The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-08
WILSON'S VALET ON TRIAL.
SAID HE TOOK THE JEWELRY IN
PAYMENT FOR DETECTIVE WORK.

\ Letter In which suEden Asked Mr. wilson's
Forgiveness introduced in Evtdence-Detec-
tive Finy Tells OF isis Arrest and Cosrea-
sion, and the Finding OF tho Jeweiry.
Albert v. Sugden, valet for Richard T. Will
con of oil Fifth avenue, was put on trial be.
foro Recorder Goff yesterday on n charge of
stealing 81, 900 worth Of diamonds from his
employer. Sugden was defended by Lawyer
Ambrose Purdy, and Assistant District Attor-
ney Osborne acted as prosecutor.
Richard T. Wilson, jr.. testified that Sug-
den left his fathers employ last spring, and
that after that the family missed a good deal
of jewelry. He said that some Of the jewelry
belonged to n relative, Robert Goelet, and that
among the things stolen VAS a looking glass
belonging TO Cornelius Vanderbilt, WHIT was
stopping at the house at the time Of the robbery.
Ho also identified q picture frame belonging to
his sister, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., and
said that 1t was among the things stolen. There
WAS also q scarfpin bearing tho initials M.
o. W."
Detective Charles F. Flay testified that on
Aug. IL no arrested;Sugdcn and took him to
Police Headquarters, where he made q confess
sion to Capt. O'Brien of.tho Detective Bureau, adj
hitting that he had stolen the jewelry and say
ing that tho jewelry could be found at u house
said that he had gone to the Jersey CITY house
and had found "A box containing the jowelry.
/ The /, bq nSt was %y m pIdpsrt yAl'eS fh Keep aR%et tais for s %Si
that Alice was the name of a girl whom sugden
claimed as his sweetheart in England. Sug-
den stated that he had taken tho jewelry be-
cause Mr.. Wilson had promised him 81 900 for
giving certain Information about letters written
phen O,Brien, the former Chief OF the Detective
Bureau, corroboratcd Flags testimony.
Assistant District Attorney, Osborne then
read the following letter, dated Aug. 81:
your forgiveness for the crime aud trouble
which l have brought 10 you through my great
ignorance. Mr.. Wilson, kindly have pity on
me, as i have suffered enough. | wanted to
tell you when l brought those letters for you
on my mind so that l have not been able to rest
since. / know ] did. wrong, but was under
wrong Impressions. | was not arrested. |
gave myself up TO Inspector OBr!en. l did
not break into your house. 1 went to see Mr..
tho dining room. 1t was a sudden temptation,
but l feel l have never spoken to any reporters
since l have been undor arrest. l sincerely
hope you will pardon me. and remain. sir, yours
respectfully, ALBERT V. SUDDEN"
Lawyer Purdy, in opening for the defence.
said the case was a most unusual one. There
was something mentioned about anonymous
letters, and Mr.. Wilson had employed his valet,
Eugden. to do detective work. After doing
detective, work Sugden believed that Mr.. viii.
son owed him 81, 900. Sugden, said Lawyer
Purdy. saw an advertisement in a newspaper,
which stated that Robert I. Noah, who had an
office in the Central Trust building. took legal
cases. and, calling at this office, Lawyer pqrdy
ION owed him money, he had a right to hold
any property of Mr.. Wilson's OF which he could
get possession. Recorder Golf asked Lawyer
Purdy- to repeat Noah's name. Purdy did so
make a note of Lawyer Purdy's statement, and
then the case was adjourned until to-day.