The New York herald., 1877-09-10
MURDEROUS TRAMPS.
Startling Crimes Along the Line Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
BLOODY BATTLES WITH TIE N0MADS.
Organization Of Citizens for Defence Against
Their PicndiSh Attacks.
CoLunBIA. Pa, Sept. S, 1877.

CoLUnBIA. Pa, Sept 5, 1877.
The continuance and nagrancy OF tramp outrages In
Lancaster county creates much excitement. The
crimes committed by the nomadic outlaws embrace
arson outrage, robbery and murder Hardly city VII
lase or hamlet IN the county ped the depreda
to.y incarsions of the lawbreakers So extensive
fagitious has their crminaity been that the people
generally arc rising against the tramps ana serious
and sanguinary conflicts have already occurred be-
tween the maraudcrs vsilsnts and regularly cons,.
tu,ed constabulary. The tramps have regular rem
devious at smolctown small watering station on the
Pennsylvania Railroad AZ this place they organize
their forces and make raids into tho surrounding iarm
ing country and compel the citizens furnish what
ever they want Between i've hundred and a
thousand OF the migratory awbreakers arrive al and
depart from Smoketown tho course OF a day. tho
eastward and westward bound freight trains, which
stop Tor water, anording them chance to .ump"
from town to town at a quick and cheap ratc The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company has issued strict
orders TO Its train men to eject all tramps from tho
trans, but the wanderers manage to eludo the rail-
roadcrs vigilance anu board the trains. Tho people Of
tho tramp infested neighborhoods have formed
vigilance committees TO drive out tho inva-
ders, but the tramps have become SO uu-
mcrous and savage In their disposition that the vigi
lants anu regularly appointed law officers Aro appa-
renily powerless TO cope with them. Tho situation is
certainly alarming, aud the question agitatng the
lawabidng and peaceloving citizens s What shall be
done 10 break up the prevailing lawlessness?'' A
month or ago the tramps confined their nefarious
operations to the more isolated ana loss protected
communities but recently they have openly perpe-
tratsd ,hor outrages the larger towns and cities
BATTLE
A terrible battle occurred some nights since in
hundred ramps had been destroying aud stealing the
crops OF the farmers Tho attor tried 10 drive tho
invaders on, but the nomads proving too strong for
thom the authorities at Lancaster to
for assistance. detail OF policemen aud NUMBER OF
armed citizens loft Lancaster scene OF trouble
When tho tramps saw tho approaching forces they
formed themselves In line OF battle and Tor
the charge OF the police ana citzens. The police had
sooner under lire than the assaed opened upon
thom with voliey OF pistol shots. The police and
citizens reached their revovers amt charging upon
the tramps hrcd al them ,nascriminatciy. A numper
oi volcys were exchanged. Finally the assaied ana
assaiians got to close quarters Alter warm combat
the tramps rctreatcd, leaving hve OF their number
wounded and IN tho hands Of the police who took
named Powers was fatally wounded dur, ,ng the fight
| While this sangunaiy ALTAR was being enacted q
similar ono occurred iurther along the line OF tho
Pennsylvania Railroad squad OF ramps boarded
the Eastern bound freight train, which slowed upn
hear here TO allow passenger train to pass on tue
Junction road. The tramps they were IN the late
railroad strike ut Pttsburg ana threatened TO take
graphed TO Columbia, and Detective Brady aud some
| railroaders were despatched 10 the point OF dis.
tur0unce. and after sharp but short feh captured
eight of the brigandsh crew. Tho others managed 10
escape 10 taking the party to the Columbia PRISON
an attempt was made by several OF them escape
Detective Brady trcd several shots at them, which
brought them 10 sudden halt They committed
to jail, but subsequently managed 10 break Of the
building. From their description this party OF tramps
supposed to be the That committed numerous
Illicit and terrible acts IN The Welsh Noun taus hort
t,mo ugo II IL they assisted in tuer cr mi
| Moun.
tain Gang" which has terrorlzcd the mountain coun-
try Of Lancaster county several years Tho murder
OF Mrs isaao Reese ~ Salisbury township tow wosks
since Is also charged to the escaped tramps
| PROMINENT ciTIzEN MURDERED.
Tho excitement over these outragas had been but
partially quoted wncn The Intelligence OF brutal
murder by tramps startled the community. Mr. Nil
ton Gramm, weli-todo ana prominent citizen OF
Duncannon who had just stepped IRON Pannsyl-
wanna Railroad train above the railroad crossing at
IRON heir concealment IN the bushes that fringe
railroad bank Presenting pistols at the head OF Mr.
Gramm refused 10 comply with the demand
and the tramps shot nim After robbtng
1 III. .os S1d other
railroad einbsnkmenL some lsborers soon after
covered Mr Gramm and gave the alarm. Tho fatally
wounded man was curried TO the house OF Dr. Warner
where he received all proper attention, but he only
survived long enough 10 give an account OF the attack
and describe his murdercrs. the body OF Mr.. Gramm
has been sent 10 Duncannon the Pttsburg express
ANOTHER MURDER.
In tho lower end vi the county, und In tho adjoining
counties OF Chester and Berks The wandcrns nT,ganas
have consummated many terrible and thrilling crimes
In almost every instance, however, the out.
RACES have been committed along the line
| OF the railroad, and u IS presumed this has
been done TO allow the maraudors opportunity to
board the trans, alter tho commission their out
lawry and elect their escape The latest agrant out
rage IN Chester county has occurred Pennsyl.
vania Railroad. A body OF tramps wrecked u freight
train between Maveson and Frazers station aud at.
tempted to plunder the cars. Tho train hands en-
dcavorod to project tho company's property and a
lively and bloody light occurred between them ana the
woud-bc traia ROBBERS, curing which OF the rail
roades, William Convcrs, Killed The authorities
AT West Chester sent assistance to tho place RIOT
ana two OF the tralnps who give the Of James
| Kelley and George Wilson, we're arrested and con.
vey cd to the West Chester JAN Kelley Is alleged to
| have who murdered brakeman CoDnera
| NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS.
The czons OF Chester county have not only organ
zed Vi GLANCE committees Tor the protection their
lives and property but experienced and astutc detoc-
have becn employed ny the authorities to ferret
out and apprehend the tramps who engaged in the
wholesale brisandage. The detectives have already
discovered that many Of the persons travelling under
the guiso OF trumps are notorious criminals from
Philadelphia, New York. Baltimore aud other
ces. Among those arrested are George Weaver,
alias "Red jacket, tho Pirate Of the Chesa
peake;" Frank Manning, alias George w Weavcr: and
George w Elliott. These parties are all we'll known
10 the Phiadelptia police. They have been tried bc.
fore Judge Butler, at West Chester for breaking into
| the house OF W T.. Lockwood at Genlock, and ats
tempting 10 murder the owner, and were sentenced TO
seven years each IN The Eastern Pcniteniiary Tho
Chester, Delaware Lancaster, Berks and Montgomery
county prisons are ulcd with murderous ramps WIN