Pickman began his career as "Alberti" the illusionist, but gained his greatest success after 1893 performing as "Pickman" the mentalist and hypnotist.
He played up his psychic abilities as real rather than theatrical. As part of his stage act, he reenacted a "true" story of how he used his psychic skills to solve a crime.
Credit: This biography originated on MagicTricks.com. Please credit this source if you use this information.