New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-17
SUGDEN TRIES TO DIE
Devery's MAN Friday Drinks
Poison in Central Park.
SAYS HE is DOWN AND OUT
Once Lived in Rich Summer Col
ony on $4,000 a Year-Dis-
missed for INSTRUMENTATION.

/
Police Department. when Devery was i'm
command, and Familiarity called in those
days the Chiefs Man Friday attempted
suicide yesterday afternoon In Central
Park by taking carbolc acid. At Mount
Sinai Hospital last night II was said that
his attempt would fail and that he would
be able to be arraigned IN court this morn
ing
Sugden sat down on a bench in the park
near l0Sth street and Fifth avenue Ser
geapt Cassidy and Patrolman Donohue,
both Of whom knew Sugden from his po-
lice days saw him suddenly take out
bottle and put It to his lips. When he fell
over they ran 20 him, realizing that he had
made an attempt on his life.
, Great Scot what is the matter Ed
Cassidy cried What did you do that
for?'
Down and out" replied Sugden, becom-
ing unconscious. An ambulance was sent
for. but a private automobile appeared
sooner the policemen put the unconscious
man into that and hurried him to the hos
pital He soon came around when the
usual treatment was applied.
He was held at the hospital as a prisoner.
When searched. only 81 OF, three pawn
tickets and some keys were found in his
pockets. The tickets were for a watch,
razor and an unset diamond. When he was
in the Police Department he was called
Diamonds" on account OF his fondness
for those stones as adornment
In his pocket was also found an envelope
on which was written: Please notify
Dora Ritter. College Point. Long Island.
Telephone Sill Flushing
Starting Career on Foree.
Sugden was married and lived at Reisen-
burgers Hotel in College Point His career
on the police force began in 1895. and he
was finally dismissed April u, 1895. In the
mean time there were botn calm and stormy
periods in his connection with the cops
His best days there were when Devery
was chief. Besides being called the CHER
Man Friday" he was also called the Big
Chiefs Shadow" He was officially at
tached TO Devery's office IS personal
guard. acting in the capacity Of private
secretary II vas only through mm that
any but the big men in politics ana the
department could get 70 the chief IL was
shortly after this that Sugden began 10
wear large diamonds that won him MS
other sobriquet
Deverv later appointed him detective
sergeant. but when Police Commissioner
Partridge took charge OF the department IN
lsul Sugden's favor was gone. The next
wear he was reduced TO pounding the
pavement" Sugden contested this IN the
courts. but both the Supreme Court ana
Appellste Division upheld Partridge. Final
no ne rainEtatPO DJ
the Court Of Appeals
In 1905 came Sugdens dismissal from the
force for INSTRUMENTATION. The trouoie
started when bill appeared IN the Legs
lature for the reorganization OF the de-
tectlve bureau This was in 1900, Wheh
McAdoo was Commissioner, and steve
OBrien was inspector In charge OF the
bureau. O'Brien went 10 Albany 10 work
for the bill and said some derogatory Things
about the personnel of the bureau
Sugden took II upon himself TO defend
the bureau and TO criticise McAdoo ana
O'Brien. He said the Commissioner was
| "demoralizing the police force. that ne
was incompetent. and "a puppet OF polid-
clans" OF OBrlen ne said that lie was
incapable Of passing either the physical or
mental civil service examinations for the
pus, he held Within week he was dis
missed for INSTRUMENTATION. He fought for
reinstatement in the courts. but failed.
Invaded Rich Summer Colony.
While he was a detective sergeant Sug-
den distinguished himself in another way
than catching crooks. He appeared at
Cornwall-on-the-Hu Hudson as well-to-do
member of the rich summer colony there.
His sources OF income enabled him 70
maintain a villa horses and plenty or ser
wants. His salary was 5000 a year. HIS
occupation as a police detective became
known 10 those among whom he was Nv
ing through a public quarrel with his wife
Sugden was married three times. His
second venture was his sudden marriage
IN a rich widow by the name Of Mrs. Car
rte L. Peiser. His third marriage was IN
1905 10 Florence Wager. year after this
event. he was hailed into court by his wife
and charged with cruelty and failure 70
provide He was put under bonds TO keep
the peace.
Altar his enforced retirement from the
notice force he announced that like MS
chief. Devery. he had gone into the real
estate business. At the time Of his attempt
on his life yesterday his air and dress OF
prosperity had gone. and he seemed 10 be
telling the facts when he said he was
down and out"
Big Bill" Devery, who is spending the
summer at his place I'm Far Rockaway'
when asked Yesterday about Sugden' sald
he hoped Sugden vas well. on being told
that Sugden had tried 10 commit suicide on
bench in Central Park he first expressed