Evening journal., 1897-10-09
RECOMMEND MERCY.
Jury Convicts Sugden of the
Jewelry Theft.
STOLE tNDER ADVICE OF COUNSEL
nIr. Wilson's Old Valet Ia Put on the
stand aud Describes How. He Took
the Gems and what He
Did with Them.

NEW YORK, Oct. "a new version
Of the Wilson jewel robbery was told
in court by the prisoner himself. AL
bert V. Sugden, formerly valet to r. T.
Wilson, the millionaire banker Of 5ll
Fifth avenue. Sugden was on trial be-
fore Recorder Goff for stealing s., 800
worth OF jewels from his employer.
He admitted that he took the gems.
but claimed that he did so by advice Of
his counsel. He intended to hold them
as security pending the result OF his
suit against Wilson for the money al
legged to be due him for his detective
work.
The interest in the case centered in
the testimony given by Sugden. The
defense claimed that Sugden took the
property without intent to steal.
He had been. he claims, employed by
Mr.. Wilson as a detective, and to dis
cover. If possible, the author Of the
anonymous letters attacking the char
acter Of Mr.. Wilson's daughter, Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jr.
Sugden has asserted that he knows
the author of those letters, most of
which were written upon paper bearing
the imprint of the Knickerbocker club.
and that Mr.. Wilson owed him 81 900 for
his work
Mr.. Purdy outlined his defense briefly
and then called Sugden to the stand.
In response to his counsels questions
Sugden said that he was % years old
and born in Sheffield. He had been or
ganist Of a church near Sheffield for
three years helper to the manager of a
coal mine, third footman to Lord VIII
ton In London and valet to the Earl OF
Fitzwilliam.
He was engaged in London by r. T.
Wilson and came to this country with
him as valet.
Question as to whether he was en-
gagged in any other capacity aroused a
storm of argument among the lawyers.
The question was allowed in a modified
form. and Sugden continued:
Mr.. Wilson came to me and said he
would make me rich for life II could
discover the man who had been writing
letters about his daughter. and that II
l failed he would give me $1,000"
How long were you doing this
work?a
About three months"
did you get paid for your work."
mo, sir"
Then what did you do?"
II saw an advertisement in a news
paper about lawyer named Noah. I
went to see him and he took my case"
did you have any conversation with
Mr.. Noah about securing your claim?"
I'm his office in the Central Bank
building. in company with his brother
Mr.. Noah said to me: II you can get
anything to secure your claim il would
be good thing. as the case won't come
up for some time"
Did you do so?"
mot for about four weeks"
The witness then went on and told
how he had gone to Mr.. Wilson's house
at 1880 in the evening to see the butler
He said that he found the gate open ant
walked up stairs. He took only enough
jewelry to cover the amount he thought
due him. He could have secured ter
times that amount if he wished.
According to Sugdens account, he
took the jewels 70 a safe deposit com
pany in Jersey City, and then deposited
the receipt with his counsel Mr.. Noah
Subsequently he had reason to mis-
trust Noah and obtained the receipt
from him.
Sugden was found guilty Of grand
larceny in the second degree, with +
strong recommendation to mercy. fol
the reason that he had never before
been convicted Of crime. He was re-
manded to the Tombs prison until mex
Wednesday. when he will be sentenced