Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-09
THE DEFA Utter SWAN.
iIis Acroitntss In Covering Up His Tracks
Net Successful.

A st. Paul special says: The case OF
David T.. Swan, the absconding clerk OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
here, who has just been captured at
Sutton's Bay, Mich, is one of the most
remarkable criminal cases on record in
the Northwest. lie was chief clerk in
the local treasurer's office of the COM
pany here. In the early part of 1888
the officers of the company felt con-
fident of having traced to him leakage
OF information regarding financial af-
fair. and transactions Of the company
at st. Paul. On account Of this his
resignation was requested in the latter
part of June, TO take effect July |.
1883. II was not, however, suspected
at that time that he was an embezzler.
and it was not until some days after he
had quit the service of the company that
any trace Of irregularity was discovered.
Swan fed the State on Sunday, July
18th. A day or two previous to that
time it was discovered that two checks
on the Merchants National Bank Of
st. Paul, which had been. placed in his
hands by the treasurer of the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company for
The purpose of having the amount
of the same transferred to the credit of
the Northern Pacific Express Company,
had not been used for the purpose for
which they had been drawn. but that
Swan had procured the cashing Of the
same by the teller Of the bank. This
led to inquiry, but it was not at first
supposed that the money had been APP
propriated by Swan, and it was not UNI
Ill the next morning after his departure
that the officers Of the company discov-
cred that this money had been en-
bczzled by him. An exhaustive exam
nation was then set on foot and the
actual extent OF the larcenies discoy-
cred. The aggregate amount of his pee
ulations was ego, 900.
Swan had been extremely adroit in
covering his tracks, so that great skill
and patience were required in fcrreting
out hjs crooked transactions. Ii is said
Swan was graduate Of Jersey saw
mgs bank, And probably to this fact
may be attributed his excellent capacity
and skill in this sort Of business. The
crime not having been discovered until
after his departure from st. Paul, no
recourse remained TO the company but to
ferret him out. This has been one of
the most difficult tasks in the de-
tective annals Of the country on
account Of his own great adroit-
ness in part. but chiefly because he
has had the constant support in his
efforts TO escape the clutches of the law
Of a considerable number of people of
the highest standing and responsibility
IN ST. Paul and elsewhere. So conf
dent has Swan been Of his ability to es-
cape that be has been quite frequent
correspondent Of the officers Of the COM
pany. In each Of his letters he an
nounced his absolute security from dis
eoyery and the uselcssness of any at
tempt on their part to trace him. The
measures taken. however. the nature
and details Of which the officers OF the
company decline to make public, were
Of such character that escape was in-
possible and capture was only ques-
ton Of time.
Swan. in all letters written by him
since his departure, never denied the
crime he Is charged with. but rather
admitted il. One Of his principal de-
vices la covering up his tracks was the
Of all his photographs.
During his connection with the con-
psny several Of these had been seen.
but after bis fight not one could
be found in St. Paul or elsewhere.
Fortunately Tor the furtheranee Of JUS
nfhels was . young man employed as
e local treasorcr's Office who
talent IN crayon-drawing.
his pencil be soon produced a
likeness Of the missing chief