Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-09
TRACKED MANY MILES.
Swedish Detectives Make Hsul-The
Pnrsui: and Capture Of a Score
Of Scandinavlans.
Alien Worhmen Who Are shipped TO Amer.
lea by Gang of Government
Swindlers
Chicago Herald.

Chicago Herald.
In the spring OF 1885 the Swedish gov
eminent made discoveries Of corruption
ana fraud In its revenue service by com
parison TO which Americas own Babcock |
ring exposure OF some dozen years ago
was as q trifie. II was found that during
the three years prior the crown had been
robbed OF nearly 100000 kronors, q !
sum approaching so. 0O0,0 600, but equiva-
lent, as Swedish money goes, TO four
times that sum. kronor Is worth ~ |
cents OF American currency, but In
Sweden has as great purchasing power
as dollar in America These
frauds had all been perpetrated in
the extreme southern portion Of |
the Scandinavian peninsula, where
the great distillerles were conferred A
complete expose was made through
Lieut.. j. Eklund, chief of the rational
secret service. The highest officials Of
the treasury and scores OF the revenue
agents were implicated. The profound
est sensation imaginable was created |
throughout the kingdom, and at the call |
of the first trial, at the assizes Of Alves-
tad, on October 10, 1885, the town was |
filed with curious and excited pilgrims |
from all parts Of the country Many of
/ the arrested officials committed suicide |
IN their cells, while others Of their mum
Der and many dIstillers, who pro-
posed to combat the prosecution, heay-
! lily bribed their employees ard shipped
\ them to America. At the first trial
the crown met check through It's
inability to procure conyictng evidence.
Witnesses could not be found, aud In the
spring OF this year the national authori.
ties were forced TO the conclusion that
the men sent to America must be secured.
Long consultations between the king, his
diet and the chiefs OF police resulted at
last in the determination to make the al
most hopeless EFFORT to recover the emf
grants TO America. The important COM
mission was intrusted alone to the high
est officers In the crowns constabulary
and system of the closest espionage was
set upon all ports to prevent the further
tight of important witnesses.
On Sunday, July IL, j. Eklund, police
commissioner of Sweden, and j. II.
Tengblad, one of the most competent
operatives under the crown, arrived in
Chicago and took quarters at the Palmer
house. They demanded and were given
by the proprietors the promise that their
identity and presence would be kept in
confidence. They were allotted rooms,
where they lodged while in the city. Mr.
Eklund is thirty-seven years of age,
large and of commanding stature, with
q military carriage and smooth shaver
face. He is the prince of Vidocqs
in Scandinavia, and occupies a
position somewhat akin to both that
Of the Paris project OF police and
John Shea, Chicago's chief Of detectives.
! He first called on p. Swanoe, the Swedo-
n H. hN.rr
dered but little assistance. His next
visit vas to Chief Ebersold, who at once
promised the assistance Of the entire po-
, lice force of Chicago, If necessary That
the chief kept his promise, many of the
policemen who were detailed to the work
from time to time can testify. On the
night of Monday, Juy II, Chief Eber-
sold, Liet. George w. Hubbard and the
two gentlemen from abroad held a con
ference the result OF which was the pei
manent assignment of Patrolmar
John Nelson, Swede, to assist the lat
, ter gentlemen. A member Of the SVenska
Tribunen staff, which journal has
kept faithful watch upon these momen-
tous proceedings in the fatherland, also
afforded much assistance. The first fugl-
tive witness found was Gustaf Horlin,
employed at A. f. Bullen & Co.'s malt
, house, 10 Cedar street, and living with
his wife and three small children at 29l
Oak street. Ia Sweden Horlin was a
: common laborer at Tops & Sjoby's dlstil-
lerles, near VeXio, but his ample bride
had kept him from such mental employ
ment in America. The next day Defective
a Tengblad, acting on hints obtained from
. Holm, started for Pittsburg, Pa, to find
August Anderson, alias Carlson. In this
quest he succeeded and obtained Ander-
, sons consent to return to Sweden.
The detectives were working under
serious disadvantages exclusive of the
fact that they could speak no word OF
English. They had no papers OF eXtradi-
ton and were denied the right to offer
large monetary inducements. They must
rely upon their powers of persuasion and
the tender of small compensation. Mean
while, Mr.. Eklund, accompanied by
Policeman Nelson had started for the
North on July Is. They first went to
Grand Rapids, Mich, and from there to
Cadillac and thence by primitive convey
ance through forest paths to Lake City,
where they found Peter Anderson
: This man fed at their approach and could
. not be found. They proceeded to Man
: istee and there discovered another
of the men wanted, Carl
Froberg, a sawmil employe.
He consented to accompany
the officers. Froberg was also distil-
lery hand at Sjoby's, Sweden. Saturday,
July 90, Messrs, Eklund and Nelson re-
turned from Michigan, and turned their
: course directly to Minneapolis, Mimi, for
fourth Witness Magnus Syensson. lie
could not be found. His brother, brick
: layer in South Minneapolis, knew nothing
of his whereabouts, and another brother,
/ who assumes the name of Eklund, aud
lives at 1913 North Desplaines street, Chi
cago, was equally ignorant Two other
Witnesses, whose names could not be
ascertained, were secured, however, in
Minnesota. Upon their return they
found another man, Carl Eugstrom, living