Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-02
THEY GO BACK 10 SWEDEN.
To Testify Against a Ring of Govern
ment Robbcrs.


CHICAGO, Aug. In the spring OF 1885
the Swedish government made discoveries
OF corruption and fraud in It's revenue
service by comparison with which Amer
lca's own Babcock ring exposure some
twelve years ago was a trife. 1t was
found that during the three years prior
the crown had been robbed OF nearly
5000, 900 kroners, a sum approaching
$2OQ0,000. These frauds mad all been per-
petrated in the extreme southern por-
tion of the scandinavian penin-
sula, where the great distilleries
were centered. A complete expose was
made through Lieut.. j. Eklund, Chief OF
the National Secret Service. The highest
officials of the Treasury and scores of the
revenue agents were implicated. Many
of the arrested officials committed suicide
in their cells, while others OF their num-
ber and many distillers who proposed to
contest the prosecution heavily bribed
their employees and shipped them to
America. At the first trial the crown
met a check through its inability to pro-
cure conVicting evidence. Witnesses
could not be found, and in the spring of
this year the national authorities were
forced TO the conclusion that those parties
sent to America must be secured.
July IL j. Eklund, Police Commissioner
of Sweden, and j. q. IL. Tengnlad. one Of
the most competent operatives under the
crown, arrived in Chicago and took quar-
ters at the Palmer House, where they
lodged while in the city. Mr.. Eklund con-
suited Chief EbersOld, who permanently
assigned Patrolman John Nelson. a Swede,
to assist the foreign gentleman. The first
fugitive witness was found in the person
OF Gustav Horlin, employed at A. f. Bull
lens ~ Co.'s malt house, No. Is Cedar
street, and living with his wife and three
small children at No. 29l Oak street. In
Sweden HOrlin had been common
laborer at Torps & Sjoby's distille-
ries near VeXio, but his ample
bribe had kept him from such
menial employment in America. The
next day Detective Tenghlad, acting on
hints obtained from HorlIu, started for
| Pittsburg, Pa, to find August Anderson,
alias Carlson. In this quest be sue
ceeded and obtained Anders0n's consent
to return to Sweden. Meanwhile Mr..
| Eklund, accompanied by Policeman Nell
son, had started for the North. They
went to Grand Rapids, Mich, Cadillac
and Lake City, where they found a Pete +
Anderson. This man fed at their ap-
proach and could not be found. They
! proceeded to Manistee, and there discov-
erei another OF the men wanted, Carl
| Froberg, a saw mill emplOye. He con-
! sented TO accompany the officers. Fro.
berg was also dlstillery hand at Sjoby,
| Sweden.
July 20, Messrs. Eklund and Nelson
went to Minneapolis, Mimi, for a fourth
witness, Magnus Svensson. He could not
be found. His brother, a bricklayer In
Minneapolis, knew nothing OF his where,
abOuts, and another brother who assumes
the name of Eklund, and lives in Chicago
was equally ignorant. Two other wit
nesses, whose names could not be ascer,
! tained, were secured, however, in Mime
sofa. Upon their return they found
another man, Carl Engstrom, living with
his wife and family and employed
in the Rock Island car shops
Yesterday the two detectives left
Chicago for New York, accompanied BY
the better part of a score of Swedes, the
exact number being unknown. They
leave New York on the first Cunarder
and stop in England, where more wit
nesses are located. All of those taken
from America are given guarantee of i'm
munity from prosecution, and are prom
| ised the extra expenses OF travel back
and forth with 1000 kroners reward each
| They will be absent at least six weeks
and an. earnest of $50 was left with eact
family for temporary support.