The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-09-10
SUCDEN'S VERSION.
He Has Now Obtained Writ OF
Habeas Corpus.
HIS POSITION is QUITE INTERESTING.
Reviewing the Stories In Connection with
the Younger vanderbnts Engagement
to Miss Wilson, He Narrates His
Share In Its Episodes.

New York, Sept. S.-Because the
grand jury has not yet filed an lndiet-
hent against him Albert " Sugden. the
valet, who when arrested admitted
plundering the mansion of r. T. Will
son, the banker, on Fifth avenue and
told where the stolendewelry was con-
cealed. has obtained a writ of habeas
corpus in the supreme court here
claiming that he is Illegally held by the
authorities. Sugden prior to the rob-
berry had been employed by Banker
Wilson, who is the father of Mrs. Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, Jr. The prisoner. as
a defense for the plundering of the Will
son residence, says that he took the
jewelry because the banker had failed
to recompense him as promised for de-
tective work performed in the effort to
discover the author of certain scurrilous
and annoying letters about Miss Will
son.
In his petition Sugden says that he
was born in Yorkshire, England, and
previous to coming to this country had
been employed by the Earl of Dun
raven. He also tells of the trouble in
October. 1895. between the Vanderbilt
and Wilson families, when the report
was first circulated of the engagement
of Miss Grace Wilson to Cornelius Van
derbilt, Jr. There was, he says, a meet
ing between the vanderbilts and the
Wilson's at, the residence of the latter,
and 1t was agreed that the engagement
would be publicly announced within six
months if Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr..
did not change his mind and love.
Family Interests Clashed.
t'The first time the day was fixed fol
the wedding" Sugden continues in his
petition, "all the members of the Van.
derbilt family gave their objections tc
the union and strongly opposed it. BOTH
on account of Miss Wilson'S seniority
and also because the Vanderbilt and
Wilson commercial interests clashed.
THE night before the wedding Mr.
Vanderbilt, Jr., was taken i'll, and the
Wedding was postponed to a future
date.
From thsD day until the wedding
was announced for the second time Mr.
Wilson engaged me, under promise OF
money, to carry secret information from
his home to the home of Cornelius Van.
derbilt Jr. l was admitted to the VAN
derbilt home through side door In
West F'ifty-seventh street.
This was carried on for four weeks
when 1 was suddenly sent to Newport
and received as present from Mr.
Vanderbilt sundry small silver articles
but no money from Mr.. Wilson, as :
was promised.
when the wedding took place al
Newport, nobody belonging to the Van,
derbilt family was present."
Mr.. Wilson then, Sugden further says
sent for him and made a proposition
to me and showed me print from the
columns of Cholly Knickerbocker oi
the New York Journal, in which II
stated in yelled words that society was
saying that Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt
Jr., had had a child in Germany an6
that certain anonymous letters concern.
ing the subject had been written tc
Cholly Knickerbocker and the Will.
sons"
Sugden in conclusion says that VIII.
son promised to make him rich for life
If he succeeded in getting the letter tc
the newspaper and discovering the iden.
tity of the author, and also promised in
case of failure to give him 81 900 for his
services. After six months work he die
not succeed, and Mr.. Wilson finally tol6
him to drop the matter AS the banker
failed to pay him the money promised
Sugden says he left Mr.. Wilson's EN-.
ploy.