The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-09-11
THE NEW JERSEY TRAMP LAW.

Considerable comment has been made on
the tramp law recently passed by the legis-
lature of New Jersey, and which went into
effect on the 10th of last August. 1t is re-
garded as severe to an unusual degree, and
IN some of its provisions entirely too sweep
ing. Section 4 has been especially con-
demned, as it puts almost unlimited power
into the hands of those who may exercise it
inhumanly, as two or more persons could by
false swearing easily secure the conviction of
any poor fellow who might be personally
obnoxious to them. The following is the
full text of the law as it now stands:
Sectionl. Any person going about from place
to place begging and asking or subsisting upon
charity, shall be taken and deemed to be a
tramp, and shall be punished by imprisOn-
inert at hard labor in the state prison not
more than Is months.
Sec. 2. Any tramp who shall enter any dwell
ing house. or kindle any fire in the highway
on the land of another without the consent
OF the owner or occupant thereof, or shall be
found carrying any firearm or other dangerous
weapon, or shall threaten to do any injury to
any person or to the real or personal estate of
another, shall be punished by imprisonment
at hard labor in the state prison not more than
two years.
Sec. g. Any tramp who shall willfully and
maliciously do any injury to any person to
the real or personal estate of another shall be
punished by imprisonment at hard labor in
the state prison not more than five years.
Sec. T. Any act of beggary or vagrsncy by
any person not resident of this state shall be
evidence that the person committing the
same is a tramp within the meaning of this
act.
Sec. 5. Any person, upon view of any Of
tense described in this act, may apprehend
the offender and take him before justice of
the peace for examination, and on his convic-
ton shall be entitled to a reward of $40 there
for, 10 be paid by the county.
Sec 6. The mayor OF every city and the
selectmen of every town are hereby author
lied and required to appoint special consta-
bles whose duty it shall be to arrest and prose-
cute all tramps in their respective cities and
towns.
Sec.7. This act shall not apply to any female
or minor under the age of IL years, nor to any
blind person.
sec s. Upon the passage of this act, the
secretary OF state shall cause printed copies of
this act to be sent to the several town and city
clerks, who shall cause the same to be posted
in at least SIX conspicuous places, three of
which shall be on the public highway.
Ssc 8. This act shall take effect on and after
August 10, 1878, and all acts and parts of acts
inconsistent with this act are hereby re-
pealed.
Approved August 8, 1878.
New Jersey has not been particularly over
run with beggars or tramps, and this act is
to be reckoned more in the light of a pre-
ventive than as a punishment for old
offenders. Delaware has her whipping
posts and the lash has been held up before
the reckless offender against her laws. But
woe to the man or woman who, passing
along the highways Of New Jersey, asks for
bite of bread and cup of water. No matter
If the wolf starvation is gnawing at his life,
it is prison, theft or death, and, despite the
legislature, tramps Of the worst class will
abound, for stealing is rather chosen than
starvation by those for whom the law was
made. 1t will be rather the poverty-crushed
man and woman. out Of work, hunting q