Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-26
ECHO OF ARSON CHARGE
DEFENSE PLEA N SUIT TO RECOVER
AMOUNT OF NOTE.
Revival of Controversy Over Alleged
Destruction Of Bryant Man-
sion by Fire.


yesterday afternoon before Charles F..
Bundy, justice of the peace, at his office
at AZ street and Indiana avenue. The
trial was on an action by Thomas H. Pick
ford to recover on a note for $3.50. held
against Ferdinand Hopp, and Endorsed by
George M. Mann. The case became in
teresting when Hopp made the defense
that the note had been Cancelled through
services he had rendered Pckford in ne
gotiating with James Hudson to induce
the latter not to testify against Pickford
in the arson case, In which Pickford is a
defendant. Pickford on the other hand.
claims that Hopp and Hudson are try
Ing to levy blackmail upon him. He re-
Gently had them arrested and says that
receipt given by him to Hopp for the
amount of the~note was but a decoy hand
ed over upon the advice of the detectives
and the District attorney
Inc transactions in the case were de-
tailed by the witnesses concerned, all of
whom We're represented at the hearing by
counsel. Each witness was cautious and
no questions were answered until their
legal status had been thoroughly estab-
hshed justice Bundy announced that ar
guments would be heard tomorrow (Satur-
day) morning at 10 o'clock
Flckford. 1t will be remembered was re-
Gently Indicted by Maryland grand jury
on charge Of arson, which was after
ward changed to statutory burning. His
co-defendants were John H. Walter, Aaron
bradshaw, and Granville C. Shaw of this
city, all being charged with having had to
90 with the destruction by fire of the
Bryant mansion at Four Corners, Md, in
September. 1897. Pickford surrendered
himself to the Jurisdiction of the Mary
land courts, giving bond for his appear
ance The ether three defendants resisted
the requisitions sent by the governor of
Maryland. but were recently surrendered
by order of Chief Justice Bingham They
are now out on bond awaiting the result of
habeas corpus proceedings.
Allegations Made.
AT the hearing before Justice Bundy yes
terday afternoon James Hudson said that
Hopp had consulted with him three times
with regard to his leaving the District in
order not to be a witness against Pick
ford In the Maryland trial Hudson said
the affair was very distasteful to him. and
he thought that after the second interview
ne mad efectually shut Hopp off. Hudson
declined to answer a question as to what
was SAID In regard to the amount Of money
onered by the insurance companies for
what he knew of the burning
Hopp was called to the witness stand
He admitted not having paid the note due
Pickford, but claimed he had liquidated it
through services rendered. Pickford, he
declared. wanted him to go to Hudson and
Maryland to testify in the arson trial He
said he told Hudson that Pickford had
offered to give $3.50 If the latter would
not testify. Hudson would not accept the
offer On cross examination Hopp said he
told Hudson he could get 81 800 for signing
papers to the effect that Pickford was in
nocent. Further on in his testimony HopD
said that when he offered Hudson the
S..1oo the latter replied: ''Pshaw, the in
surance company offered S11 500 three years
ago.
When Pickford took the stand he identi-
tied two notes he had sent to Hopp, ask
ing him to come to his store and also
identified receipt he had given Hopp for
the amount of the note. PiPckford said he
had complained to the police that he was
about to be hlackmailed, and that the
notes and the receipt were given to Hopp
in order to decoy him and Hudson into a
trap. Hopp came to the store, but Hud-
son could not be induced to do so. Pick
ford says when Hopp came he gave him
the receipt for the note, the sum of $500
in cash and note for, $1,000 At that
time Pickford said he bargained to give
Hudson $11500 and Hopp $1,000, his offer
being a part of the scheme to catch the
alleged blackmailers
Detective Frank Helan. who stated that
he was concealed in Pickford's store dur
Ing the transactions above referred to, was
called as a witness. He said he and De-
tective McNamee had followed Hopp from
the store and arrested him later when he
was in conversation with Hudson.