Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-29
LOFGREEN READY
TO PROVE AN ALIBI
Suspect Arrested in Swanson Muir
der Case Has Friends Who Will
Tell of Whereabouts.
POLICE MAKE INVESTIGATION

Upon the accuracy of Ernest
Oberg. cement worker living at 1910
North sixteenth street, and a woman
and her s-year-old daghtuer, whose
Identity, the authorities Wish To- pro-
tect at hisiima. HINGES the fate Of
Axel Lofgreen, newest suspect in the
Ada Swanson hatchet murder.
oberg. friend of. Lofgreen's for the, last
three years. and who was working with
him on the day OF the murder. asserts
that Lofgreen was never out of his sight
from 10 O'Clock in the morning until late
in the afternoon.
Two Stories Differ.
The woman whose story caused Lof-
green's arrest. as vehementiy asserts
that he is 'the man in blue" and that
he ran away from the Sykes home about
the time the crime was committed. She
has known Lofgreen for four years, she
says, and 80 has her little daughter. who
substantiates the Identification. The po-
lice believe that both Oberg and the
woman tell the truth insofar they can,
but they believe also that one of them is
mistaken. .- @
Cberg's story of his own movement, as
we'll as those OF Isofgreen's. has been
torn to shreds by detectives and gone
over piece by piece, the result being an
almost perfect allbi. The woman's story
and her daughters remains mistaken.
+le Matter I'm Doubt.
/ II cannot say that we have anything
that would point to Iofgreen's guilt,
a.. md
denial of being in the neighborhood."
said Chief of Detectives Maloney "If
we could find a bad spot In Lofgreens
story, Il would be different. Neverthe-
less. this woman's statement IS so strong
and apparently given in such good faith
that we shall hold the young man until
further developments"
For the purpose Of trying 20 identify
Lofgreen as the man in blue" suspect,
Mrs. Ida NJ. Dennis. 90l7 spencer street,
and Mrs. J. o, Nystrom. 2i02 Writ street.
will he asked TO examine his physical
characteristics, clothing and actions. He
viii be required TO 30 through the vari-
GUS movements of the suspect who was
seen near the Sykes house at the time
of the murder.
Two Women Saw Suspect,
The arrest of Lofgreen was accom-
plished by the detectives after nearing
the stories of Mrs. Dennis and Mrs.
Nystrom regarding persons they saw last
Friday. Mrs. Dennis, an invalid living in
the house next door cast from the Sykes
residence, said she say man wearing a
blue serge suit. black siouch hat and tan
shoes enter the Sykes rear yard and
ring the back door DELL, shortly before
noon on the day of the murder.
About o'clock of the same day Mrs
Tystrom who lives across the street
vest and half block south OF the sykes
house. facing I'm the opposite direction,
she told the police. saw man Of the
same description running wildly through
her yard as II excited and carrying some
tnirg under his coat.
Lofgreen was arrested at 1 o'clock.
Efforts will be made to identify htm inn
mediately.
Was Interviewed Before.
LofSreen was held by the police earlier
in the week. without being arrested, and
at that time Mrs. Dennis saw him pass
in review from her window, while the
police had Lofgreen and several other
suspects simulate the actions OF the
man in blue" as observed about the
time Of the murder By Mrs. Dennis. The
latter failed to Identify Lofgreen posi-
lively last Monday but said he might
easily be the man. Mrs. NystTom has
not yet tried 10 identity him.
The arrested man stOutly protests his
Innocence and asserts that he was work
ing at at his trade near Sixteenth and Lo-
CoontiHned on Page Two. Column rwo)