The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-05
THE CONSPIRACY HEARING
Proceedings Against Hopp and
Hudson in the Police Court.
Mr.. Pickford on the stand Declares
He Was the Victim of Black
mailing Scheme-Says He Was Told
Proceedings Would He stopped.

The preliminary hearing in the case of
Ferdinand Hopp, manager of the Tween
| tieth Century Cafe. and James Hudson
painter and decorator, who has been
making his home at the Colonial Hotel,
was begun before Judge Scott in the Po-
lice Court yesterday afternoon. The de-
PENDANTS are charged with having enter
ed into a conspiracy to blackmail and
defraud Thomas II. Fickford, a grocer
at the corner of Ninth Street and Louisi-
ana Avenue northwest.
Mr.. Pickford and three other well
known residents of the city were recent
ly indicted by a Montgomery County
grand jury on a charge of arson, and 1t
is said that Mr. Hudson was the prin-
cipa1 witness before that jury. Attorneys
a. a. Lipscomb and Philip Walker APP
peared in behalf of Hudson yesterday,
while Judge Franklin ]. Mackey repre-
scented Hopp. Henry +. Davis and Ar
thur Peter We're present and looked al
ter Mr.. Pickford's interests, while the
case for the Government was conducted
by Prosecuting Attorney Alexander r.
Mulowny
Mr.. Pickford was the first witness call
ed to the stand. The attorneys for the
defence asked that during his testimony
the ether witnesses be excluded from the
room. The court granted the request.
Mr.. Pickford told of his relations with
IIopp, whom, he said, he met about year
ago as steward at the Colonial Hotel
Aterward when Hopp embarked in bust
ness for himself, Mr.. Pickford said he
not only extended him credit, but loaned
him $500 to fit up his place. Mr. Pick
ford testified that he was approached last
fall by Hopp, who told him that Hudson
was going to appear before the grand
jury of Montgomery County and charge
Pickford and others with having set fire
to the house at Four Corners, Md, in
order to secure the insurance money. but
that Hopp could prevent Hudson from
doing so by paying him $500.
Pickford paid no attention to the mat
ter, he said, until some time in January,
when Hopp again made the proposition,
to which he replied that he never wanted
to hear another word about the matter.
He considered Hops repeated PROPOSE
tion insulting, he said, and instructed his
employees to no longer extend credit to
him.
Mr. Pickford continued that Saturday
last Hopp came into his Office and opened
conversation regarding the action of
the Maryland grand jury. During the
course Of the conversation Pickford said
he told Hopp that the matter was injuring
his business. annoying his family, and
almost killing him. He said he almost
wished he had accepted the offer, If that
would have settled matters
IIopp, he said, replied: Il wish you
had and added that it might still be
possible. Mr.. Pickford said It was ar
ranged that he and Hopp should meet
again regarding the matter.
That evening, Mr.. Pickford said, he
went to Police Headquarters and laid the
matter before Inspector Boardman, who,
after comforting with District Attorney
Anderson, directed the course to be pur-
sued and detailed Detectives Helan and
McNamee on the case. The detectives.
Mr.. Fickford stated, were present at all
of the following interviews.
Continuing, Mr.. Pickford said that on
Tuesday Hopp visited him three times
and each time stated that more money
would be necessary IMAM had been pre-
viously agreed upon: Hopp, he said,
stated that District Attorney Talbot, OF
Montgomery County, would receive vi
Coz in case he secured conviction In
the arson case, and that he had agreed TO
give Hudson, who is said to be the all
Important witness in the case, half OF
that amount. Hopp, he stated, further
said that sos had already been paid Hud-
son by Talbot Mr.. Pickford said he
asked HoPp why they had connected him
with the case, and was told that Hudson
had said that there was nothing in the
case, and it could be easily dropped; but
that he would 20 If he did not get as
much from Pickford as he would receive
from Talbot in case Of a conviction.
1t was agreed. Mr. Pickford explained.
that Hopp should meet him at his Office
Wednesday morning at II oclock, but
that it was 1:30 in the afternoon before
Hopp pat in an appearance. Hopp then,
according to Mr.. Pickfords testimony,
stated that Hudson insist on 81 800, and
would, on receipt of that sum, leave the
city and keep out of the way until after
the quashing of the arson charge, which
could not be proved without him. Hopp.
the witness added, further demanded
81 800 for his services In the matter. All
of this PickfOrd says he agreed to and
asked that Hudson be brought to his Of
flee, and the matter settled right there.
He stated that he had 5000 in bank and
sent his cashier ostensibly to cash a
check After she had been gone some
time he called up a telephone number
that did not exist. but which was ostensi-
bly, that of the bank TO which he had sent
the young lady and asked the cause OF the
delay.
To Hopp he represented that he had
only 81 800 in bank, according to the state
ment of the officials of that institution,