National Republican., 1880-11-19

Issued only the number of tickets regulated by
law. The trap and ropes werc tried yesterday, the
latter with 150 pounds dead weight. The drop
will be little over four feet. Parties anxious to
see the last of tho men came to the jail until |
o'clock, when, the men Having expressed desire |
to be alone, orders were given not to admit any |
About 5 O'Clock last evening President Hayes
sent dispatch TO the jail stating that he had de-
appeals in behalf of the murderers would be use.
less The prisoners were Informed of this fact, but
reterotlng that thoy were innocent and pre- |
pared to moet the worst. In order that the |
inen might talk with each, other Queenan |
cell adjourning Bedford. convcrsation imme
diNely ensucd between them, but it had no bearing
Oh the murder.
THEIR LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
| A representative Of THE NATIONAL REPuBL1cAS
visited the men about midnight. Bedford had Just
finished lunch aud was seated at the door Of his
cell porting over n bible by the light Of lantern.
Upon the approach of his visitor hc laid aside his
bible and arose, saying: ~ am glad to sec you,
How Is everything with YOU Babc2"
y feel sure the Master has pgrdoned al my sins
and have no fear oidcath. Still, sir, they arc go
Ing to hang an innocent man, and 1t Will turn out
"Then you have decided not to say anything
IIirthYi
y can't say anything about 1T. / have not long
last. am satisfied that everything possible has
been done to save me- and leave the world with
no hard feelings toward anybody ln it."
| Queonan was next called upon. lie also asserted
his Innocence, and said ho would die like u man.
He complained somewhat of feeling chilly which
He thought he would sleep for Il fcw hours after he
had read little more of the Good Book He
then called upon, Captain Coleman for light
lntently engaged with his bible. Neither
of the men betrayed the least symptoms of ncr-
vousness, and no one would have suspected from
their actions that their hours on earth were just
thirteen. All the arrangements are completed for
the execution, which will take place about
o'clock Bedford is very partial to cigars and dur
ing the past week has smoked incesssnty. The
passes to the execution are worded as follows:
WARDEE's OFFICE UNITED STATES JAIL |
WAsHlNCroS d. O., Nov. 10, 1850.
SIR: You are respectfully requested to be present
at this jail on Friday the 10Th instant, at II n.,
a juror to witness the execution Of Joseph Never
son, alias Babe Bedford, and Edward Queenun.
Yours, very respectfully,
Bishop Brown. the colorod divine who has taken
deep interest in the cases Of the two men, called
upon tho president last evening and pleaded
He LEFT the executive mansion satisfied that all ap.
peals to the presidentn behalf OF the men were
now useless.
THE STORY OF THE MURDER.
The murder for which Babe Bedford and Ed
ward Queenan will be executed in the District
Jail between II and o'clock p M, occurred on the
evening of Wednesday, January 7, aud was so bold
and brutal that 1t shocked tho community more
4 probably, than ally crime committed in this city
I
Though nearly year has elapsed, the facts con-
I nected with the murder are still fresh In the
at the time. The victim of the murder was George
Q Philip lIirth, young man twenty-five years of
Gge, who kepta store on Fourteenth street, two
doors north of p. where he resided with his
Il mother. Young Hirth was leading member of
l. Mt. Zion NJ L. church, member OF tho Y. NJ. c. A.,
= and of most exemplary habits. His high char
acter as christian seemed to ndd ten fold TO tho
was engaged TO Il Miss Sinclair tho daughter of his
above p, and the wedding day was fixed. lie gem
orally spent part of tho evening after closing tho
store with his ailianccd. II was while on his way
to Miss Slncluirs house. buoyant with hope full Of
happy expectation and possessed OF the serene con.
tentmcnt OF an upright man. that he was waylald
and murdered.
