The Washington herald., 1908-02-03
TALE OF The SWANS
Two Men of Same Name Get
Mixed in Police Court.
ONE IN PRISON BEYOND TIME
By Error on Part of Jail officials
He Was Held on Double Charges,
One of Which Was Against the
other Man-GOod Memory and AbII-
ity to Secure HIS Freedom.

Two Swans got mixed up iu the Police
Court on November . last as a result OF
which there has been some lively com
munications between the jail, the Police
Court, and the district attorneys office.
The Swans were not the kind that
gracefully swim in lakes and ponds, but
were two large, husky col0red men. each
answering 20 the name OF John Swan.
On account of the mixture, one John
Swan served nearly a month beyond the
time he was sentenced, and was only
released from Jail on Saturday, on an
order signed by Judge Klmball
On November . a large colored man
answering to the name Of John Swan
was arraigned in the Police Court. charged
with stealing from the United States I,
was alleged he had forcibiy annexed
himself 70 q piece Of brass belonging 70
the War Department.
Turned In the Brass.
John was employed by a firm that deals
in rags. junk. &c. and he turned in the
brass and received credit for il on his
string" Later investigation showed
that John had not negotiated with the
War Department ia the proper way 10
secure possession Of the brass. and his
arrest followed. He was released. pend
.ng the action Of the grand jury. on 500
bond
On November . last a large COlOTed
man answering 10 the name OF John
Swan was arraigned in the Police Court
charged with depriving one OF his neigh
bors of certain sundry goods, wares
and merchandise. against the statute IN
such cases made and provided. and
against the peace and dignity of the
District Of Columbia" In brief Johr
was charged with petit larceny, was con
yiCted, and sentenced to serve sixty five
| days IN the District jail, or In liet
| thereof 70 pay a fine Of $50. John did not
| have the money, and was, accordingly
placed in the cage TO await the filing oi
| the van which takes prisoners 10 The
District bastile
John had an excellent mind for dates
and accordingly a few days before Christ.
mas, when his time expired, allowing five
days week for good behavior, when he
was not released he raised a proper OBJ
| lection. but was told 10 forget It, being
/ assured by the jail officials that they
knew what was best for him, and woulC
administer It.
John Swan Delivered.
On January a large coIored mar
named John Swan was delivered 4
Warden Harris by Deputy Marshal jim
Springmann. This John was the self
same John who on November 2 had fur
nshed a bond of $500 in the Police Cour
to await the action Of the grand jury
| The grand jury had acted, John bens
/ indicted. and on January 3 found guilty
and remanded to jail to await sentence
| He stayed at the Jail until January Il
when he was taken before Justice stat
| ford. and. the case not being an aggra
waited one and Johns employers beini
! willing TO take him back, he was released
on Sl00 Tecognizance.
! John Of petit larceny fame still in
sisted his term had expired, and he wal
| admonished TO forget it, but he persisted
| and finally Warden Harris. becoming con
vinced there was something wrong, tele
phoned 20 the district attorneys ofic,
and inquired as to when the grand jur!
would act in his case. He was told tn
grand jury had acted, that the trial jur,
had acted. that John had been sent dowl
/ 10 the jail, and had stayed there 70
] several days and been released en- hi
/ reCognizanCe Of 800.
! You're mistaken" said the warden
! I've got him here now. and have hat
him since November ., and he has no
| left the jail"
An Inquiry IN Started.
| An investigation was started about
week ago, and it turned out that in SOM
way or other John Swan. who was con
yicted Of petit larceny, had been com
mitted to Jail. not only on the conviction
of sixty-five days, but also in default o
bond TO await the action OF the gram
| jury. on d charge OF unlawfully takin
from the United States a large lump o
brass, Notwithstanding that John Swal
the same day. by properly approved sure
ty, had put up $500 i'm the same polio
Court for his appearance to await IN
action of the grand jury. Both are nov
out of prison, however, and everybody
happy.