Innocent Swag

When paunchy Robert M. Sweitzer ended 24 years as Cook County Clerk in 1934 with a $453,202 shortage in his accounts, he smiled broadly but produced only $39,073 of it (TIME, June 17, 1935, et seq.). Ousted from public office and indicted on criminal charges, he charmed a jury into acquitting him and his smile became a grin. Last April he died, leaving an estate of $25,500 and Cook County holding an empty bag.

Clerk Sweitzer had been bonded by U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. When his jury declared him innocent of a crime, the company refused to make good the missing moneys, which subsequent checking raised to $533,817. Cook County went to court and last week another jury rendered a decision that would have made Bob Sweitzer shake with laughter: It awarded to Cook County $269,126.55 from U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty to replace the swag that Bob Sweitzer, according to Cook County's legal records, did not steal.

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