[Indexed as: (Swan case), “Kidnapped His Son, Caught in Rio Janeiro; Remarkable Case of Man Ends in His Capture. – Took Child From His Divorced Wife – Boston Real Estate Dealer To Be Extradited and Taken Home.” Boston Journal (Ma.), Jun. 10, 1908]
Trailed by the police from Boston to South America and arrested yesterday at Rio Janeiro in Brazil, the flight of Joseph W. Swan, a well known Boston real estate dealer, living at 69 Hancock street, Everett, who kidnapped his own son, a boy of four years, came to an abrupt end just as he was about to plunge into the oblivion of the Brazilian jungles.
Swan’s wife, Mrs. Ada F. Swan, living at 14 Abbot street, Dorchester, was granted a decree last March and was given the custody of the child, the father to be allowed to see it one day a week.
On the 19th of May he called at the home of his wife and asked to take to boy Joseph, who is five years old, out for the day.
Owing to the stipulation in the divorce decree the wife was compelled to submit to his request.
Swan immediately took the next train for New York and the next morning was on board the steamer Velasquez of the New York, Brazil & River Platte line on his way for South America.
Chief Wallis was notified by the heartbroken mother early on the morning after the father and child had left her house, and he started the police machinery at work as it had not worked in many years.
Followed by Hundred Clues.
By a hundred different clues from a hundred different sources, he followed the flight of the father and child from Dorchester to Boston, from Boston to New York, and in New York from a cabman information was secured which proved that they had been driven to the door of the Velasquez.
On the steamer’s list of passengers the name of W. J. Cole and Robert W. Cole were found.
Chief Wallis, the matter fully in hand by this time, immediately submitted the evidence to the district attorney’s office and Assistant District Attorney Dwyer recommended the arrest of Swan if he fled to the very end of the world.
The violation of the explicit decree of the Divorce Court makes the crime kidnapping, the maximum penalty of which is ten years’ imprisonment.
The matter was then referred to the State House, and Lieutenant Governor Draper, after hearing the entire story, immediately telegraphed the case to Secretary of State Lilihu Root at Washington.
At the capital cables were set afire in the direction of South America, but it was discovered that the steamer stopped at Bahaia first and that the United States had no consul at that port.
After Bahia the steamer would stop at Santos, at Montevideo and then at Buenos Ayres (sic).
Consul George E. Anderson at Rio Janeiro received a cable message from Washington just in time to have the local authorities meet the Velasquez before it docked.
Two Found on Board.
On board travelling under the names of W. J. and Robert Cole the two were found and placed under arrest.
A few hours later the father and son could have landed and safely made their escape inland, where they intended to establish a tiny home and live happily in isolation.
The love for the sturdy little boy by the father is, however, even exceeded by the love of the mother, who has been heartbroken since her only child was stolen away from her.
As soon as the cable from the counsel was received by Chief Watts through the department at Washington he notified the mother of the news and assured her that extradition would be successful, the return of the child being ultimately assured.
The arrest of Swan in South America is perhaps the first instance in of the country where a father has been trailed across two continents and arrested in a foreign country charged with kidnapping his own son.
The question of extradition will be decided upon this morning at the State House, much red tape being necessary before the extradition between nations can be accomplished.
Watts Himself May Go.
Chief Watts himself it is rumored, may personally, with one of his men, make the trip to Rio Janeiro and bring the father back.
The desperate attempt on the part of the father to take his child where he could bring him up according to his own ideas is undoubtedly the direct outcome of the forced separation following the decree last March.
The court in giving the mother the custody of the child, ordered Swan to pay her $52.08 [?] a month for their support. The stipulation in the decree was that the father was to be allowed to see his child as follows:
One day each week between the hours of 8 A. A. and 5 P. M.
One entire day during each month.
Two days at one time once a year.
Chief watts is delighted at the unprecedented speed in which the man who spent money lavishly to cover up his trail was traded from Boston to South America
*****
TOOK BOY FOE REVENGE DECLARES THE MOTHER
Mrs. Joseph W. Swan, whose husband was arrested yesterday in South America for kidnapping their only child, whose custody the court had granted her early last March gave an interview to a Journal reporter last evening in which she said it was not love for the boy, but revenge upon her which caused him to commit this deed.
Since the abduction of her child three weeks ago Monday from her home 44 {?] Abbott street, Dorchester, Mrs. Swan returned to her father’s home, 9 Raymond street, Everett. She was not surprised, she said, although almost overcome with joy, when she was informed that her child had been located with the husband and she has felt confident all along that he could not escape the eyes of justice whether he fled across the Atlantic or to some distant land in this hemisphere.
Mrs. Swan, who was Miss Ada Raul before her marriage, is as well known in Everett as is her husband, who belongs to the oldest family in that city, where he is one of the largest real estate owners. She is a graduate of the public schools and was one of the leading members of the High School class.
She said:
“Nearly two years ago our first serious troubles came and resulted from my refusal to sign a certain deed for the transfer of some pieces of real estate. Matters went rapidly from bad to worse until I could not stand his abuse any longer and to make a long story short, I was finally granted the custody of my boy with a $20,000 alimony. He, of course, was given the privilege to see the boy once a week in the day time, and once a month over night.”
“Three weeks ago yesterday he called for the boy for his monthly over-night visit, and promised to return at 5 o’clock the following afternoon.
“He did not return, and I waited a day before making a move, and then turned the matter over to the proper authorities. I have not made any plans for the immediate future, but if necessary will go to South America if my presence is required. I do not anticipate any trouble, and hope and expect to have my child with me in the near future. The prosecution of my husband is entirely in the hands of the authorities, and I will not interfere with the course of justice.”