Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-19
THE GALLONS.
DOUBLE EXECUTION.
BEDFORD AND QUEENAN HANGED
THEIR LAST HOURS.
They Die Asserting their limo
CenCe.
Facts About the Men. and the Crime
for Which They Suffered Death.

for the murder OF George Philip Htrth, took
place this afternoon at the Washington JAIL In
the presence OF about go people. 1t viii be re-
membered that the first day set for the
execution was April 3Oth last but IL was post
pcned from time 10 time; first owing TO the ap-
PEAL from the rulings OF Judge Hagner opera
ting as a suspension of sentence and afterwards
by two successive respites OF the President of
the United states.
TIE CRIME
was most atrOcfOuS one and when the details
were developed IL threw the community into a
great state OF excitement The victim of the
diabClical deed, an exemplary young man. had
a store on 18th street. above northwest He
Was engaged to be married TO Miss Sinclair, a
daughter Of his former employer, whom he was
on his way 10 visit at the time he was stricken
down by the assaSSinS. The marriage ceremony
was 10 have taken place about ten days suo5e-
Quent TO the date on which he was Killed. While
quietly walking along street he was wayIaid
by the aSSaSSinS and short time thereafter
was found with three or more terrible wounds
on his head. Having been removed TO a drug
store near by, he soon afterwards expired. lie
was SpeechleSS from the time he was found until
his death. so that he could give no clue TO his
murderers. Shortly after the injured man had
been taken to the drug store, one OF the
priSoners-"Baben Redford-waS In the crowd
anxious to see whether or not the victim was
dead, and made minute inquiries as TO the injured
man. This caused the officers to suspect him
and when further inquiry was made IL was as
cerIalDed that Bedford had been IN the employ
THE ARRESTS.
The second precinct officers went to Bedtori's
house In Samson street and there found him
asleep with companion, and took him into
custody. BY an oversight his companion was
left in bed, and when the officers returned to
make further inquiry he had left and has not
been he I'd from since. This missing man IS
relative "a couSin) OF BEDFORD and it is thought
that II he was not party to the crime he at
least, would have been an important witness
ON the day following the murder Sandy" Pi1n,
who was known companion and neighbOr OF
Bedford's. employed at Spley's feed store .'gave
himself away when he heard that Bedford
LAD been arrested, by stating that he knew
Bedford was innocent, for he (P.) was with him
the night before. Queenan was arrested on the
same Gay, he being known as q companion OF
Bedford and P1nn, who had up TO a few months
before resided in Samson street. Seven or eight
other persons were also arrested on suspicion
and when the Jury was summoned to hold an
INQUEST the following day. there was SO little
known OF the circumstances that the coroner
determined TO adjourn the Investigation to a
future date Although the entire detective force
with the officers OF the ID precinct (In which
the murder was colnmnted) and those OF the 4th
and 9th precincts were working up every clue,
IL was not uEtii Saturday evening, January 10Th
that there was any substantial ground for tn.
telief that they had TIE right parties n custody
That afternoon the detectives. after a full con
suiTattOn OF every clue and Circumstance, cane
TO the conclusion TO release all but the three
parties mentioned,
Bedford Vas arrested on the night OF he mlr-
der about 2:4j O'clock by surgeon Safell and
OFFICER Gantz, OF the % precinct. Pian was
taken into custody about II < O'Clock by offer
Mcdonald OF the 6th precinct, and turned over
10 Officer West, OF the I'd precinct. and he was
very much excited, In fact so much SO that he
made four different statements In a. many min
utes- Queenan was arrested By Detective yoss
aud Sergeant Saffell that afternoon, At this
time about the only clue 70 the perpetrators OF
the crime was a scarf recognized as Bedford's
found Lear the scene OF the murder.
AN KYE WITNESS OF THE MURDER
Benjamin johnson, colOred boy residing on
18th street, near w northwest having maze
some suspicious remarks, Il became known to
the police, and they were all on the lookout for
him. Word was left at his house that they
wanted 10 see him on some ordinary case. About
O'Clock Saturday evening he walked into the
second precinct station. and, giving his name,
he was locked up. When questioned he ST ated
that he met the other three parties on the eve
ming named al the corner of 18TH and streets,
and Bedford asked him 10 go over near the Qua
ker college TO sing with them, and they went
over TO 14th street, and thence along street
and Bedford picked up stone, wrapped it In
his Handkerchief, and walking behind Htrth,
struck him blow which staggered him. Hirth
Recognizing Bedford. exclaimed, For Gods
sake, Babe. don't Kill me- but Babe" followed
up the assault, and Queenan also struck Hirth,
ard Pfnn kicked him. de, JOhnson.l after tell
Ing them not 10 kill the man. ran on.
THE FUNERAL OF THE MURDERED MAN
took place on Sunday, January 1lth, from MI.
Zion NJ. E church. or which he was member
and It was attended by one OF the largest as
occasion Ia this District. the number OF people
IN the vicinity OF the church being estimated at
from $500 TO 5000 persons Remarks were made
at the church BY Rev. Z. ID. owen. the pastor,
and Rev. W. ]. Mckinney, the former pastor
who had received the deceased In church as
member, and on the same eyefing revival was
commenced, which resulted IN about 100 con-
versions
THE INQUEST.
The coroner's Jury reasSeInbied the next day
and after hearing the testimony rendered a
verdict that death was caused by Bedford
Queenan and Pfnn. and they were committed
TO jail by the coroner. While the inquest was
In progress at the 4th precinct station an I'M
neISe conCourse-ten or twelve thousand men
were IL the streets adjacent, and it was with
the utmost difficulty that the prisoners were
placed In the police ambulance under strong
guard and taken 10 the jail.
The INQUIRY BY THE GRAND JURY.
The grand Jury examined the case very thor
oGghly, and as Johnson had been frequently
under arrest IL became necessary that his state
Inent should be CoTrobOrated. The officers con-
tinued their inquiries and found witnesses who
saw the parties on the corner OF 18th and L
streets; again on 18th and L; at the corner OF
l4th and Samson streets. when Bedford, it Is
alleged. asked the time and urged them to
hurry or they would be late.
IL was also stated that they had found white
Eian who would testify that on the night OF the
occurrence. he, with another man was over
taken by Bedford and his companions. THIS
white man known as "Tobe Brown y residtnt !,
in the eastern part OF the city, was looked on as
an important witness; but his associations were
such that II was feared the Jurors would not
give much credence TO his evidence unless IL
vas corroborated- lie was therefore told by
NE detective officers 10 find his companion II
possible. and several days elapsed before the
grand jury could do anything further. Finally
While Ben Johnson was before the grand Jury
eeing examined. the officers mad Brown posted
in one OF the corridors or the building and
johnson, when he came out or the grand iury
room, seeing Brown, remembered him and
going back Stated that Babe Bedford while
passing along street, had a talk with a white
nan. and stated that thar maa was then il tht
building. This seemed 10 ciinch the matter
and the result was that true bill was found
THE TRIAL.
An effort was made by the government tc
baye the trial within a week after the indict
meIt was found so as 10 commence IL wltbiC
one month OF the commission of the crime, bu
Pinns friends having secured the services o.
HeSsTs. T. F. Miller, e. NJ. Smith and j. Z. RI
ley TO defend him and NeSsrs. II. Coyle and H.
III. Wells, jr.. appearing for the other two pris
oners and Mr.. j. A. Haywood for all three O
the accused men, the Court, 10 give them ttms