The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-30
SEABRUOKE AND SLAGG.

PuRDY ARRESTED ON A CHARGE or LARcExy--
A DRAMATIC SCENE IN coUgr.
Ssabrooke Purdy, who some months ago attained
considerable notoreiy az prosecuting witness tho
$4,000 furniture robbery OF wasbiSgson place, WAS
yesterday prisoner ~ the rembs rolics Cossa Tue
charge against him was grand larceny, the conpAia-
ant being Lille stage, actress. With whom he had
been keeping company Tor some twe years. rho in
vesga,ion developed among other csssous features
serious impulallon against The impaftsaiity Of the
detective who made the arrest The prisoners counsel
openly charging that be had acted Throughout. not
from q sense Of oincisl duty, but from malice and
ennty Counsel further gave notice thai no attended
10 take legal steps against the cfhccs
THE coxrLAfxASr
The adavis Of the complainant act orth that on iss
27lh oil last March we're taken from her rsssa e3s
money and two rings vaIusd ~ e2o and thai the only
person having access 70 the properly ~ shs time Of
It's disappearance was tbs prisoner At ths bar wbsD
called the stand To corroborate her afdavit the
complainant vol dressed younn soman VI ssses,sen
Bible IN her naud but before Judge wandei had COO
sudsd the formula Of the oath sue dropped tbs sssssd
book, uttered liant scream and tell 10 ssv0a inso
the arms OF Detective Cunning, tue ouncsr vno had
arrested Purdy. In au aojanipg room she soon re-
again placed on inc stand aud counssiIors
Conan and Reddy, who appeared Tor ths
psaue hss,snsy In answering sner aus.oSs sc
spurred GU, she finally amid sobs, maao the following
statement:"l DO not want 10 prosecute this charge
This detective came TO me IN Newark and pressed me
TO make It. 1 repeatedly aeciined, but he urged me
on. saying that Mr. PGrdv had orsaken me aud cared
nothing Tor me, unt At last he worked my lcti
Ings that l complied with his request" HIRE sne
witness again broke down auI wept copiousiy.
Coun seitor Reddy then asked Detective Cunntug ~
he had not refused TO exhibit hts warrant 10 the
prisoner when called upon. He admitted tnat he mad
refused but claimed II a. his privilege ~ an Officer
'Are you not employed by outside parties TO prose-
cute Purdy 7" continued counsel
IL am employed by the city and county OF Nee
York; answered Tho detective, ana stand IN with
no one. IsimpIy dad my duty"
Counsel then asserted, challenged tho detective
TO deny IT, that he tCunuing) had begun MS efforts
induce Miss Stngg to make the Charge before any
warrant bad been paced mis- hands Tor Purdy's ar
rest and before she had said anything about her
loss. The officer made no DENIAL but rsssssrssd that
he mad acted only In tho line OF his duty.
'TELL rng TRUTH"
AT this point the prisoner, who manifested much
feeling, asked PERMISSION 10 put q question 10 ths
complainant. Tue request beng granted, he SAID
.Llllic, did steal this money aud these rings IRON
yous Tell the truth"
A silence ieIl on the court, but no answer came
from the young woman. sue was greatly agiassd.
speak up LII lie, (" SAID the prisoner huskiiy.
Again ali was silence; the young woman moved her
lips, but emitted no sound.
sRsmcmoer," said Judge Wandcll, "you are on your
oath, answer The question"
Another stiffness aud she said, as she burst tpso
tears mo, gave them 10 MIN
Then the counsel moved for Purdy's discharge, but
tho Court said rs he denied the motion, .tnls
appears 10 have 100 many aBtcccdcnla l do not tel
warranted in dismisssng the Case even the coin
plainants admission. will let this 10 jury
An argument then ensued between the detective
and the counsel as to which Of them would be re-
sponsibc Tor tho compartments appearance to-day At
the more forlpal examination. Eacn presssd has
Claim.
taking his verbal recognizancc Tor her appsarAncs
Purdy was then sent 10 tue coils