The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-26

The HOPPE COUNTERFEITING CASE
This case was further continued Saturday
before Commissioner ChahoOn. A large
company of spectators was present. The
Commissioner was very much indisposed,
and so Frustrated that but for the use of
an easy chair it would have been impossi-
BILE for him to have remained.
Ben Aliens examination was continued.
Was in the habit of being absent from the
factory on business for Mr.. Hoppe while he
worked for him. Sometimes for an hour,
sometimes for half hour, and sometimes
for a quarter Of an hour. Was not absent
as much as day at any time. Never
longer than an hour and half. Could
stamp a box in FIVE or six seconds. The
Government inspector might have come to
the factory and branded tobacco in my
absence. Think he did brand some when
I was absent. Don't know who made that
false brand, nor where it came from.
Don't know whether Hoppe bought it or
somebody else gave it to him. / don't
know but what it may have been given to
him by Government Inspector. Have
never seen any brands Of Government in
spectors but Mr.. Pritchard's. There was
but one Ben to my recollection working
in Mr.. Hoppe's factory in May, 1867. The
reason why l think that false brand was
used, because Mr.. Hoppe and myself used
it priuately. l have lived in his city with
man named Newman during the war
John Newman. His business was gam
bier. Was employed to wait on him and
attend to his room. He kept faro table.
I have played against the game, and both
won and lost.
Ishmael Roberts (colored) sworn Have
worked in Hoppe's factory this year awhile.
Have worked in Thomas's factory; also
Registers and Washington Ross's. Stem
med tobacco in Mr.. Hoppe's factory. Ben
Allen paid me. Don't know anything
about any tobacco being sent out of the
factory. Don't know of any being taken
but once-that was some week or so ago.
This was at night-about 10 O'Clock. 1met
Ben that night near the corner of Twen-
tietlrand Main streets, on my way home.
Asked me to walk with him on Union Hill.
/ asked him for what Said he had a load
of tobacco to take up for Mr.. Hoppe. Ben
had the tobacco with him then in a wagon.
T don't know the name of the driver, but
that is the man, pointing to Mr.. Cole. The
tobacco was carried up and delivered to
Mr.. Page, and Mr.. Page paid him. That
is all know about it. | don't know
whether the boxes were branded or not.
Cross-examined Page was in the wagon
with Cole. Saw Ben deliver the tobacco
to Page when he got to house on Union
Hill; he paid Ben 500 in fives and one
ten-dollar note. Told him he would give
him the balance in the morning. Think l
heard Page say there was due Ben Ss4
more. Some of the tobacco was IN large
and some in small boxes.
". A. Cole, sworn: Am teamster,
running teams on the street. l haulea
part of one load of tobacco from Hopes
factory of about seventeen boxes. Carried
il to NV stable-yard that night, to be call
ed for in the morning. Got that tobacco
from the factory right beside Johnson,s
stable. Page handed it to me. Tha1 yel-
low boy. Ben, was with him. Mr.. rear,
man was not far off. Pearman is one OF
the Young men that engaged me with rage.
They told me Mr.. Hoppe was handing J!
out. left home at 81 o'clock T. N. M. ! !
think it was near 9 when | Loaded. lnele
were several persons passing ana lepass'
ing when we loaded. Nobody salo any
thing to me. Did not see Hoppe at the
factory when I got there. nave ~ geol
arrested for carrying that tobacco. haVe
never had any conversation with HnpPe
ahont it. Did not know him. Saw Sll.
paid it was in greenbacks; think IL we, va,
in tens. Page offered Ben q cneck, ou =.
Ben said Hoppe would not like to lose ,,t !.
and refused to take it. Said ne "ou..
come down and get the balance the mex
morning. d poo.