The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-02
FRIENDS EXPLAIN
SWOBODA 5 acts.
His Suspicious Move.
ments In Connection
With Touraine Fire
Subject Of Comment
POLICE BRING OUT
SOME NEW FACTS
But Nevertheless the Prisoner Still Re-
mains Something of Mystery and
Some Of His Friends Consider
Charges Against Him Unfounded
By Associated Press,

Paris, April 2, so A. M.-Al-
though the police investigation of the
history of Raymond swoboda, charged
with being responsible for the fire
aboard the steamer La Touraine, has
brought out additional facts regarding
him, he remains something of mystery.
Several of his friends profess to con-
slider the charges against him entirely
unfounded.
M. Trescat, a stock broker who knew
Swoboda well, says he can see no pos,
sible motive for the act of which he is
accused. After hostilities began and
business suspended on the Bourse, ac-
cording to Trescat, Swoboda sought
some other occupation. One of the plans
he considered was to go to the United
States and obtain samples of military
clothing, equipment and tools which the
Ministry of War would be likely to pur-
chase. Trescat asserted Swoboda finally
decided uFon this venture. He visited
many factories in America, giving as a
reference, Broker Morrison, who is one
of the most widely known general mer-
chants in Paris. Upon the strength of
this reference, he obtained the samples
he sought, according to Trescat.
Contents Of Swoboda's S Trunks
The police credit the statement of
VI. Trescat, for when they searched the
Office in the Avenue De L'Opera where
five trunks belonging to Swoboda were
stored, they found that two of them
had been opened and the contents dis
played in an adjoining room. The dis
play consisted of cloth, wooden gloves
socks, leather, metal TASKS, canned
goods, boots, entrenching tools and even
complete French uniform. Friends OF
Sw0boda explain the photograph in
which he appears in the uniform of q
German officer by stating that he spen,
two years at Heidelberg to perfect him
self in German and the picture probably
as taken while he was wearing his stl
dents uniform.
! Plans found in Swoboda IS office which
the police regarded as suspicious, his
friends say, probably were left there
! by an uncle who is an architect at Van
couver and who recently visited him II
| Paris.
Posed AS a Canadian
M. lMommeja, of the Boulevard Hause
man, a banker who employed Swobods
In 1917, declared to reporters on thC
other hand that Swoboda represented
| himself as a Canadian and said heydit
not know word of German, but som,
time later he overheard Swnboda talk
ing German fiuently over the telephone
| bo, fbo 1,a b Ill
of his employe to the conflicting sta,e
ments he had made, Swoboda explained
that he had studied at Heidelberg
'Mommeja became suspicious, however
and discharged Swoboda in 1918.
Three days ago M. Mommeja hearc
that his former employe had been seel
in Paris cafe in company with yer,
suspicious persons. He at once report
ed the matter to the local police.
Long Regarded With Suspicion
! According to statements made t,
newspaper reporters by residents of th
suburb of Virofay, where Swobod
lived at one time, the man had Ion.
been regarded with suspicion. He wa
very intimate in the Austrian -Germa,
colony and spent much of his time wit
| dH AuSlTldH HdDleu IduOuk.
A few days after the outbreak O
hostilites Swoboda was discovered a
late hour one night close to wher
some important defense work was be
ing carried out. Upon being arreste,
he explained he was an American an,
pleaded Ignorance. Upon the produc
tion of satisfactory papers he was al
lowed to go.
Disguised as a Mason
This incident, however, accordin
to the recitals of the people of Virc
fay made strong impression upo
Swoboda's neighbors and they decide
to watch him. One night he was see
to go to the house of man name
Prusst. Shortly after the two me
made their way cautiously in the d
reetion of the local defense works, look
ing around meanwhile to see if the
were being observed Tt was know,
that Prusset was an Austrian born i
Vienna. M
Some time later Swoboda, disguise
as mason, was seen coming from tn
defenses. The police were informed 0
this, but for some reason they took n
action. Weeks passed and finally o
January Is they arrested Prusst an
sput him In q concentration eamn r