The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-21
COP BAIHKE' AUN|ER
IT PROMISES TO BECOME A CAUSE
CELERRE IN LOCAL
ANNALS
ARREST OF JULIUS SWANSON
Seems to Have as Little ~Excuse in
Reason as the Original Mistake
of the West Seventh Street
PatrOlman.

The hearing of Julius Swanson, who is
supposed to be the man that broke into
the Rohlahd block last Wednesday, was
continued by Judge Hine. of the municipal
court, yesterday and ball was fixed at
81, 500.
The arrest Of young Swanson upon the
f1imsy Identification of blundering po-
liceman, who allowed himself to be pilot
ed about half an hour in the society Of
at least one Of the burglars, has raised
storm Of Indignation at the Prudential
Insurance company offices that Chief
Getchell and his blockhead policemen will
find 1t hard to queIl. Assistant Superin-
tendent Robert 1. Hall, OF the company,
declares that the arrest OF Swanson IS an
unwarranted outrage for which Officer
Bathke or some one will be made to suf-
fer. He says the Prudential company has
absolute faith in young Swanson, and viii
go clear through with him. and that when
the case is over officer Bathke will be
made to appear more ridiculous than ever.
1.-THE Idea of this stupid Individual
Bathke trying to show that he can go
out and play detective. after letting the
real burglars make a monkey out OF him,
is absurd declared Mr.. Hail. in speaking
Of the arrest of Swanson, ''an officer who
could be so easily duped and thrown
down is certainly a ffue specimen fer ex-
pert detective work. Because he has to
make some kind Of showing to keep
from being fired, after the miserable ex-
hibtion he made of himself IN letting the
real burglars get away, he rushes out
and throws the first man he meets into
Jail. That man so obviously lacking in
judgment and common sense should De
allowed by an unWarranted outrage such
as this, to ruin the character of an honor
able young man, is a splendid cOmmeu-
tary upon the kind Of policemen who are
foisted on the local public. 1 have known
Mr.. Swanson for years, brought him here
myself from my former home at Eau
Claire, Wis, to work for this company,
and L know him to be a young man
against whom no suspicion of wrong has
ever attached. He has handled money for
the company, is q faithful employe and a
thorough gentleman. The idea of this
idiotic policeman charging Swanson with
being burglar is preposterous. Our Of
fee has a record of Mr.. Swanson's move
ments the entire day of this robbery, and
it can be shown where the young man
was every minute of the twenty -four
hours. The statement of an evening pa
per to the effect that Mrs. Schieber has
l visited Mrs. Schieber myself and she
says she did not see the robbers face, or
note his appearance in any particular so
could not under any circumstances iden-
tify any one. The police department
wants to cover over one OF the worst
blunders the present inefficient organiza-
ton has made, and Bathka is trying to
hold his job, so the combination snatches
at any straw to accomplish this result
The manager of our company has in
structed me to aid IN every day Mr..
Swanson in clearing his reputation, and
money and effort in the young mans be
half will not be lacking. We offered to
put UP $1,000 cash bail to get him out of
jail last evening, but 81. 800 was demanded
in the form Of bonds, and such arrange
ments could not be made after business
hours. If there is any such thing as JUS
tice the persons responsible for Mr. Swan
sons predicament will be made to suffer,
and the next time this policeman Bathke
gets a couple Of burglars red-handed he
will probably try to keep them, instead
Of playing the clown, and afterward try
ing to make himself out a real sleuth."