Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-12
.INHUMAN BRUTE
GIVEN FREEDOM
UNNATURAL STEPFATHER Is
RELEASED
PROMISES TO LEAVE CITY FOR
THREE YEARS
Carpenter Who Admits Statutory
Crime In Connection with Wife's
Daughter Escaped Through
LoophoIe in Law

When II. E. Swift, a carpenter of 96l
Harvard boulevard, was discharged by
Police Justice Rose yesterday on
statutory charge preferred by his step
daughter, Miss Georgia Farman, IL
wears old. the latter, fearing her step
father would fulfill his threat and XIII
her. became hysterical and was al
fected so seriously that she was taken
IN the receiving hospital, where the
police surgeons worked over her some
+ time before she finally was quleteu.
The story of Swift's actions toward
bis granddaughter is one of the most
reyolting that has ever come to the
notice of the police, and 1t is only pc
cause of insufficient evidence on Ger
tain point that Swift was not held TO
answer to a higher court.
According to the girls story to Dep
futy District Attorney Veetch ana oth-
ers. Swift first began to have I'M
proper relations with her when she was
ia years old She declared she re-
sisted him to the best of her ability,
hut because of her extreme youth, and
owing to her slight stature, she was
unable to combat his efforts, and he
cowed her into submission by his
threats to kill her if she ever men
toned it to any one.
Threatens Mother
Finally the mother of the girl learned
Of S,yjft's inhuman actions, and pro-
tested feebly She, too, was threat
ened with death, it is alleged, IL she
told of the affair, and his improper re-
Iations with the girl continued until
short time ago, when the girl, Dor
dering on the verge of nervous break
down. told neighbor and the matter
10
police.
Then Swift, a large, ungainly. coarse
and brutal man-if man is the word
to designate a person of his type-Was
taken into custody, arraigned and re-
leased under bonds a short time ago.
In the meantime the family and 9th
ers who had gained knowledge OF the
affair were kept in constant fear lest
Swift should appear and carry out MS
threat to deal harshly with them.
The arresting officers state that Swift
confessed to having wrOnged the girl,
and went into the most revolving de-
tails concerning the affair. He seemed
to think his part that of person who
has done something heroic and, ac-
cording to- the police, spoke of 1t in a
boasting manner.
When he was released from custody
yesterday afternoon Swift staggered
out of the court room, and the frail
stepdaughter, catching sight of him
leering at her. became hysterical and
would have fallen had not her friends
assisted her
Promises to Leave Town
The mother of the girl accompanied
the latter into the receiving hospital,
and Swift approached the bars and
talked to his wife, mentioning some
thing about give years intimacy with
the girl" The wife replied cuttirgly
that "You should ask Christ to help
you, for God knows you need his help
for what you have done"
Swift. in company with his attorney,
S. A. D. Gray, was leaving the station
when he was taken into custody by
| Captain Dixon and detained in the lat
ter's office while Deputy District
Attorney Veetch was issuing a warrant
charging Swift with threats to kill
Much to the regret of every person
at the station there was insufficient
| evidence at the time to draw a COM
plaint, and Swift was released on his
promise to leave the city and remain
away three years.
While his client was being detained
| in the captains office, Attorney Gray