Conrad Martin Schewed
Submitted by Carol Sanman 21 July 2024
Conrad was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio to Jacob & Katherine (Bergman) Schwed on March 28, 1885.
The family moved to Newport, Kentucky before he
turned two years of age. His next sibling was born in 1887 in Newport.
Conrad was raised in Newport.
As a young man, he moved to Covington,
Kentucky.
He worked as a paper hanger along side his
father and brother.
He held various jobs.
He was first married to Minnie Hughes on June
12, 1907. They lived in Norwood, Ohio for at least a year.
They divorced sometime between the 1910 census
and when he registered for the WWI draft. He had married Alma Frese on June 15,
1918 in Covington, Ky. Conrad and Alma were married for the rest of his life. He
resided at 425 Byrd Street, Covington.
They had no children.
Sadly, he was murdered in his
own home on May 10, 1932 trying to protect his guests.
He is buried in Highland Cemetery, Fort
Mitchell, KY.
Following are the newspaper articles
chronically this tragedy and the subsequent investigation and trial of the
bandits.
Kentucky Post, Edition of Cincinnati.
Wednesday, 11 May 1932, Page 1; continued to page 4
COVINGTON PARTY TURNED INTO TRAGEDY AS HOST IS SHOT TO
DEATH BY BANDIT
Interior Decorator Slain in Attempt to Halt Flight
of Pair Following Holdup of Guests; Wife and Friends Witnesses of Killing
MEN AND WOMEN ROBBED
Second Man Wounded as He Comes to Aid of Victim;
Robbers Flee in Auto After Tossing Away Weapon Used in Crime
Shot down before his
wife and friends in an attempt to resist two armed bandits, who robbed guests at
his home Tuesday night, Conrad M. Schwed, 47, interior decorator, 425 Byrd-st,
Covington, died within minutes of a bullet wound in his heart. Fred Botts, 47,
of 808 ½ Madison-av, Covington, who was a guest at the house, was wounded in the
legs when he attempted to aid Schwed.
Both men were taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Botts’ condition is not serious. Police are investigating the circumstances
surrounding the shooting and will question all of the witnesses Wednesday for a
second time.
A statewide man hunt has been instituted for
the slayers.
NOTE: Clew is the old spelling
of the word clue.
I have spelled it as it was in the articles.
This case appears never to have been solved.
**********
Ten At Party
Several friends of Schwed and his wife, Mrs. Alma Schwed,
were invited to a card party in the basement of their home. Ten of the guests
and Mr. & Mrs. Schwed were playing when two men entered thru the outside
basement entrance, which was unlocked. One man was small and wore a mask, while
the other was large and unmasked. Witnesses stated both were armed.
They ordered the people to stand with their hands
upraised. While the large man searched the guests, the smaller kept them
covered, it was stated.
Men were forced to one side of the cellar and
the women to the other. It is said that a third man stood guard on the outside,
but police have
been unable to verify this theory.
It was evident that the two thugs were not experienced
holdup men, as several of the women had opportunity to hide rings and other
valuables in their mouths and clothing. It is said that the searcher failed to
look through the purses thoroly. After a hasty search
the bandits started thru the entrance. Schwed heard someone approaching the
steps.
“Here comes the police now,” he shouted. The two
robbers leaped for the steps. When their attention was momentarily distracted,
Schwed ran across the basement and seized the smaller man around the waist.
A short struggle ensued on the stair.
Botts then ran forward to aid Schwed.
Fires Shot
The bandit succeeded in twisting his pistol hand free.
One shot was fired and Schwed fell, mortally wounded.
Bandit Knocked Down
Emody tried to stop one of the
men and a third is said to have fired at Emody. A struggle ensued and Emody
knocked the bandit down.
In his haste to escape the robber left a hat
and his pistol. The bandit, it was stated, ran west on Byrd-st and escaped in an
auto parked near the intersection. An automatic pistol was tossed away as the
thugs entered their car. Both weapons are being held for investigation.
William Bridges, 423 Byrd-st, and his wife heard the
shooting and ran to the windows of their home. They saw the men enter the car
and drive away.Bridges said the men did not appear to be very excited. One of
them was heard to say, “I knew this was going to happen.” Barney Kunkel, 427
Byrd-st, was aroused by the shooting. Seizing a shotgun, he ran to the door and
saw the men running from the yard.
He did not shoot, however, as he was afarid he
might hit one of the guests.
The amount of the loot obtained by the thugs has not been
estimated but will probably exceed $100. Shortly after the alarm was sent in
Cincinnati police picked up a suspect who was running across the C&O Bridge. He
was released when the guests failed to identify him.
Harry F. Donnelly, Kenton-co coroner returned a verdict of homicide.
He said Schwed was killed with a bullet from a
32 caliber pistol. Mrs. Schwed said the guests were members of a card club and
that they are entertained at the various homes in return.
The guests had been assembled only a short
time, it was stated, when the bandits entered.
Member of Masons
Schwed had been engaged in the
paperhanging and interior decorating business in Covington for nearly a score of
years.
