Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-19

TO prepare, assigned a day In the early part of
March. and after trial Of Is days the three
men.bedIord. Queenan and Pinn-were con-
Vlcted. The trial was remarkable one In sew
eral respects. The boy, Ben Johnson, an al
m1tted acc0mplice, was the principal witness,
ard was subjected to about as searching
gone. but did not vary In the least from his
first statement. Then came thu effort to intro
duce the testimony OF deaf and dumb colOred
witness that Ben johnson b I'd shown her a
watch, DC, supposed to have belonged to young
Hirth. Circumstances were, however, dovel-
oped which convinced the jury that the te5tl-
mODy OF Johnson and Brown was true and that
the statement that johnson and RoXey Ross
the latter OF whom 1t was alleged had fed tue
District, committed the murder and that Bro Hn
Knew CT IL, was false. and verdict OF guilty OF
murder was rendered In the case OF all three
prisoners AS has been heretofore stated the
judgment was sustained.
EFFORTS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE PRISONERS.
The effort TO set 1t aside having failed efforts
were made 10 secure communication of sentence
for Pinn, which were successful. and a pardon
for Bedford and Queenan, which failed. SO
confident had been all three or the parties that
their lives would be ultimately spared that 1t
was not until August that Bedford paid any
serious attention to religion, aud Queenan had
spent but a week or ten days In considering his
future life. This was probably owing to the
more than usual efforts made by their counsel
to save them; in fact, it may be said that they
worked almost continuously for their clients.
From time TO time It was alleged that light had
been thrown on the case tending TO show the
innocence OF the condemned men First 1t was
alleged that what purported to be the watch of
MI. Hlrth had been found In an ash heap; then 1t
was asserted that Ben johnson, the witness,
had made an admission to Bud" Warner a
notorious colOred burglar, In which he admitted
that he and RoXey Ross had committed the
crime.
A FORGED LETTER
Next it was reported that a letter had been
intercepted at the jail directed to Ben johnson
and puTporting to have been written by "Tober
BiOwD, telling Johnson to remain ricm In his
statements, and 1ntimating that Brown, John
son and RoXey Ross had committed the crime
Ali these alleged facts we're placed before the
President and Attorney General, and ample
opportunity was given the counsel to invest
gate them. Brown denied the authenticity OF
the letter, and it was compared with his hand
writing and pronounced by experts to be a for
gerry. The allegations made by Warner were
not corroborated. and 10 fact the defence were
unable to satisfy the authorities that the sea-
tence should be further delayed.
CoLoRED MINISTER'S CALL on THE PRESIDENT
Besides the counsel, several delegations In
clud1ng Bishop Brown and number OF coored
minis; erS pleaded with the President for a COM
mutation OF sentence, giving as reason that
the same clemency should be extended to Bel
IOrd and Queenan as was extended to Sandy
Plnn. The President did not give them much
encouragement, except to say that he would
hear anything further tending to show why he
should 1nterpOse.
the prisoners intended to apply for writ OF
haheas corpus based on some technicalitleS in
the papers sent to the JAIL an informal but care
full examination OF them was made Yesterday
by some of the judges, and they were found to
De legal documents in every respect.
THE RUSH FOR PASSES.
yesterday there were many applications at
the Jail for passes. and hundreds OF people
asked to see the scaffOld, which was fully de-
scribed In yesterdays STAR, but this privilege
was accorded to only few. During the day
ing 155 pounds OF sand the weight OF BedforJ)
being placed on the trap, the ropes stood the
test OF fall OF four feet, and the apparatus
worked Well.
VISITORS TO THE JAZZ. YESTERDAY.
During yesterday the prisoners were visited
by Rev. Brown, OF the A. NJ E. Church: Rev. j.
D. S. Hall and Rev. John A. Clark, OF the NJ E.
church, In addition to Rev. VIM. Gibbons, who
called early La the day. They were found cheer
1ul, and continued TO assert their innocence.
SINGING AT STONE EXECUTION.
Inc three men, as was stated by them, We're
raised In or near Samson street, and the singing
ciuO 10 which they for some years were attached
was well known In the northern part OF the
city, and there were some fine voices among
them, and those who were present when Stone
was hung for wife murder on April 1st last, viii
not soon forget their singing on that OCCASION
''BABs" BEDFORD
Joseph NeverSon, otherwise Babe" Bedford
was about feet 9 or 10 inches in height and
weighed about 100 pounds He was between
mad dark brown skin, and a small, round head
with thick neck. He was boyish looking. aud
pad rather pleasant countenence He was
born in Montgomery county. Md. but Game
here during the war. when only about year
old, with his father and mother; and his father
having enlisted some time atterward, his
mother heard that his father was dead. and she
married again one Bedford. Subsequently,
% Babe having grown large enough to work
for himself, his mother moved back to Mont
gomery county, and he made stopping place
years ago Bedford bore a fair character, but
finally became known as lover OF mischief and
fond Of prowllng about at nights.
EDWARD QUEENAN
was about 20 years old. feet or inches in
height, and weighing near 100 pounds. He had
peculiarly shaped head, with high cheek
bones, bold. defiant look, and a swagger 10
Els Walk. MS eoior when he was committed
bleached out 10 somewhat lighter hue and
his counteDance lost also Its aggressive look.
He was born in Maryland and was brought here
when baby. His father and mother are both
living In this city-the former hackrnan, and
the latter domestic for many years in family
On New York avenue. He had rather the worst
reputation OF the three men. having been fire.
queDtly under arrest for fighting, diSorderly
conduct &C. On one occasion he served nine
months In jai! FOR an assault. He had worked
as bootblack and cart driver, but for some
years had done little or nothing more than
roam the streets. He was the leading bass OF
the singing club.
SANDY PINN,
the convicted man who was fortunate enough
TO escape the galloWs for Imprisonment for life
Is about 81 years old and of a bright yellow
color. He IS about five feet seven inches hiyh
with straight black hair. and weighs about las
or $50 pounds He is said TO be descendant OF
the Pinn's OF Fauquier county, Va who &c is
claimed have Indian blood In their veins. He1s
the most Intelligent one Of the crowd and bore
rather the best character. He had been por-
ter in 7th-streeu gents furnishing store, and
had been generally trusted around the neigh
bOTho0d. He had, however, been running In
rather questionable company for the past two
or three years.
BENJAMIN JOHNSON,
the principal witness, was tafter the motion for
new trial was refused in General Term last
September) released from jail, and after re-
naming short time In the northern part OF
the city LETT here and Is now said to be In BoS-
ton, where he has brother
Six Hours Sound Sleep for Both Men
Last Night.
Queenan who had occupied the first cell on
the west side Of the second tier OF the south
wing since his Imprisonment, was removed last
evening TO the second cell on the opposite side
OF the lower tier. Both men appeared to be In
good spirits last night and resigned 20 their fate
DR.. Alex. McWillialnS and Capt. James Coleman
were on duty during the night at their cells.
They talke1 little to each other during the
first part OF the night and then engaged in
prayer, both praying earnestly, though In low
tones. Between II and IL O'clock pm. two
reporters called and the prisoners having stated
that they would see them they were admitted
but only spent short time In the cell. About
midnight the prisoners laid down and slept