New-York tribune., 1897-08-18
STOLE FROM r. T. WILSON.
HIS FORMER VALET IS ARRESTED AND
CONFESSES.

PAY AN ALLEGED DEBT-sCUR-
RILOus LETTERS ABOUT MRS.
CORNELIUS WANDER
Bl1.T JR RECALLED
An important arrest was made yesterday when
,be detectives of the Central Office took into Gus
,ody the man who robbed the home of Richard
r Wilson. No. 81 Fifth-ave on June 23 last. OF
about $1,000 worth of jewery and cash. The
thief proves TO be Albert V Sugden the former
valet Of Nh Wilson, who instituted suit against
him ror 81 030 not long ago. alleging that that
amount had 'een promised him for detective
service The impeiling motive for the theft. too.
was no, the plunder itself which has been re-
covered intact. but revenge for alleged wrongs.
sugden who is a slender. fairha.red English
man. twenty-three years old, with a smooth
shaven face and n very gentee appearance.
gave his present address as No 321 Vanderbilt
ave- Brooklyn. His capture may lead to the
discovery Of the man. who. on letter heads OF
the Metropolitan and Knickerbocker clubs.
wrote scurrious letters about Mrs Cornelius
Vanderbilt jr. Mr.. Wilson's daughter.
on June ~ last, Richard T. Wilson reported
At Police Headquarters the loss on the night
nreyious Of jewery and cash to the value Of
about $1,000 Entrance to the house had been
effected without the breaking Of any door or
window but the thieves had escaped.
Acting Inspector O'Brien at once sent out De-
.ectives Flay, FoGherty and Browne, who
learned upon investigation that Susden had
been seen in Mr.. Wilson's house on two occa-
sions after he had left the latter's employ, and
that no one knew how he had obtained en-
trance This was insufficient evidence upon
which 10 do more than suspect the man, espe-
cialy as the pawnshOps had all been thoroughly
searched without any of the stolen property be-
ing recovered, by which a description of the
thief might have been obtained.
A RUSE ADOPTED.
II was while the Detective Bureau was in this
nredicament that clever idea entered the head
O, Detective Sergeant Flay. Among his personal
friends IS a man, also named Albert Sugden,
bookkeeper Detective Flay outlined his plan
~ this man. and the latter agreed to act on IT,
He sent a letter to Sugden. the valet, who was
then living at the Brooklyn address given ana
stated that he would like to make the valets
ecouaintance They both had the same name.
and II was just possible that they were related.
The valet replied in the same spirit, ana 'he
result was that the bookkeeper called AT 'he
others house. Soon they were quite friendiv'
and both began writing to England TO 'ry ana
establish relationship. This went on for ABOUT
six weeks until at last the men began to ad-
dress each other as cousin.
Finally Sugden the valet. told his neW-found
frieno and cousin that he knew everything ABOUT
the robbery at the Wilson house ana also 'hd'
ba had suit against Mr.. Wilson. Detective
Sergeant Flav told the bookkeeper to continue
the acquaintance until he obtained iurther
knowledge of the robbery. About two weeks
ago the valet gave the bookkeeper a seaIeo en-
yelope which he requested him to take care o.
II was marked Private" and on the back OF II
was written in pencil: please don't open VIII
see you Cousin.
INVITED TO TUE DETECTIVES HoCoE'
Detective-Sergeant Flay then told his friend
n invite the valet to his Ohe detectives mousse
a. No. 321 East Eighty-siXth-St Inc doom
keeper did it, and Fay was introduced FOR
the last two weeks this has been going on win
all three men having a pleasant time at the
Flav residence and with all three being at the
same time shadowed by private detectives "hoiii
Mr. Wilson had himself engaged IN MS ellol'
10 regain the jeWelry and capture the thiel'
Detective-Se Sergeant Flay also had De'ec'Ne
Fogarty keeping strict watch on the Naie''
Fogarty learned that Sugdcn was Coiiiiiiui'O"
ing with a convict who had been receiu! ie
leased from the Kings County Penitentlary.
Then Flay thought ii time TO can matt VII
Monday morning he asked the bookkeeper' ous
den, 10 give up the sealed envelope "h'ch lie
was taking care Of for his cousin the Naie''
and he did so. 1t was found to contain re-
CENT showing that Sugden, the valet under the
name Of T. II. Taylor NO. l9o PalIsade-aVe.,
Jersey civ had deposited with the NeW-Jersey
Title and Guarantee Company, or NO. - hO@nd- @
gomery-st Jersey City, jewelry yaIued AT Hl'v@o'. 49,
The deposit had beer maot on JUNE IL '"0 O'
after the robbery. ~, -
The detectives. feeling certain that the re-
ceipt represented Mr.. wilson's stolen properly.
resealcd the Ell .elOpe ana hdd the poohheVPc'
return il to the valet Monday evening. 70
terdav afternoon the detectives followed Sus-
Den IL Broadway and Chambers-st.. Where ne
was placed under arrest. When taken 10 the
Detective Bureau he was searched ana the
sealed envelope containing the receipt was
found in his possession Sugden MADE no at
tempt TO deny that he was the man tne ponce
wanted and gave full confession OF MS gum
10 Acting Insnector O Brien. He also agreed 10
60 with the detectives TO the safe deposit vaults
in Jersey City and return the stolen property.
THE JEWELRY RECOVERED.
Chief Of Police Murphy. OF Jersey City, was
communicated with. and. through his assistance
the properly was delivered over to the detectives
and taken to the Detective Bureau IN TINS city
Sugden was then locked up. He VIII be al, ar
raigned at the Centre Street court TO-DAY ne
jewels were found to be wrapped up IN nrtle
paper packages in a square pasteboard box. The
list Of the more NaluaD Die:
r.. 49,, tod. ... $500
.-t'ee vincent I-.-
.I--ee 'A-qlpls" sili' s'"'' 700
6-tee pear shH stUis .ioa,.
- 4dN tNi4'pla' anu 4i'l''5'
- - -Ydule H'is'slle Iloi''"' 100
one vincent ruby scartpln....' -''''' ''''''''-''''
Besides all this iewelry. a number OF other
pieces. proba oily almost valuable, ana az l'I'
property OF the Wilson family, were f"uh1
These included a turquoise ana diamond scaII-
pin pearl scarfpjn a dogs head scarfpin. a
diamond and ruby scarfpin. with the wilson
monogram. jug scarfDin. a crescent scarlpl'
set with pearls. Two ruby shirt studs, 'hIt"
pearl button shirt studs, one gold mdtch shie
with the initials 4. &, one silver match saie'
one gold cigarette case. one gold and silver cisd'
cutter, one gold Open-face watch. one huhllhs-
case silver watch. one open-face silver watch
and one antique silver opcn-face watch I'm when
the hours are represented By the faces OF cards
diamonds being the suit.