The Tragedy of an Obsessive Pursuit

The case of Charles Bolin, a Scandinavian who was shipped out of Tacoma to Portland by the police, is one of the most sensational stories of unrequited love and attempted murder that has come up in the police court in years. Jennie Swanson, a Scandinavian maiden, came to Tacoma more than a year ago. Before leaving Sweden she had known Bolin, and a tender attachment between them resulted in an avowal of mutual love and a plighting of their troth to marry. About six months after she came to this country Bolin followed her, and upon finding her in this city, discovered she had outgrown the affection she professed in the fatherland. The revelation almost crazed Bolin. In vain he pleaded, persuaded, threatened and despaired; she was firm in her stand and persistent in the refusal of his attentions. After many unsuccessful efforts to see her, one night Bolin climbed to her room. She heard him scrambling over the veranda, and her fears caused her to beat a hasty retreat into a closet in her room, the door of which she locked. Bolin entered and kept her a prisoner there until the light of morning, while he tried by every persuasion he could conceive to coax her to fulfill her vow. He was warned of the gravity of his offense and ordered not to cross Miss Swanson's path. Monday night he followed Miss Swanson and her escort, a Mr. Miller, and suddenly confronting them, drew a revolver. He was in the act of leveling it at Miller when Miss Swanson snatched the weapon from his hand. A policeman tried to arrest Bolin, but he ran; the officer fired three times at him as he dodged around a streetcar and escaped. Yesterday he was apprehended and brought before Judge Griffin on a charge of attempt to kill. Interested friends induced Bolin to leave the city, the court agreeing to discontinue the case against him during his absence.