Connecticut western news., 1878-02-21
THE TRAMP QUESTION.
Experience of two State Detectives
 Sont Out to Tramp.
FROM THE REPORT OF CHIEF DETECTIVE
 STEPHENSON OF MAssACHUSETTs.


 STEPHENSON OF MASSACHUSETTS.
 lThe following concerning tramps has been Ion | the hook" in our office for some weeks awaiting | room for insertion in our columns, but it is not entirely "outlawed," and as it contains facts con- corning the purposes and motives of tramps for being what they are: viz, trampa, we now publish it for the information of our readers, although necessarily late in doing so.-ED,1
 From Daily Courant.l
 July 10-Left Springfield. Very soon met quiries as to eur prospects for getting food and lodgings while we were pursuing our investigations. These men informed us that we could get very little food by beg little milk that they generally stole what they got. These men were Irish. 35 and 45 years of age. one shoemaker by trade and the other tailor; they said they could tramp: they only worked whom they want ed to get llquor, and not then if they could steal It. One had tramped five and the other eight years. We all slept together in the woods during the night at place near Blandford. and parted company lh the morning, after furnishing them with some tobacco.
 July 11-Started from Blandford toward Russell: soon met tramp, 8 Frenchman full 50 years of age, had tramped about years; went with hlm. He sad he tramped through the country during the summsr and fall, Rolng to one of the larger cities when the cold weather came on where he generally managed to get arrested Tor some petty crime for the purpose of get ting Q sentence that would keep hln 1n confinement during the winter months. We gave him some bread. He had With hlm large valise containing four bottles gin among other things: This man was on the road to Buffalo, N. '. Slept during the night at Russell.
 July 12-Started from Russell at day break in pouring ram. soon went into a barn while the Frenchman went out to beg soAe food. He returned with large piece of corned beef which he had stolen. July 13-Left the barn quite early where we had passed the night; soon met three tramps; went with them into the woods whore we met fourteen mere Our party now numbered twenty. Of these, three were German. two Dutohmen, one Swede, remainder Irish. They had been camped l in thls place some five days, subslsting principally upon chickens and potatoes ! which had been stolen in the night, Con- cluded to remain with this gang for 8 l time.
 ! July Ave divided into four squads. oach of which was to take it's turn in pro l went out to day and returned With small pig, nlps chickens and a quantity of eggs ' of the bread. were stolen. They, carried with them fish hooks and lines which they use for catching chickens, simply by put ! ting on a kernel of corn for bait. In many | in stances when they have rum, they soak ! bread in it and feed to the fowls, which are soon in condition to be easily cap' tured.
 July 15-Started with three others to
 get food. We were refused at the first
 house we called at. Some of the party I s.o hoa a keg containing some five or six gallons ot cider, which they appropriated to then own use, and left for the camp: We went on alone, and finally purchased at farm we returned to the woods, where we found most of the gang intoxicated from the too free use of the cider.
 July 16-Concluded to leave th1s locality as it was getting rather hot on account o1
 the depredations made upon the people IT
 in order to avoid suspiclon, taking two diff
 ferent routes to the town of Washington
 The party who passed over each route hrs'
 was to mark with chalk tone party uslna
 red and the other blue) the prominent
 points h their routes, for the guidance oi
 those who were to follow. An arrew Ii
 usually made upon large rocks, trees etc.
 particularly at the cross roads, to direct each gang to the place fixed upon as tho
 general rendezvous. Nearly all of tho regular tramps carry chalk of different col
 ors. The Frenchman left the gang to-day |, A short time after he left, some of the par people in the town. and cause them trouble sn account of the thefts committed. fol l lowed him for the purpose of compelling
 him to return, but they tailed to find him - Slept in the woods at night around large fire but suffered much from the cold.
 July 17-Reached Middlefield where Vt met three men belonging to one of the oth- CT gangs. We kept together on the tramp } generally separating when we came to viii , lages, and going through singly. We laie in the woods most of the day getting plen ty of food by begging and stealing. Th' ' young fellows find it difficult to get foot g of any description, but the old men seen
 to excite more compassion; they generally
 have pitiful story ready for use, gotter up without regard to truth. The genera question to the young tramp is: "WhJ don't you go to work ?" They always pro fess readiness to work, but generally giv'
 as trade to which they are accustomed tt , work, some occupation in which they ar' = sure no employment will be offered in tha . locality. One of the gang stole to-day, { ? jag of bay rum out of 6 farmers wagon all of which was drank during the night Slept in barn.
 ! July l8-It rained very hard when morn g ing came, but we intended to move on - were prevented by the fact that most O.
 the party were sick from the effects of thu bay rum. We finally started at abou + dusk towards Hinsdal.: passed througl g Pittsdeld during the night; went througl ? singly, because the old tramps thought i r we were caught we should be taken to th' lookup, and made to work in the morning
 for lodging and breakfast. This plan 0
 working to pay for board is not in accord
 ance with the idea that tramps entertain a
 to what is just and suitable. We reached the Shaker village about o'clock Tn th' g morning of July l9. Some of the gang l went out to beg; got all we wanted to ca
 from the Shakers who always give fiber
 ally.
 July 2O-Separated from the gang to-day as they were going to the Western part ol ] New York. We passed through Richmond at night, reaching West Stockbridge where
 we slept ln barn.
 z July 2I-Reached the state line, and taking the railroad track, passed through West Stockbridge, and about mile beyond , the latter place met two tramps who haC been put off a freight train; they had bea
 the railroads for their ride from Dunkirk to this point. They started originally from Chicago. One of them was painter by l trade, and said be belonged to Spencer , Mass. He was about 35 years old. The
 other man was 8 cigar maker. He was about 60 years old, had tramped 14 years. } We slept during the night in barn in Wes l Stockbridge.
 July 22-Passed through Hinsdale very early. About two miles out we met gang
 of eight tramps who said they were or their way to Pennsylvania to join the rail road riots. They proposed to travel on the 3 railroad tracks, separating and going singy
 through the villages, stealing rides or l ;obt tad f,