The daily gazette., 1877-09-10
MURDEROUs ;csslRAMPs,
Startling Grimes Along the Linz Of
The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad.
BLOODY BATTLES WITa THE
NOMADS.
COLUMBIA, Pa, Sept. 8, 1877.

r COLUMBIA, Pa, Sept. s, 1877.
The continuance and fiagrancy of
tramp outrages in Lancaster county
creates much excitement. The crimes
committed by the nomsdic outlaws
embrace arson, outrage, robbery and
murder. Hardly city, vilalge or ham
let in the country has escaped the dep
redatory incursions of the lawbreak-
ers So extensive and flagitious has
their criminality been that the people
generally are rising against the tramp
and serious anil sangui nary conflicts
have already occurred between ihe
marauders, vigilants and regularly
constituted constabulary. The tramps
have regular rendezvous at Smoke
town, small watering station on the
Pennsylvania Railroad. AT this place
they organize their forces and make
raids into the the surrounding farm
ing country and complete the citizens
tofurnish whatever they want. Be
tween five hundred and a thousand
of the migratory lawbreakers arrive
at and depart from Smoketown in the
course of a day the eastward and west
ward bound freight trains, which stop
for water affording them a chance to
Jump" from town to town at quick
and cheap rate.
BLOODY BATTLE.
A terrible battle occurred some nights
since in Graybill's woods, near Lancas-
ter. Nearly one hundred tramps had
been destroying and stealing the crops of
the farmers. The latter tried to drive the
invaders of, but the nomads proving too
strong for them the authorities of Lam
caster were telegraphed to for assistance.
A detail of policemen and number of
armed citizens left Lancaster for the
scene of trouble. When the tramps saw
the approaching forces they formed them
selves in line of battle and prepared for
the charge OF the police and citizens. The
police had no sooner got under fire than
the assaled opened upon them with a
volley Of pistol shots. The police and
citizens reached for their reVolvers and
charging upon the tramps fired at them
indiscriminatelv, A number of vOlIeys
were exc an5 d Finally the assailed aud
warm combat the tramps retreated. leav-
ing five of their number wounded and
in the hands of the police, who took
them to Lancaster and lodged them in
Jail. A farmer named Powers was fatally
wounded during the fight.
A PROMINENT CITIZEN MURDERED.
The excitement over these outrages
had been but partially quieted when the
intelligence of a brutal murder by tramps
startled the community. Mr.. Milton
Gramm, a well-to-do and prominent
citizen of Duncannon, who had just
stepped from a Pennsylvania Railroad
tram, above the railroad crossing
at Marysville, was attacked by two tramps
who sprang from their concealment in
the bushes that fringe the railroad bank
Presenting pistols at the head of Mr.
Gramm, the road agents demanded his
money. Gramm refused to comply with
the demand and the tramps shot him.
After robbing him of considerable money
aud other valuables the outlaws rolled
Gramm's body down the railroad EN-
/ bankment.
| ANOTHER MURDER.
| In the lower end of the county, and in
the adjoining counties of Chester and
| Berks, the wandering brigands have con-
summated many terrible and thrilling
crimes. I he latest fragrant outrage i'll
Chester county has occurred on the Penn
sylvania Railroad. A body of tramps
wrecked freight train between Naive
son and Frazier's station and attempted
| l,n
endeavored to protect the company's
property, and a lively and bloody fight
occurred between them and the would-be
train robbers, during WHICH one OF the
railroaders, VIM. Convers, was killed.
NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS.
The citizens of Chester county have
not only organized vigilance committee;
for the protection of their lives and prop
erty, but experienced and astute detec
lives have been employed by the au
thorities TO ferret out and apprehend the
tramps who are engaged in the wholesale
brigandage. 4 he detectives have already
discovered that many of the persons
travelling under the guise of tramps are
notorious criminals from Philadelphia.
New York, Baltimore and other cities
Among those arrested are George Weaver
alias HRed Jacket, the Pirate of the
Chesapeake" Frank Manning, alias
George Weaver; and George W. Elliot
These parties are all well known to the
Philadelphia police. They have been
tried before Judge Butler. at ITestIChes
ter, for breaking into The house of w. E.
Lakewood, at Glenlock, and attempting
Ito murder the owner, and were sentenc-
ed to seven years each in the Eastern
IPenitentiarv. The Chester, Delaware
Lancaster, Berks and Montgomery coun-
ty prisons are filled with murderous:
tramps, who await trial for various OIL
fences committed within the borders ol
the different counties.
The Presidents reception in Louisville