Evening star., 1927-11-24
MALICE CHARGE HIT
by MRS. CRAWFORD
SAYS Action to Recover Por'
trait From Mrs. Hopkins
Has Foundation.

Another chapter in the mysterious
story of a missing family portrait was
written today when Mrs. Lucy
Wormeley Crawford OF the Grafton
Hotel denied that she acted maliciously
when she caused the arrest, November
IS, of Mrs. Grace Porter Hopkins.
past ID. A. r. regent and prominent
local society woman and writer. Mrs.
Crawford swore out warrant chars-
ing Mrs Hopkins with taking a paint.
ing of her grandfather left with Mrs.
Hopkins about 10 years ago.
Indignant national and local officers
Of the Daughters of the American
Revolution have rallied to the defense
of Mrs Hopkins. who has declined to
take the matter seriously, explaining
that the portrait must have been lost
i'm moving.
Private Hearings Held.
Ralph Given, assistant United States
attorney for the Police Court, gave
Mrs. Hopkins a private hearing Tues
day. Mrs. Crawford said today that
she expected to be given a private
hearing by MIR. Given tomorrow
After considering all sides Of the mat
ter, Mr.. Given will make up his mind
whether to take the case into court.
II regret this whole affair."" said
Mrs. Crawford this morning at her
hotel, ''but / feel that 1t is now my
duty TO defend myself against state
ments that have been made. l have
hitherto declined to talk for publ
cation. because l considered that the
wise course to pursue, but now that
Mrs. Hopkins has explained her side
of the matter and reflections have
been cast upon me, I think the time
for silence on my part has passed.
II do not seek the value Of the
protrat in money. | only seek the
portrait, because its loss breaks a
series of nine generations in our
family gallery"
Holds Evidence Contradictory.
Mrs. Crawford said she was willing
to accord praise" to Mrs. Hopkins
for her literary work, but she was
forced to consider contradictory
evidence given for publication re.
garding her arrest, which Mrs. Hop
kins views as ridiculous and with
out foundation"
mo warrant is issued by the United
States attorney" declared Mrs. Craw
ford, without evidence. and no right
thinking patriot of the ID. A. II. would
denounce an official document upon
which Ia printed. The President OF
the United States" etc. ] have thus
far remained silent confident of the
Governments protection. I have
thought it unwise to be known fol
much speaking, but now, as to Mrs
Hopkins contradictory evidence:
First, she claims intimacy with
me, which ] amphatically deny. Their
she claims that / have several times
been her social guest. This / also EN-
phatically deny, for only business re
lations have existed between u.s."
Mrs. Crawford said that her posses
sions, including household furniture
had been returned to her by Mrs. Hop
kins. with the exception Of the paint
ing of her grandfather, DR.. Carter
Warner Wormeley Of King William
County, Va.
THE present regent of Richard
Arnold Chapter, y. A. r., Mrs. Ed
ward Nelson Dingley. is quoted a.
having denounced Mrs. Hopkins ar
rest as an outrage and yet | have
iiCNCi Iiet WITS. DIuSfty. 90 uDOu lIlt
contradictory and one-sided evidence
Of this patriotic lady are the lega
steps, taken by our Government. de
nounced as an outrage Mra. Hop
kins also states that the portrait
painted by Thomas Sully, was OF &
Revolutionary hero, whereas Suit,
came from England to this country
and did his best work between 1S4i
, and 1850.
Denies Keeping Boarding House.
That l have ever kept boarding
house l emphatically deny. but tina
, Ave of the subpoenaed witnesses il
this case are now living in Mrs. Hop
l<ins' lodging house at 1925 Biltmor
! street and that they went togethe
| with Mrs. Hopkins to the courthous
Is not surprising. | am pleased tha
Mrs. Hopkins stay in the House o
Detention was of such short duration
!, Had Mrs. Hopkins not sublet he
/ house, furnished with my antique
| and unknown to me, thereby makin
: a source of revenue of the same. mat
ters might not have become so compl
Gated, and had the portrait been re
turned some days ago. as promised b.
| Mrs. Hopkins, the arrest would neve
have been made
i Mrs. Crawford said that the serie
| Of family portraits begins with
, painting of Ralph Wormeley, Isl
painted in 1922. She said her grant
father. whose portrait is missing
| graduated from the University q
Pennsylvania in 1886 and earlier fror
the University Of Virginia She re
ter.ed for substantiation of these fact
and the history of her family I
records of the Virginia State Histor
cal Society. the State Library OF VII
ginia, records of Virginia and Penn
sylvania universities and various MI
torlcal works.
Mrs. Crawford also showed lette
recently received from her Drothel
Carter Warner Wormeley. who Is en-
ployed In the governors Office at Rici
mond, In which he says he places
high value on the missing portrait.
| o
Egyrts used car problem has b
l~r, Ia ~