Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-07-18

Organized Protection Against
Tramps.
The danger from tramps iu Chester,
Deiasars and Asntgousry counties,
sapeciaiay along ths line Of the Penn
syassnia Railroad, has % greatly IN
creased during the past lev sonths a.
to require organized and -uaitsd action
against it. The idle slgrans have be-
come so bold aud desperate that they
hesitate at no act of villainy, and nearly
every day some new crime is committed
oy them. Women have been outraged,
houses have been robbed, and even muir
ders have been committed, until even
the very name Of tramp carries with it
q shudder of fear Their band seems
to be constantly increasing, and now
they succeed BY exercising a species of
terrorism on people generally; and as
they fnd their insolence successful
their boldness aud desperation increase.
10 form some adequate protection
against them, meeting of citizens of
the three counties named was called |
at Bryn Mawr on Saturday afternoon
last. Ninety-six gentlemen responded,
including number of prominent men
of each county. The meeting was or
gauised with John R. Whitney. of Del
aware county, IN the chair, and Edward
X. Wood, of Rosemount. acting as Sec
retary. The chair having explained
the object of the meeting, Messrs n p.
ShOrtlidge, J. r. Valentine, and Z.
Dunbar Lockwood were appointed a
committee to prepare resolutions for
the consideration of the meeting. The
resolutions were as follows:
WHEREAS. This meeting has been called
at Bryn Mowr by persons residing in the
adjacent portions OF Montgomery, Delaware,
and Chester counties, TO consider the best
means to be taken to protect their families
and property from the vagrants aud prnfes-
sional thieves now robbing and roaming at
large throughout the named localities; and,
WHEREAS, The reiterated testimony of
those present has shown that the robberies
or attempted robbsries committed in dwell
lings or spring houses and other outbuiid-
ings are almost nightly occurrences that
our houses are constantly besiecsd by COM
panies OF tramps and disguised criminals,
who insolenily demand iood and aims, and
in many cases, when refused, have threat
ened revenge; that our roads, highways
barns, and woods are occupied by gangs of :
strange men, SO as to cause much fear aad
alarm To children and women, of whom
many longer dare walk or ride without an
escorts therefore,
RssOLvEn, That the time has come when
We VIII no longer submit to these unlawful
acts, but shall insist that the proper officers .
OF the three counties in which We reside
proceed at once to enforce the Vagrant act :
of May 8, 1876, which requires all persons ,
going from door to door, or placing them
selves in streets. highways, or other roads, !
TO beg or gather aims, and all persons wan
dering abroad and Begging who have DO
fixed place of residence in the township, !
ward or borough, to be arrested as vagrants
by any constable or other officer of the
peace, upon 0otice TO him BY any inhspitant {
OF .he township, or on his own view; and ,
which provides for a commitment OF such
vagrant for not less than thirty DAYS, nor
more than Fix months, with liabilities to
labor under orders OF the overseers or the ,
poor.
RESOLVED, That the lenient provisions ~
this law, which permit OF discharge after
ten days good behavior, or on the giving of
security therefor, should not be {
applied To other than exceptional cases, but
that for the futuie IL Should b. made the {
ensrdl ne that sentences should be served q
i III Ia iuli as given, and that if in either of
the named counties the building accOmmu-
iitiols are not sufficient for the accom-
plishment of the law the case should be ,
brought TO the attention of the county COM L
nlissiunSrs and the grand jury according to I
section o of said act, that proper accom-
nodatiOns may be provided according 10 :
he true Intest and meaning of the law in c
,Smuch as We believe that 1t il better for O.,
The morals of those offenders, and more
Drovidenr of the interests of the con,mu-
iity, TO supply them with food and labor at 7
he public expense than to allow them to
piunder al large upon ind iduas. 7