Word: sweitzer
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Dates: during 1935-1935
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Acquitted. Robert M. ("Bob") Sweitzer, 67, potent Chicago Democrat, longtime (1910-34) Cook County Clerk; of criminal responsibility for a $414,129 shortage in his official accounts discovered by his successor as County Clerk (TIME, June 17); by a Criminal Court jury; in Chicago. Still promising to make good his shortage as soon as his own auditors could check his accounts, Democrat Sweitzer moved to regain the County Treasurership from which he was ousted last summer when, after promising immediate restoration of most of his shortage, he failed to produce a cent...
Still loyal to Bob Sweitzer, whose nature is said to be as expansive as his face, many a Sweitzer friend could hardly believe the news. A few recalled that, on a salary of $9,000 a year, he had run through a long series of spectacular business failures. But Bob Sweitzer himself made a great show of unconcern. Blithe as a jaybird with a worm, he continued going to afternoon baseball games, banquets, told newshawks: "I'm not worried, only annoyed. I will ask for a reasonable time to check the audit. . . . There are some controversial items...
...reckoning set by the County Board neared last week, Bob Sweitzer motored down to Terre Haute, Ind. to see his daughter graduate from a convent school. Back in Chicago, he maintained a fine show of aplomb, admitted a "100% moral responsibility," talked of paying $335,000, contesting the rest. Meantime, he held a succession of night conferences with his bondsmen, who were reported ready to renege on their $3,000,000 obligation on the grounds that Sweitzer had filed false information with them. Important Chicago politicians gave no indication of willingness to rescue reputedly penniless Bob Sweitzer from his financial...
...supposed to repay the county, Bob Sweitzer appeared in the Board room with neither the $414,129, nor the $335,000, nor anything. He asked for and received an extension until 10:30 o'clock next morning. At that hour next day, seven Board members called at Sweitzer's office for the money. Sweitzer explained that since some of it was "coming from San Francisco," he wanted until 4 p. m. to make payment. Back in the Board room at 4:30, Bob Sweitzer asked for a further adjournment until 10:30 the following morning...
...Sweitzer still had one last desperate trick up his sleeve. He barricaded himself in the Treasurer's office with 30 private detectives, held it until midnight when police with riot guns and tear gas appeared to remove him physically. After a quarter of a century on the public payroll, Bob Sweitzer reluctantly went home without a job. Where the missing $414,129 was coming from, still no one could say. But next day the State's prosecutors promised criminal action against ousted Treasurer Sweitzer on the theory that, while you cannot get blood out of a turnip...