The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-18
A Name That Is Known
Throughout the State.
Dean OfDetective F0rce--L0ng
Term of Service.
How a Cunning Burglar Was Finally
Brought TO Justice.

Detective Swan. the Gossiper notes with
much interest, has been making a sound
speech for sound money up in the Tenth
Ward. His speech is not at hand, but 1t
might be taken for granted that II was
strong and convincing one, for Jim Swan
is a man of strong convictions and what
10 more he has the courage of them.
There is no name more familiar TO the
people of this town or of the whole State,
for that matter, than that of the dean of
the detective force. From the days when
the Providence and Worcester railroad first
began operations away back In lS47 James
Osgood swan has occupied positions
which have kept him constantly before
the public. In a long days walk 1t
would be ditficuit to find a man who has
nearly completed his three score years
and ten who cah equal in vigor and virile
ACTIVITY the man. who successfully lsbors
to rid the community of the iswless.
For nearly half century Mr.. Swan
has been engaged in police work and dur
ing that long period he has rendered
most valuable and timely service. In
deed. a most interesting volume could be
written on his work as q detective and
hundreds of cases could be cited in which
his cleverness and nerve have landed
some cunning or desperate crimi-
nal behind the bars. One of the
notable cases which the Gossiper
recalls was thst of the Boston burglar,
Charles Mowry. Mowry was unquestion-
ably one OF the most desperate criminals
who ever operated In these plantations,
and he was especially dangerous because
of his sometimes successful efforts TO con-
virce the police that he was assisting
them in detecting crime when, in real
ity, ne was the actual psrpetrator.
Mr.. Swan was one OF the few who
was not deceived by Mowry's pretended
desire to give assistance to the police,
aud from the first moment he saw Mowry
in Providence he determined to keep an
eye on him. Mowry's node OF operation
was very clever and calculated to battle
the police should they run him down
for crimes he had committed. He would
90 to bed In Boston. where he pretended
to live, making bis retirement as ,tice-
able as possible to the members or the
household. Then he would leave by a
window and on a late train would be
whirled to Providence, and after a rob-
tery would hurry back to Boston on the
nrst train to appear at breakfast, just as
II be had slept the sleep Of innocence
throughout the night.
HIS purpose was, OF course, IN case
any of his crimes were traced to him to
be able to esta blish an alibi which would
be so strong as to save him from convic-
tiou unless he were taken red-banded in
the commission OF crime. An unsuccessful
attempt was made to enter the residence
of Ex-Governor James q. Smith on Hope
street In April, 1874, and when the case
was reported Mr.. Swan at once came to
the conclusion tnat Mowry did the 'job,"
He also knew that IL the cunning crook
had, as he believed, been in the city ne
had visited Tom Marquis place, which
was favorite tippling place with the
Boston burglar. who seldom. IL ever,
came to the city without visiting 1t.
Mr.. Swan sought Tom and asked him IL
Mowry he'd been in his place the night
before. The answer was a negative one
snd very emphatic.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Swan decided to go
to Boston and arrest Mowry and he
started Immediately for the railway sta
tion. lie had gone but short distance
when ne was overtaken by Mrs. Msrryott,
who told him that Mowry had been st
her husbands place the night before.
Mr.. Swan proceeded to Boston and ar
rested Mowry. The latter refused to
come but later he was brought here af-
ter having been extradited, and was
tried on the charge OF breaking into the
residence of Dr. Wallace, and stealing
e117. At the trial he introduced his care.
fuzzy prepared alibi, but II wasn't suf-
ficiept to save him IN the face OF the
strong circumstantial evidence which
Mr.. Swan had secured against him. Ho
was convicted and sentenced to the State
prison, where he died. Befors the end
came he confessed his guilt. not only
Of the Wallace burglary. but OF the at
tempt to break into the Governor Smith
residence and OF q successful raid on the
mouse OF j. Erastus Lester.