The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-06
FOR THE GRAND JURY
Defendants in the Conspiracy Case
Remanded to Jail.
Bond Fixed at $1,000 Each. But
Neither Hudson Nor Hopp Furnish
ed It-Tcstimony Given in support
of Statements by MIR. PicI<ford.


After hearing testimony in the case and
prolonged argument by counsel on both
sides Judge Scott in the Police Court
yesterday held Ferdinand Hopp and
James Hudson for the action of the
grand jury on a charge of conspiring to
defraud Thomas II. Pickford. The de-
PENDANTS were unable to furnish bond in
the sum of s. 600 each and were commit
ted to Jail.
The crowded court room indicated the
unusual interest in the case, which Judge
Mackey openly charged was brought
about in order to more easily incarcerate
and place beyond the reach of the State
of Maryland James Hudson, said to be a
principal witness against Mr.. Pickford,
who is under Indictment in that State
on charge of arson.
States Attorney II. NJ. Talbot was
present in the interest of his State and at
the request of Prosecuting Attorney Null
lowry took the stand and testified as to
the indictment against Mr.. Pickford and
others.
In opening the case yesterday Mr.. Null
lowry stated that as the attorneys for
the defence had indicated their purpose
to attack the warrant upon which Hopp
and Hudson were arrested he had ar
ranged to substitute another warrant
which should be more specific in its decla-
rations. 1t was understood that the evil
dence which had been introduced under
the old warrant would be accepted as APP
plying TO the new one without repeat
ing 1t.
Fritz Trader, the bartender at the
American House, was placed on the
stand He testified that Hopp, whom he
had known before, and Hudson came into
the saloon Wednesday afternoon and had
several drinks. While there Hopp said
TO him in German, Listen" and after
wards said, Watch a while" He heard
Hudson say TO Hopp: He is a great
friend of yours. You ought to get $4,000"
Later in the day, according to Trader,
Hopp put his head in the door and re-
marked to Hudson in English, "Remem-
Der Pickford, S11.5OO" This was the first
mention that had been made of Pick
ford's name.
States Attorney Talbot was next
placed upon the stand and told of the in
dictment returned against Pickford, Wal
ter, Bradshaw, and Shaw. He said 1t did
not charge Pickford with arson, but with
being an accessory to burning" He
said that he believed there were one or
two other witnesses in the case besides
Hudson.
Mr.. Talbot acknowledged paying mon
ey to Hudson and said it was in payment
for buggy hire.
Mr.. Pickford was then recalled and re-
itereted the statement he made on the
stand yesterday. The substance of Mr.
Pickford's testimony was that he had
been approached last fall by Hopp with
proposition to prevent Hudson from tes
tifying before the Montgomery county
nd i1r1- nc ha
against Pickford and others, whom he
charged with arson in connection with the
burning Of the old Bryant mansion at
Four Corners, Nd, September II, 1891.
Mr.. Pickford said Hopp agreed to ST.
lence Hudson for the sum of s50s, but de-
clared that he paid no attention to Hops
proposition, further than to warn him
never to make such a suggestion to him
again. Mr.. Pickford added that HopP on
Saturday expressed regrets that Pick
ford had not accepted his previous offer
but thought it still possible to quash the
case, despite the action of the Maryland
grand jury, and detailed the succeeding
interviews between himself and Hopp,
overheard by Detectives Helan and Nc
Nance, the agreement to pay Hudson
81 500 to leave this part of the country,
and to pay Hopp $3.50 for his work in
bringing about the silencing of Hudson.
The witness also identified the SEQ which
had been marked and given to Hopp,
which was found in his possession when
the latter was arrested.
Continuing his testimony. Mr. Pickford
stated that he had been shown by Hopp
q check drawn by Talbot & Talbot and
endorsed by Jesse Wilson, Prosecuting
Attorney Talbott's brother-in-law, and he
thought also by Hudson. He was told by
Hopp that this check was evidence that
Talbot was paying Hudson TO secure the
conviction of Pickford and others.
When Mr. Pickford left the stand Mr..
Talbot was recalled and acknowledged
having given Hudson a check TO help him
pay mortgage which was about TO be
foreclosed on his printing press. The
statement of Mr.. Talbot that he had
given Hudson a check for SO caused a
clash between the opposing attorneys as
to the admissibility of this evidence. Con-
tinuing, Mr. Talbot stated that the mon
ey was a loan to Hudson. The loan
secured by a chattel mortgage on certain
Mr.. Pickford resumed the stand and
Judge Mackey brought out the state
ment that Picdord still holds 100
security for Hops Indebtedness. Judge
Mackey questioned Mr. Pickford at some
length regarding written memorandum
which was to have been signed upon the
payment of the money to Hudson. This
writing was on the back of blank draft
and read:
<atili d 4|Ni- L VIII not appear against
T. H. Pickford in the fire suit
Mr.. Pickford said that he drew that
paper under instructions from the Dis
trict authorities and that his purpose in
doing was to secure evidence of Hud-
sons alleged attempt to blackmail him.
After a recess of fifty minutes Mr. Pick
ford again took the stand and was ques-
toned by Mr.. Lipscomb as to when he
saw the Talbot check. He replied that 1t
was last November. as well as he could
recall. at the time of the first suggestion
by Hopp Of the settlement Of the case
by the payment of money.
l.. F. Miller, wholesale grocery sales
man for a Baltimore house. testified to
having seen Hudson in the Twentieth Cen
tury cafe Wednesday afternoon between
100 and o'clock. He said: Hudson was
about leaving the place when Hopp came
In and called to Hudson
Detective Daniel McDevitt testified TO
having ''shadOwed Hudson Sunday night,
10 having seen him enter the Twentieth
Century Cafe at SOS o'clock and that he
left there at 10 o'clock. During that time
McDevitt said. Hudson and Hopp were
In close conference.
Detective Frank NJ Helan, of the Po-
lice Department. testified TO being assign
ed % the case with his partner Detective
McNamee, By Inspector Boardman He
In company with Detective McNamee who
was with him at all times during the in
a n = n n a n q