St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-17
David E. Swan, the Defaulting Treasurer
Receives Pardon After Year Of
Prison Service.
Movement for Increased Appropriations for
the Improvement of the Upper
Missouri.
To Prevent Jumping From MOVING
Trains Amusements Past ana
in the Future.
Death Roll for Seven Days--Lfcensed
TO wed--G. A. II. Installation
General Local.
THE GATES OPENED.
David e. swan Released From Still
wafer Penitentiary Yesterday.


The pardon of David e. Swan was yes
terday signed by Gov. Hubbard. Swan, it
will be remembered. was one year ago SEN
fenced TO the state prison for thirteen and
Dne-half years for embeZzlement while 10
cal treasurer of the Northern Pacific Rail-
way company at st. Paul. His health be-
gan to fail under confinement and applica-
ton was made some months ago for his par
don, which was strongly signed. Many of
the leading business men of st. Paul, Mil
waukee and elsewhere, most of whom have
men in their employ in positions, such as
Swan occupied, declared their belief that
his release would not tend to encourage
crime.
Four eX-governors, who for an aggregate
OF eleven years held the pardOning power
in this state argued that under the special
circumstances this was case for executive
clemency. An important consideration in
all the applications was Swans declining
health. A protest against his release at
Ehis time was filed by Mr.. ClOugh, the local
attorney Of the Northern Pacific railway
company, on the grounds of public policy,
although the general manager had signed
the application for pardon. The continued
failing of the convicts health, as shown by
certificates
SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
within a day or two, is assigned by the
governor in his pardon as his sole
inducement to take action at this time.
The certificates of his failing health were
signed by DIR. j. III. Murphy. surgeon gen.
eral of Minnesota, and DIR. w. II. Pratt,
prison physician. DIR. Murphy reports hav-
ing visited him on the 18th inst, and en-
bodies in his report the following statement
of his condition.: every much emaciated.
SKIN sallow. weight 100 pounds pulse 100.
has a capillary bronchitis affecting both
lungs with an accompanying cough. His
diet is necessarily liquid, and stimulants
are required to keep him alive. His nerv-
Gus system is very much Frustrated. and as
a result, he suffers from insomnia. His
average does not exceed two or three hours
In view of these facts it is my best judy
ment that he cannot live very long as at
present confined or many years anywhere"
Dr. Pratt certifieS that ''he is now suffering
from disease and general debility to that eX-
tent that the probabilities are that unless
he is soon released from confinement he
will live but short time"
WIPES PERsIsTENCY.
Ever since Swans conviction and his i'm
prisonment his wife has been interchangeable
in her efforts to promote his comfort, and
has never ceased in her endeavors to secure
his pardon. She has called at the eXecu-
tive Office a great many times during the
last few months, and always impressed
everyone connected with the governors
Office with her busness-lke and methodi-
cal ways. Her business was always stated
briefly and TO the point, and after 1t was
stated she would Immediately leave, never
occupying the time Of the governor or his
clerk more than few minutes. Mrs.
Swan in these visits never became senti-
mental or sought to create sympathy for
her cause by a woman'S natural weapons
tears. Yesterday, when she called there
and was told the joyful news, she broke
down and cried for the first time during her
many visits.
Swan arrived from Saltwater last even
ing and was driven to her residence on
Robert street near Fourth, where sur
rounded by his family and friends there
was general rejoicing over his return.
., r ..--t TOO SICK TO TALK.
A GLOBE reporter called on Swan at the
family residence shortly after his arrival.
The young man who answered the door
bell informed him that Mr.. Swan was sick
in bed and could not be seen, but after a
short dialogue he consented to carry the re-
porters card up stairs, and admitted him
into the hall to await his return. The par
Iors Of the residence were filled with friends
who had called to see Swan, but whether
he kept himself as secluded from them as
he did the reporter is not known. The
young man brought word from the sick
man that he was too unwell to be seen. and
the excuse that he had exhausted himself
receiving his friends, and had been COM
PEELED to take to his bed. The reporter was
informed that for the present, Mr.. Swan
would devote himself to recuperating his
health if that was possible. Just now it is
said that he is very sick man.