THE MURDER
occurred at about O'Clock in the evening on tho
= north side of street, between GSoyenteenth and
tho curbstone with his head covered with wounds,
the blood from which streamed ovor his face. lie
was removed on an impromptu litter to u drug
store at the P-strect circle, where lie expired about
: 0 o'clock, having remained speechlcss from the
r time he was found until DEATH A remarkable cir
. cumstance related IN connection with the murder
/ Is that Mrs. llirth, the mother of the murdered
: boy, about the mo that the assault was made be-
d came greatly excited and declared that some one
was killing her boy. For week after the murder
4 the excitement was intcnse, Several arrests were
!, made Immediately by the police but some days
u elapsed before evidence was found which would
' Justify holding any of the prisoners.
q THE ARRESTS.
" Bedford was arrested on the night Of the murder
suspicion having been directed to him by hi,
unusual actions at the drug store where IIirlh was
taken. Though he was several times driven out OF
a the store by the police he kept returning and per
y sisted in lowering about the dying man. Sandy
: | Pinn was arrested ON the following day, remark
r of his that "he knew Bedford was innocent, for
Z; come to the ears Of The police. Qncenan was ar
4 rested the same day, he being known to be com,
4; panon OF BodtOrds, and silver dollar, covered
I; with blood, which had been received at store
+. having been traced TO him II was not
until tho night Of Saturday January 10 10
l. up. That night Ben Johnson the fourth
man concerned In The murder, was arrested
ford, Quoenan Pnn and himself The murder
:. appears to have been committed to crafty the re-
y sentiment of Bedford, who had been ut one time
t. prosecuted by IIrth on charge of larceny though
lt many have the theory that the assault was COM
,e mlted for the purpose OF rGb3lng Hlrth INC ek,
n that the police authorities considered II prudent
'e TO take the utmost precautions to poec! Their prls
10 oners from lynching The deep interest taken by
II the public In the tragedy was evidenced by the
N THE FUNERAL
n of young Hirth, which took place at the Mt Zion
ct NJ. l.. church on the sunday following the murder
IS WAS attended by fully 5000 persons The murder
d also gave rise to active religious revival in the
T. church, which continued for many weeks. Even
n AFTER Johnsons confession there appeared TO be
" MUCH UNCERTAINTY
about the case, us the following letter. written by
the District attorney TO the chlet OF p0hce on Jam
II "fho very lust anxiety Of the public concern
ing tho atrOClOus murder OF George i. Hirth and
y the demand for the prompt punishment OF the
! offenders justify mo IN making TO you some sug,
l. geslions have just completed an examination OF
II the testimony furnished me, and deem II due 10
YOU to state frankly that the socla!med facts aud
conclusions need sustaining and support In great
n many particulars. IL Is not necessary tor mo TO
is state TO you that deductions of your officers eX'
l. cited ruInOls and unsupported surmises are not
G. evidence. The District commissioners have
IS placed under your control u fund to be used
n TO discover the necessary evidence 70 convict
<, these men ii guilty, The grand jury meet
~ on Monday next and desire to urge upon you to
procure for this onlce all the facts in connection
10 with the commission Of this crimei and that you
ST furnish me at once with complete list OF all the
rs additional witnesses who have any knowledge OF
x any of the circumstances connected herewith and
~ also that YOU direct that the officer who has special
charge of this report to me It's present exact
H. condition, and TO receive such suggestions as
)t may deem II my duty TO make. There should bo
no delay in the prompt prosecution OF shis case TO
n hnal Judgment
n A feature Of the proceedings before the trial was
m n novel attempt upon the part of tho counsel for
y Pinu 10 defer action in the case by challenging
H. tho competency OF the grand jury, and making Il
" motion that the grand jurors be sworn on their
H. p0ir dire. This motion was mado before Judge
Is Hagner ON the Dist Of January and oYorruled.
ds THE TRIAL
Ma began In tho criminal court before Judge Hagner
,e on Inc 9th day of February al time when the pub
- iIo feeling exc tied by the crlmo was ut It's height