Evening star., 1920-07-09
WITNESS BRANDS
OWPLOT STORY
BLACKMA|L PLAN
Declares Alleged Conspiracy
Was Really Scheme Devised
by Mrs. Acker.

with Mrs. Ena r. Acker. wife Of
Washington attorney, and Hugh Mil
ton Langdon. a chauffeur. to murder
and automobile accident. was in real
ity a scheme devised by Mrs. Acker TO
obtain money from Mrs. Snow or her
attorney. Henry Z. DaTis, according
to testimony before Judge Hardison
in the United States branch of the
Police Court today.
Stuart Kelvin Brown of Alexandra,
Va, an employe of the Potomac Elec-
tric Power Company since 1915. as a
technical ard confidential man. testi-
fed to this scheme. which. he said.
looked to him like "blackmail."
Mr. Brown IS one of the two men
whom Mrs. Acker is quoted as having
sad would do anything she bade
them. Mr.. Brown or the stand said
that he had been engaged by Mrs.
Acker on two occasions TO shadow
Mrs. Snow when she attended dinners
with Mrs. Acker at hotels here. and
for this service he had been paid by
Mr. Snow $40 on each occasion.
The name of Isaac r. Hit was
brought into the case today as the
"go-between'' who was to get money
from Mr.. Davis. representing Mrs
Snow, in return for supposedly
valuable information" as to the al
legged plan of Mr.. Snow. Mr.. Brown
in his testimony men ioned Judge
Hits" After the name had been
used several times James h. Archer.
assistant United States district at
torney, who is representing the gov
ernment in the present hearing. sug-
gested that the full name should be
gwen and that it shou d be specifical-
ly stated that it WAS not Associate
Justice William Hitz of the District
of Columbia Supreme Court. and to
this the court agreed.
The testimony OF Mr.. Brown caused
distinct sensation in the crowded court
room because it followed testimony by
Police Detectives Edward J. Kelley and
Arthur b. Scrivener that on July 5. the
day on which Mrs. Aci-er and Langdon
Were arrested as coconspirators with
Mr.. Snow for the murder OF Mrs. Snow.
Mrs. Ac<er and Langdon separately and
together had, when examined at police
headquarters, told in the presence Of
these two detectives and inspector Grant
that Mr.. Snow had proposed TO them
to kill Mrs. Snow with poison.
Mrs. Acker shows Emotion.
During the testimony of Brown Mrs.
Aeker, who has been sitting during the
hearing with her attorney, Peyton Cor
don, directly behind George Z. Hoover,
who is representing Mr. Snow. and
James E. Archer. who is representing
the government. for the first time
showed emotion or nervousness
When the hearing was resumed this
morning Mr.. Hoover asked Mrs Sn 3w.
who WAS s!ill on the stand, whether
she had ever met through Mrs Acker
man named Kelly at hotel.
whether ne had ever come to her
apartment and whether he or other
friends of Mrs. Acl<er had driven
away from the hotel with Mrs. snow
and Mrs. Acker. Mrs. Snow denied
anything of the sort. She denied that
she had gone to circus with Mr.
Broderick'' and Mrs. Mayo or Mrs
Acker. She denied that she had gone
to hotel with Mrs. Mayo and
Mr.. Peterson. or 10 nearby inn.
Says Attorney Ad-isrd f.er.
Mr.. Hoover quest :oned Mrs Snow
closely as to why, after she had de-
cided that the dinners to which Mrs.
Acker had invited her were "uncon-
ventional" IS was testified yesterday.
she had continued TO accompany Mrs.
Acker to such parties. Mrs Snow
said tha- she was doing this on the
advice of her attorney. Mr.. Davis, ito
see what might develop and TO find
out whether Mrs. Acker might or
might not be true and pleasant
friend"
Mr.. Hoover asked Mrs. Snow. "In
common parlance. was it not booze
party?" referring to the dinner at one
Of the hotels when a congressman
was said to have been guest. Mrs.
Snow replied. "It was not; it was per-
fectly proper
Several times during the hearing
today. as yesterday, Judge Harrison
sis.ency and closeness with which he
questioned Mrs. Snow on the stand.
Tells Of Jack Warmsiey.
During her testimony yesterday aft
ernoon Mrs Snow had said that the
man who was introduced to her as
Mr.. Broderick" and who later told
her his real name was JACK warns
lev, in warning her to be carerui
n bout her association with Mrs. Acker
had told her that Mrs. Acker came
to his room one night after 10 o'clock
much excited and practically on her
knees and in tears begged him to
take them (Mrs. Snow and Mrs.
Acker) on a party to Baltimore.
Mrs Snow testified that Mr.. Brod-
erick" told her that Mrs. Acker at
that time said to him. I'VE are going
not know it," Mr.. Hoover questioned
Mrs. Snow today regarding her plans
to go to Baltimore after being warn
ed. Mrs. Snow said. II wanted to hnd
out what ths scheme WIS. l was TO
be protected from any harm that
might come. Mr.. Davis was to ar
range that with the Baltimore police.
Mr.. Hoover asked Mrs Snow if the
reason she did not take the stand
last week in the case before Justice
Mccoy regarding the custody OF her
son. Hubert Snow. was not because
you didn't want to have these doings
Of yours disclosed" Mrs. Snow re-
piled that 1t was not. Mr. Hoover
again asked If the reason why she
had summoned John Zimmerman to
her home on July >. the day on which
Mrs. Acker telephoned and later visS
ted Mrs. Snow, disclosing to Mrf
Snow and Mr. Davis the alleged pl0
to kill Mrs Snow. was not "becaW'
you knew he was a pliable witness
and would testify to anything you
asked" Mrs Snow replied, Certainly
not"
A. to Grant I'm Honduras.
Mr.. Archer questioned Mrs. Snow
re garding statements made by Mrs.
cker in regard to Honduras. Mrs.
Snow replied that Mrs. Acker talked
of her plans to get gov
ernment grant in Honduras and OF
with financiers for the
production of mahogany and sugar.
Mr. Archer pressed Mrs. Snow to
tell what Mrs. Acker had said to her
about the extrad.tion laws in Hon
auras Mrs. Snow repeated that Mrs
Acker had suggested that she take
the child Hubert to Honduras, be-
cause the laws would not permit OF
the extradition. and that she had said.
I'D not live like you do. If 1 ever
get the baby In my speed car they
will never catch me-"
Mr. Archer also questioned Mrs
Snow in bringing out that it was heI
attorney. Mr.. Davis. and not herself
who decided that she should not take