He is a member of the Kishmee Gotto Lodge of Masons
and of the Low 12. The Schweds have been married for 14 years and have no
children. Last Friday, the parents of Mrs. Schwed, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Frese,
celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. B.J. Linneman & Sons, Covington
undertakers, are in charge of the funeral arrangements of which have not been
completed. The witnesses were brought to Covington police headquarters where
they were registered and released. Mrs. Schwed collapsed when informed of her
husband’s death. She was taken to the home of her sister.
********
Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, 11 May 1932, page 1
One man was killed and another wounded by bandits fleeing
from the home of Conrad M. Schwed, 45, of 425 Byrd-st, Covington, after holding
up a card party in the basement late Tuesday night. Schwed, who grabbed one of
the two holdup men, was shot through the heart by a .22-caliber pistol bullet
and died almost instantly. Fred Botts, 808 ½ Madison-av, Covington, who
attempted to halt the other bandit, was shot in the right knee. The men escaped
in an auto left parked at the curb, police were told. A third man acted as
lookout in the side yard, guests reported. He disappeared with his companions.
Schwed and Botts were rushed to St. Elizabeth Hospital, where Schwed was
pronounced dead. Mrs. Schwe, who collapsed upon learning of his death, also was
taken to the hospital.
One Bandit Masked
Friends of the Schweds, invited
to a card party, were at tables downstairs when the gunmen entered.
Both were about 30, the guests said, and the
smaller one was masked.
He pointed a pistol at the frightened players
while his companion, unmasked, began searching the half dozen men present.
Unnoticed, several women placed valuable rings in their mouths and hid money
beneath their gowns. The bandit made a nervous, hasty search of the women when
he had finished with the men. As they started up the stairway leading to the
outside yard, it was said, Schwed followed, grabbing the masked man around the
waist.
Turning halfway around, the man pressed his gun to
Schwed’s chest and fired. Botts, also following the pair, was struck in the knee
when another shot was fired.
Lietu. Edward Beebe, Patrolmen Matt Eager, Joseph
Eyerman, K. Breeze, Alphonse Hauser and Albert Seiter and James Higgins,
detective, responded to the call. Guests were unable to give a coherent account
of what happened, they said. Police are told Steve Emody, 235 E. Third-st,
Covington, arriving at the party with a woman companion, encountered the bandits
as they ran from
the yard.
An automatic pistol, with a missing barrel and magazine,
was found in weeds opposite the Schwed home. Arroused by the shooting, Barney
Kunkel, 427 Byrd-st, seized a shotgun and ran to the window of his home, next
door, he told officers. Unaware of what was happening, he said, he refrained
from firing at the fleeing men. William Bridges, 423 E. Byrd-st, said he
and his wife were awakened. He reported seeing two men jump into a parked auto
and drive away. As they left, he said one of the men cried to the other, “I knew
this was going to happen.”
Guests at the Schwed home were
unable to estimate value of money and valuables taken during the holdup.
All were taken to Covington police headquarters
for questioning and their names and addresses were checked before they were
released. Schwed, an interior decorator, was a World War veteran and a member of
the Covington Masonic order. He had been married 14 years.The body was taken to
the Henry Linnemann Sons’ funeral home, 25 E. 11th st, Covington. Pending
arrangements of services.
There are no children. Other guests at the
party, according to the police were:
Past records of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati
criminals were being checked by Covington police Thursday in an effort to
establish the identity of the two bandits who shot and fatally wounded Conrad W.
Schwed, 47, interior decorator, 425 Byrd-st, Covington. Tuesday night when he
attempted to prevent them from robbing his guests. John Drees and James Higgins,
city detectives, have been assigned to the case by Chief Herman J. Fausz. They
have questioned all of the witnesses, some of them several times, and obtained
complete descriptions of the robbers. Police are also working on the theory that
this might have been a “finger job”, with the lookout as the man familiar and
the circumstances surrounding the party and the house.
Drees and Higgins
are studying the Bertillon files carefully.
altho they are known to have developed several
new clews, the investigation is veiled in secrecy. All members of the Police
department have been instructed to be on the lookout by Chief Fausz, who has
declared that no stone will be left unturned in an effort to solve the mystery.
The witnesses have told conflicting stories as to what happened at the place,
but all agree to the major details, police say. Schwed was killed and Fred
Botts, 47, of 808 ½ Madison-ave, Covington, was wounded by the thugs. Schwed
died almost instantly, while Botts was held at St. Elizabeth Hospital until
Wednesday night and then returned to his home where he is convalescing.
Trace Pistols
Harry F. Donnelly, Kenton-co coroner, held an autopsy on Schwed Wednesday. It was learned that the man died from a wound inflicted by a 32 calibre pistol. An effort is being made to trace the ownership of two pistols found near the house. Schwed was killed when he attempted to grapple with one of the robbers and Botts was wounded in an effort to aid Schwed, it was stated. Several other shots were fired, but none took effect. Schwed was widely known in Covington, having been a member of the Kishmee Grotto Masonic Lodge for a number of years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Alma Schwed, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schwed Sr, Clifton, KY. Last rites will be held at the Linneman & Sons funeral home, 25 E 11th St. Covington, Friday at 2 pm. Funeral will be in the Highland Cemetery.
