The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,

Massachusetts and other Eastern news
papers are full of complaints of robber-
les and outrages committed by vagabonds
who wander through the country, in sud-
denly increased numbers, and not only beg
for food, but where they have opportunity.
insult women, rob farmhouses, and commit
other outrages. In some parts of Massachu-
sets this evil has become so serious that the
town and county authorities are forced to
use extraordinary means for tho protection
of the people. For some weeks past the
shores of the Hudson River have also been
infested by tramps, and the country roads on
both sides of the river, especially about
Poughkcepsic, Hudson and Peekskill, are re-
ported to abound with such vagnbonds, most
of them stout, able-bodicd men, who pretend
to beg, but are, in majority of cases, ruff
fans, and often burglars, spying out favorable
places for robbery and midnight entry
About Poughkeepsie if we may believe the
telegraphic reports, there exists band of
such creatures, who have begun brigandage
rs a business and one of them, who calls
himself ''the Captain" has even written.
letter to a citizen, demanding contribution
of five hundred dollars, threatening that if
this sum were not laid--in a white paper
parcel-in q certain place ut specified time
q house would be robbed. ''The Captains
boast of previous successful levies on citizens
we need not believe {; but il is fact that rob-
berries have been uncommonly abundant near
the Hudson River this year, and the citizens
are remss in their duty if they do not take
measures to catch and promptly and severely
punish the thieves. Such characters do not
greatly fear the detective skill or energy of
the usual rural police, but they stand
in great terror of the united action of citizens
1t is II good time on the Hudson for the
formation of protection societies, composed
of able-bodied citizens, who will form night
patrol and keep lookout for suspicious
characters. All that is needed to clear o
country district of such vermin is to catch
one or two and cause them to be promptly
tried and sentenced to the Penitentiary for
long term. State prisons have great terrors
for them, and a quick trial and severe SEN
tence to one or two acts as q serious discour-
agement to the rest
I0clO Is no uOuDb tldl DOuy VI brdlupS
and vagabonds in this and some of the East
ern States has kind Of organization, sufficient
to enable the members to dispose of stolen
goods and TO point out to them safe places
for burglary and theft The city burglar
likes to take an excursion to tho country
from time to time lie counts upon picking
up q quantity of valuables before the region
he is robbing is thoroughly alarmed, and he
means to get away in time to avoid capture.
Sometimes these fellows make miscalcula-
ton and come to grief; but unfortunately,
Justice in Now York has long been so lax
that capture does not necessarily bring
certain and severe punishment, and the
law has lost much of its terror. Where
country region is seriously troubled
with tramps and robbers a savage dog and
shotgun are excellent things to have about
the house at night; and a rural community
does well to engage vigilant city detective,
confer upon him the powers Of constable
and intrust to him the organization of pro-
lection police of citizens, supported by n
general contribution. Whore this is done the
tramp does not lingcr on the road and the
burglar seeks new fields. Wherever citizens
are careless and suffer dopredations without
Mt once taking measures TO catch the robbers
they may count upon their increase Pough-
koepsie will suffer from ''the Captain" until
he or ono of his gang is either shot or caught
and sent to State Prison for term Of years.
Corn ErEKrNa THE RrAcR Hrrra