice now the men were dressed, nor
whether N6st the gas was lighted it was dark
e ma not 5here them
Mr.. Smith.-Now, saTubby'-.
Witness made face)
MIR. M1ller-NOw make that face you made at
the prisoners before the jury.
Witness.-I was making no faces at them.
Mr.. Miller.-Who was it at?
Witness Qaugh1ngl.-To that young gentle
.'Tubby." Galghter5 witness continued that
he was in the habit of attending the Theater
Comique; was not there on this night; was GER
tain he saw these parties there; did not see
johnson there; just passed the corner on a
'.2-4 gait" Did not see Rocksy Ross that
night; had had no conversation with johnson
about the case. Heard Of the arrest before he
made statement about seeing these parties.
First saw Pinn at store on 14th street, near P,
as he (WitnesSl was on the way to school.
Mr. Smith.-Who have you talked with since ?
The Court;-Do you mean to follow it up to
Mr.. M1ller.-When the boy Thomas johnson
was sworn and did not testify as the goyern-
ment wished, they were permitted to ask whom
he had been with.
The Court ruled the questions out.
Witness told his mother the next morning
when She spoke Of the murder, that he saw the
parties on the corner OF 18th and T streets.
By Mr. Hayward.-WitneSS went TO 18th and
{ streets for water.
By Mr.. Smith.-It was the northeast corner |
Of 18th and I streets where he saw these men.
is an oyster shop at the |
corner.
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION ALL IN. |
This closed the case for the government |
Mr.. Coyle said he was surprised at the close |
by the government, especially as they had |
promised to prove that the deceased was robbed |
1f his watch and ring. They not having done ]
50, the responsibility would be thrown on the |
defence to prove the robbing. |
Mr.. Perry said he knew what effect the gen. |
tleman was trying to produce, but the govern |
nent We're content that they had presented |
heir case.
Mr.. RILEY OPENED FOR THE OFFENCE,
saying that in opening case to a jury 1t was |
customary Tor denunciationS to be used towards /
ne persons, but this case was an exception for |
The government did itself credit by its manly |
opening, In which they said that all v1ndictlve |
eellng should be left outside the door. 1t was |
rue that the murder OF George Philip Hirth was |
most diabolical one and he then described it, |
saying that the police framed their theories !
leeds are made known when they are sue |
cess1ul and when they fail nothing is heard |
He represented Ptnn, who was arrested the fol- |
lowing day-not as he was fleeing, and In his |
Ease they would prove a full and complete alibi |
re ferr1ng to johnson, he said of old it was said
an that man hath will he give for his souI.n |
and II was no less true now. He had no Doubt |
but that johnson did meet these
corner of 18th and IT S+"~~- NE .ba I