**********
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 14 May 1932, page 1
With the development of several new clews in connection
with the slaying of Conrad M. Schwed, 47, interior decorator, 425 Byrd-st,
Covington, when he attempted to resist robbers at his home Tuesday night,
authorities predicted Saturday in early solution of the case. A new theory, that
of vengeance, has been introduced following the questioning of guests and
neighbors. This, however, has not been given much credence.
Two coats and an overcoat found by a woman on Pleasant-st, Covington, are being
held by authorities. Their ownership, along with that of the two guns found near
the scene of the slaying, is being checked. The guns and the coats were
discarded by the slayers, police believe, in an effort to destroy clews to their
identity. Only one suspect has been arrested after questioning.
The records of various criminals in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati have been
checked, but nothing has developed from this angle as yet.
John Drees and James Higgins,
detectives, are devoting their entire time to the killing. Other officers
have been instructed to maintain special
vigilance in an effect to obtain clews in the case. Ulie J. Howard, commonwealth
attorney, who was active in solving the Lang slayings several weeks ago, has
guaranteed his co-operation with Covington authorities.
He especially is anxious to have the case
cleared before the May grand jury convenes.
Botts Recovering
Schwed was killed and Fred Boots, 47, of 808 ½
Madison-ave, Covington, a guest at the fatal party, was wounded by the shots of
the robbers. Schwed attempted to grapple with one of the gun-users, while Botts
was shot when he assisted Schwed. Botts is recovering from his wound at
home.According to the story told authorities, 12 persons had gathered in the
cellar of the Schwed home for a card party.
The game was in progress when two men, one large and unmasked,
and the other small and masked, entered.
While the small man covered the people, the
large man searched them. A third man is said to have been the lookout.
Schwed was buried Friday afternoon from the Linnemann & Sons funeral home,
Covington. He was prominently affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and had been
engaged in business in Covington for nearly a score of years.
Altho John Drees and James Higgins, Covington detectives, are working day and night, no new clews have been developed as to the identity of the bandit slayers of Conrad W. Schwed, 47, or 425 Byrd-st, Covington, it was revealed Monday. The two coats believed to have been worn by the gunusers, have been studied minutely by authorities. They found no identifying marks, however. The tracing of ownership of the two guns so far has ended in nothing, it was stated. Witnesses were questioned again over the week-end and a conference was held with Mrs. Alma Schwed, wife of the slain man, but nothing has developed from this angle.Chief Herman J. Fausz, who personally is directing the probe, has confidence that the slaying will be solved soon. Efforts by police are being redoubled to locate the slayers. Schwed was killed last Tueday when he attempted to resist two bandits who robbed guests at his home. Fred Botts, 47, of 808 ½ Madison-av, Covington, was wounded in the leg when he attempted to aid Schwed.
*********
Cincinnati Post, Tuesday, 17 May 1932, page 13
Covington Police Tuesday concentrated their investigation
into the fatal shooting of Conrad Schwed, 47, interior decorator, 425 Byrd-Av,
Covington, on the theory that Schwed was the innocent victim of a revenge plot.
Schwed was slain and one of his guest, Fred Botts, 47, of 808 ½ Madison-ave,
Covington, wounded by two men who robbed guests at the Schwed home last Tuesday.
Covington police are reported to have learned that Norwood gamblers hoped to
avenge an alleged “double-crossing” by someone other than Schwed.
No indictment was returned in the slaying of Conrad W. Schwed, interior decorator who was slain at his home, 425 Byrd-st, Covington, May 10, when he attempted to resist two bandits who held up his guests. An account of the circumstances of the killing, the work of James Higgins and John Drees, city detectives in charge of the investigation was lauded. The Schwed case was referred to the next session of the grand jury. No mention of the theory of an attempt to take one of the guests for a "ride" as a payoff in a crooked gambling deal was made.
*******
Conrad Schwed was shot and killed at his place of
residence, 425 E. Byrd-st, Covington, on the night of May 10, 1932, about 9:55
o’clock. At the time he was killed there were assembled in the basement of his
home, engaged in the pastime of playing cards, some 12 or 14 friends or
acquaintances. They had been playing for only a short time when two robbers, one
of them having a pistol in each hand, and with a handkerchief tied across his
face for the purpose of a mask, and the other with one pistol, entered the
basement thru a rear door. Those assembled were ordered by the leader, the
two-gun man, to throw up their hands.
“This order was complied with and the robbers proceeded
to search most of those present and to take from the table the stake for which
those assembled were playing. At this juncture, two of the expected guests who
were late in arriving were in the act of coming down the steps, and Conrad
Schwed called out the the police were coming and immediately grappled with the
two-gun man. The gunman immediately shot him, and he died from his wounds.
“There was a scramble upon the part of all those present to avoid being shot and
upon the part of several of them to get away from the premises as quickly as
possible. The robbers escaped under the cover of darkness.”