Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
HoDNETT HUMBUGGED HIM
The Whilom Washington Agitator Claims
to Have Saved Sackville
He Says He Fooled a Plot to Assassin
nte the british Minister - His
Cranky Career in This City.


stories that have been brought out by the
recent publication of extracts from Lord
Sackville's pamphlet is one that comes
from Brooklyn, in which John Pope Hod-
nett formerly conspicuous here a crank
and agitator. figures. He is the narrator
as well as the hero of the story in ques-
ton. 1t appears in a special dispatch from
Brooklyn to the Philadelphia Press, which
says:
There is a lawyer here who claims to
have saved the life of Lord Sackville when
he was the British minister to the United
States. He is John Pope Hodnett of Fulton
street. Mr.. Hodnett founded and has been
continuously president of the United Labor
League of America. He tells this story: In
1882 we had membership Of 10000 in
Washington. Nearly half were Irishmen.
There was in Baltimore an organization Of
Irishmen who believed in the rule of vio-
lence. They made a great many attempts
to win us over to their views. During the
excitement in 1882 aver the prosecution in
Ireland of the Phoenix Park murder sus-
poets, some members of the Baltimore So
ciety went to Washington and proposed to
members of my organization that all
friends Of Great Britain occupying promi-
nent positions in Washington be assassinat-
ed. They were particularly bitter against
Sackville-West. The plot came to my ears
and in a secret meeting of the United La
Dor League ] denounced the plotters and
threatened that IL they proceeded I would
tell all that 1 knew to the authorities. 1
had met Sir Lionel, and had found him as
favorable to the cause of Ireland as man
in his position could afford to be. When
he was given his passports after the
Murchiscn letter episode IL was again pro-
posed to kill MIN, for the letter had in
furiated the hot-headed and they took it as
evidence of his enmity to Ireland and her
T. Al <rrI,A - rIy-a
my organization, but succeeded completely
"Mr. Hodnett denies positively that In
consideration of these services he secured
from the British minister large sum of
money
Hodnetcs Career Here.
John Pope Hodnett is well known in
Washington, where he resided for several
years, and posed as a representative of the
labor interests. He was continually en-
gagged in agitation. and was regarded.
when his methods became familiar. as
tlatherskite oe the highest degree.
He, came to this city about the time Of
President Grants first Inauguration. and
procured an appointment under the inter-
nal revenue bureau in the territories.
When he gave up his position and re-
turned here he assumed the role of friend
of the workingmen, and pestered Congress
to pass various measures.
He organized what he called the Union
Labor League, and had as his followers
several hundred colored men.
Hodnett, among other pretensions. claimed
to be heir to the throne Of England It Is
the Congressional Library that he became
convinced that he was heir to the throne OF
England, and was also entitled to occupy
the White House. He claimed that he was
related in some way to every person Of
prominence, including Washington and
Lincoln, as well as of foreign nobilities, and
in his advertisements Of his legal work he
so stated.
Attached to one Of his cards was printed
this statement:
"Mr. Hodnett's ancestors (the Earls of
Lords of Baltimore. the Dukes Of Buck
ipgham, and the Dukes of York; were
originally owners Of the states of New
York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Mary
land, including Washington and the Dis
trict Of Columbia"
Hodnett was the founder Of number Of
imaginary labor organizations, the most
prominent among them being the one re-
ferred to, styled the United Labor League
of America" of which he figured as pres
ident. In this capacity he had headquar-
ters on Louisiana avenue. and later un
Missouri avenue. and had body guard
of twelve colored men.
This United Labor League" never had
any recognition from the bodies of or
ganized labor in the District Its members
were nearly all cclored men of the most
sion was that Hodnett lived of the con-
tributions exacted from these men as mem
bers of the organization They were in
duced to believe that in some way or other
Hodnett was going to do great things for
them.
Some Crasky Performances.
Later he figured in the Police Court as a
Lawyer friend OF the poor" and made
speeches which usually bore more on his
supposed ancestors than on the cases before
the court.
Then he wrote poetry. and finally dropped
into the musical line He wanted't to sing
one of his songs in open court, and when
after adjournment Of court and sang to an
audience composed Of. clerks and reporters.
1t is related that on one occasion when he
was in the Office of Lawyer j. B. O'Neil, he
was introduced to George NJ. Storrs, son Of
Emory Storrs, the well-knoWn Chicago law
yer, and Immediately upon acknowledging
the Introduction he rushed from the office.
few minutes later he returned and said:
"George-George M. Storrs, kneel on the
carpet"
The young man did as he was told, and in
an instant Hodnett said: ARISE, George
NJ. Storrs. Earl Of Exeter"
This was only one of the many crazy
freaks perpetrated by Hodnett. who in
public speech had said that carpet of gold
should be made for him.
Among his many claims was one that he
was the owner Of all the land in the Dis
tIict of Columbia.
When he left Washington he went to New
York, and when he last wrote to his friends
here, after he had endeavored to appear as
he was living on Liberty street in that city.