Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-06-18
Mrs. Swale's Story.

WI ,. OdI dH OWdle was corn IN
Pennsylvania SIS years ago. She looks
older than this as her hair is snow
white and her countenance worn. Her
manner following the trial was one of
depression although she had little to
say OF the consequences to others by
her rash and criminal act. BY Sat
urday she was calm and on Tuesday,
she made ready for the journey to the
states prison without any particular
comment. Her daughter, Mabel, of
Rock Island, ILL.,, was here to bid Mrs.
Swale goodby.
When young girl Sarah Betz met
VIM. Swale and they were married.
From her own testimony and that of
others their married life was not hap
Ply. In fact they quarreled contin-
ually. There are three children
Grace (Mrs. McDonald) aged 80 of
Mt. Hope; Will, %, and Mabel Page,
p, Davenport, Iowa.
Mr.. and Mrs. Swale have lived in
Potosi for SO years. Swale is a mason
by trade but in recent years has not
been able to work much. Mrs.
Swale ran restaurant and confec-
tionery in the little brick building
owned by them on Potosi's main
street.
Swale had the building insured for
81, 900 but let it lapse last fall Mrs.
Swale renewed it taking out $500 on
the stock and $500 on the building.
Then last winter she took a policy
for $1,000 with Matt Elskamp, agent
for fire insurance concern. A few
months ago she took a policy with
10
agent for that concern visited the
town. The total insurance on the
building, stock of goods and furniture
equalled $4,000.
few weeks ago Mrs. Swale began
moving her effects to Dubuque. She
states that she planned to make her
home there with her daughters. At
intervals goods were moved from the
building and taken to Dubuque A day
or so preceding the fire big load
went down. On the evening of the
fire, it was testified to at the fire
marshal's hearing, she was seen sit
ting alone and moaning and wiring
ing her hands. The witness did not
stop to ascertain the trouble.
Mrs. Swale says she locked up as
usual on the evening of the fire at
about IL D. m. and went to bed. After
while she arose and went down the
stairs in the rear and struck a match
to pile of shingles lying beneath
pile of racked-up wood Without re-
naming to see what would become
OF the fire without undressing she
went back to bed and after a while
dozed off. She was awakened by the
/; call of ''fire!" Swale states that he
heard the cries and called his wife
showing her the blaze He says that
Mrs. Swale inferred that he was mis-
taken. s., there's the fire, can't
you see it," Swale said.
Mrs. Swale endeavored to get her
piano out of the restaurant and sue
ceeded in so doing. The instrument
was taken to a neighbours for the
might, Mrs. Swale remaining there al
so until Monday when she went to
Dubuque.
On Monday the sheriff and district
attorney were summoned to Potosi.
With Fire Marshall Shearer they ex-
amined witnesses. Matt Elskamp
told that Mrs. Swale had obtained
policy from him not long ago stat
ing that she had no other insurance.
Mrs. Mary Thomas stated that Mrs.
Swale had asked for policy of 5000
in addition to the thousand she al
ready had. AS the risk did not look
safe Mrs. Thomas on advice of Mr..
Thomas, declined the business. Fay
Drew swore that while helping the
Flesch family from their rooms he
saw Mrs Swale partially or fully
dressed at her window upstairs He
helped take the piano to Rettmeyer's.
Mrs. Oscar Turner stated that Mrs.
Swale had said her health was bad
and that she intended to quit bust
ness. She would destroy the bust
ness or do something with it.
Mr.. Swale testified at some length
of their family troubles but evil
denced ignorance Of the insurance or
other money matters. He told of
having three cords of wood in the
rear of the building.
Other testimony pointed as clearly
as circumstances would permit of
Mrs. Swale's guilt The fire marshal
went here at once and inside Of "a
hours had a camplete confession.
Had Mrs. Swale covered her tracks
it IS doubtful if she would ever have
been convicted. The taking of excess
insurance, the stories. the moving of
the goods, the running off to Dubuque
all pointed to her guilt. Even then
had she stood pat-who knows?
Mrs. Swale reiterates that she had
no thought of doing others harm. She
claims that family troubles aggra-
waited her to a point where she cared
not what she did. In face of this are
the actions step by step leading up
to the fire showing the intent to gain
money by fraud with little reck OF
The con sannnncas to nthars