The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-12
SUDDEN BOUNCE FOR SUGDEN.
DETECTIVE DISMISSED FOR
CRITICISING SUPERIORS.


Lawyer Young says He's Sick and AbandOnS
Case-Then suGden Makes No Defence
Files Charges Against O'Brien-He
VIII Appeal TO Supreme Court To-day.
Detective Sergeant Edward D. sugden,
who recently criticised Police Commits
sioner McAdoo and Acting Inspector O'BTien
was dismissed from the Police Department
yesterday, after a somewhat aboTtive trial
before Third Deputy Commissioner Ltnds-
ley. Before be had been formally notified
Of his dismissal he made charges against
O'Brien charging him with neglect Of duty,
and filed them with Mr.. Lindsey. 1t Is
extremely unlikely that any attention will
be paid to the complaint.
Sugden was placed on trial charged with
gross insubordination. He was repre-
scented by Alexander G. Young, who asked
for an adjournment as soon as the case was
called. Mr.. Young explained that Sugden
was not served with the complaint until
Saturday and retained him on Monday.
Young went to Philadelphia late Saturday
night and had just returned. Besides,
he said. he was too III TO 60 on with the case.
Mr.. Lindsey sent a note downstairs TO
Commissioner McAdoo. When be got an
answer he refused the request for an adj
journment. When the trial proceeded,
but two witnesses were called, Charles Van
Benthuysen and Frank B. Knapp, both re-
porters for the newspaper which printed
Sugden's alleged criticism Of his superior
officers. Trial Commissioner Lindsey In
his haste, forgot to get Knapp's name and
address on the records. The witnesses
simply told that sugden had given them
the interview printed in the newspaper.
Then an adjournment was taken.
In the afternoon, Young repeated his
request for an adjournment. Lindsey
refused, and Young withdrew from the case.
He went home intending, he said, to go TO
bed after he had called in physician.
sugden refused 10 60 on with his defence
without counsel. He asked time TO get q
lawyer. and when his request was refused
he said that he would answer no questions.
Then / will recommend that you be dis
missed from the police force, said Mr..
Alter Lindsley's decision. Sugden ran
about the Headquarters Building like
chicken with lts head on. He went 10
Borough inspector Cortright's once TO
O'Brien. O'Brien, he said, had charged
before the Legislature that certain detective
sergeants were getting money from crooks
and had failed TO prefer charges against the
men. Cortright was out Of town, 30 Sugden
went before Inspector Brooks, who directed
him to put his complaint in writing. The
detective sergeant went across the street
to the newspaper Offices and drew up his
complaint Then he went over and served
II on Lindsey, as Mr.. McAdoo had gone up
town. About the same time, Lindsley gave
out this statement, dictated over the tele-
phone by Mr.. McAdoo:
Detective Sergeant Sugden was TIRE this
afternoon before Deputy Commissioner
Lindsey, and ! am informed that he was
found guilty and that the Deputy Commits.
am now away from the ONCE. II that is
true, ! will approve the dismissal as Of to-day.
No complaint from the former detective
sergsant nor rS ON any one oi fos 5m SsY n,
will be entertained. II he has charges 10
make, as a citizen, against any member
OF the force he will first submit them 70 me
In writing and ] will be the judge OF their
suficienoy or insufhcency 70 warrant
further investigation.
When Mr.. McAdoo got back 10 his ofice
he signed Sugden's dismissal. He said
that be had no comments 10 make on the
case.
Lawyer Young was seen later at bis home.
He was In bed. He said that Sugden's
fight had just begun. A Supre me Court
LAWYER he said knew the law when be met
Il walking down the street, and would not
hesitate to direct Sugdens reinstate ment.
Justice to- day II he was out Of bed.
SuRden was attached 10 the Madison
street station. He has been inspecting
fire escapes. He Ia reported 70 be Well-to-
do. He has been about ten years on the
police force.