Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-23
ARREST RECALLS
SWANSON CASE
W. H. West Is Taken by Police for
Investigation Following Identi-
fication by Young Woman.
DRAMATIC SCENE AT CEMETERY

Almost three months after the
Ratchet murder mystery of May 81.
when Ada Swanson, domestic in the
home Of Joseph Sykes, 2O23 Spencer
street. was hacked to death, an ar
rest has been made that arouses re-
newed interest in that case.
The police yesterday morning ar
rested w. II. West, % years old. liv-
ing at Fifty-second and Kansas
avenue. who has been sought for
other reasons for the last sixty days.
His capture followed dramatic cir
cumstances, and credit is given to
Paul Baummer, motorman on the
Forest Lawn cemetery stub of the
street railway lines.
shortly before the murder OF Ada
swanson Hedrick Berg. aged 90. living at
sis Ida street. was taking a short cut
to her home by walking along a lonely
path leading through Forest Lawn ceme-
terry.
Naked Man Appears.
As she reached a place shrouded by
AUlth uUutlbIuEus n AiAiAf HNaNh hhhNhi
sprang out upon her. Before she could
recover from her surprise, he commenced
choking her In some manner. she man
aged to escape. and the man disappeared.
The girl was too embarrassed by her ex-
perience TO relate II TO her parents or TO
the authorities, but on the following
month. soon after the killing OF Ada
swanson. Agatha Berg. her elder sister
had a similar adventure with the same
man.
This time the authorities were notified
Search OF the vicinity brought TO light a
bottle partly filled with chloroform, a
handkerchief saturated with chloroform
and showing a laundry mark which ap-
peared TO be wv. w" Nearby book or
lewd pictures and drawings was found.
Efforts tn Locate Man.
Frantic efforts 10 locate the man who
had attempted to harm tho Berg girls
were at once instituted. officer L. $.
Thrasher spent nearly n month on the
case and Detective Frank Rooney worked
for two weeks Other police worked hard.
too. and even private investigators were
on tho scent.
West was under suspicion, but efforts
TO locate him proved mavailine.
Yesterday Baummer. who had helped
In the search. carried West on his car
for short distance and engaged him in
conversation. When the street car man
mentioned the axe murder and the Forest
Lawn episode. West became confused and
left the car.
Baummer Immediately sought out
Agatha Berg and induced her TO accom-
pany him to the cemetery whore Vests
grandmother. Mrs. Rachael Roger. was
being buried.
Identified at Grave.
The coffin OF the aged woman was
being lowered into the open grave when
West stepped from a knot OF grieving
relatives standing nearby.
That's HIM" whispered Miss Berg.
to hammer. from her place of conceal
ment
When the company OF mourners left.
Hammer followed until he saw West
enter his home at Fifty-socond and Kan
saE.
Then the Omaha police were notified.
Detectives Lahey and Brlnkman and Of
fioers Thrasher and Emery of Omaha.
and officer Wilson OF Florence immedi-
ately hurried to the place and brought
him to headquarters. There West APP
peared nervous. and seemed on the verge
Of breaking down. He denied that he had
ever attempted 10 assault the Berg girls,
or even knew them. or that he knew Ada
Swanson. The Identification OF Miss
Berg. however was so positive that the
police are holding him for further In.
vestigntion.
Miss Hedrlck Berg will COME to head
quarters today to attempt 10 Identify
West as the man who pursued her.