The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1911-11-16
WON VICTORIA CROSS
THROUGH HIS BRAVERY
Tattoed Ship on Left Hand Aids
Detectives in Tracing
Prisoner
DENIES HE is PERSON
WANTED BY ENGLAND


his cold, dark eyes furtively
IL gIancing about at the detec
tives and prison officials, John
R. Swami, alias Swanson, alias Jack
Raymond, upon whose breast the
Victoria cross was pinned for his sig
nal bravery under fire in the Boer
war, languishes in a cell in the city
prison, charged with murder in
Bloemfontein, Orange River Colony,
British South Africa, in December,
1901, which. has caused the British
government to search the world over
for him these last 10 years.
One instant he laugl1ingly declares
that the detectives have made a sorry
mistake; the next his brows lower,
his lips are drawn in two straight
lines, and he asks in almost hiss
who it was informed the police about
hi |.
The elements within him that make
him at once the suave, polished man
VI ICHuSIl0uL anu tQuCdlAOH anu the
cruel, hard, imprisoned creature, seem
ingly devoid of sentiment or pity, are
strangely conflicting
Presents an Enigma
In a twinkling he is metamorphosed
from one whose career has been
marked with achievement and honor
into a hunted thing with his back to
the wall. For minutes at a time he
sits before the prison officials calm,
collected, in absolute possession of
himself, answering questions cautious
ly and slyly. badgering his wits with
the skill of the detectives.
Suddenly the seriousness of his posi-
ton confronts him in a lull in the in
furtive glances, the corners of his
mouth twitch and he mutters to him
self.
AS stanchly as Swami denies his iden-
tity in connection with the Transvaal
as certainly does a telltale tat
1t is the indelible stamp that has linked
him with a dark tragedy in the land of
the Kimberly mines, the scar of, fate
that dragged him into the meshes of the
law which the police claim he had trav-
eled thousands of miles through many
climes TO evade.
Tattooed Mark
1t is the design of full rugged ship.
symbolic of Swann's calling in life. by
which the detectives satisfied them
selves that he is the man wanted in
South Africa. Asked about the mark
the smile leaves Swanns face. He re-
fuses to talk about it.
The arrest of the remarkable pris-
oner came about under circumstances
decidedly peculiar and highly interest
ing. Swami, the father of three chill
dren, the identity of whose mother the
prisoner declines to disclose, lived in a
modest cottage at Ill Eighth avenue
in the Richmond district. To all in
tents and purposes he was a frugal,
hard headed contractor. The neighbors
knew little of him and he went about
his business quietly.
A short time ago, through informa
tion secretly received, the society for
the prevention of cruelty to children
became interested in Swann's mother
less children, two of whom were living
in the house with their father. De-
tective Larry Boland was detailed to
investigate the case.
Feared the Father
Boland was met at the house by Mrs.
Viola Page. wife of Forrest Page. an
Oakland plasterer, who had been en-
ployed by Swami as housekeeper. lie
learned that the children were neg
Iected and that their father was feared
by all in the house.
In plea for protection from the man
Mrs. Page confided in BoIand that she
believed Swami to be the man respon~
sfble for the recent robberies in the
of Lone mountain and Prayer
Book cross. Boland notified his sape-
riors at once and Detectives james z2a-