The Penn's Grove record., 1884-01-12
\ state Fun of Tramps.

Tramps are bad in Connecticut.
-Four miles northeast of Stamford
borough is the district of "Bagnall,"
Conn, consisting Of isolated farms aad
pleasant cottages, mostly half-a-mile
apart, and concealed from each other by
intervening hills and knolls Mrs. Pal
mer, an active and industrious house
wife, was alone in her cottage one after
noon last week when a bad-looking
tramp came in. 1t was afterwards
known that he had as~certained that she
was alone on that afternoon, her hus-
band being away and no help at hand (;
and he was bold and aggressive from
the outset. The tramp was stockily built
fellow of medium height; of dark COM
plexiOn, with a heavy growth of black
beard and with prominent cheek bones.
He appeared at the open back door and
demanded something to eat. Mrs.
Palmer is a courageous woman, but she
was terribly frightened. But she bravely
concealed her tremor and handed HIM
some bread, telling him at the same
time to go off about his business. He
roughly grasped the bread and threw
I away, saying, 81 don't want bread ;
[ want your money" With that he
grasped Mrs. Palmer by the wrist so
violently that the marks are still to be
seen. She still kept up a brave front
and coolly told him she had but little
money, and it was in her pocket. While
still grasping her wrist he put his hand
in the poceet of her dress and took out
a purse. 1t contained but sixty cents,
and while he Vas counting it he slack
ened his grasp. Mrs. Palmer, who had
been thinking over in her mind what to
do, Immediately sprang for a meat
knife, which she secured, and rushing
for a corner of the room, stood at bay
and faced the rufian. The fellows
evil passions were aroused, and he was
evidently ready for any reckless deed.
Yet he had a wholesome dread of the
knife, and the blazing eyes of the her ole
woman behind 1t and he. set about
breaking down her nerves with horri-
bic threats and curses. He drew a
clasp knife from his pocket, saying she
could play at knife too" She told him
if he would go away she would say nc
more about it-all she had to do was tc
scream and bring help. 1t was with a
great effort she kept herself from faint
ing when he told her he chad looked
all around before he came up and saw
no one" He asked her in a tone more
like the growl of a wild beast than a
human voice. "What are you goin' to
do with that knife ?" She replied, 81
am going to kill you if you come neal
ine - You'll gimme dry breal, vii
you ?" he sneered. "I'n have cold LEAD
for you the next time you Gomez she
replied. she added that hello was near
AMI that all she had to do was to scream
and it would come. This started thu
fellow out to take another look, and
then she rushed to the door an(
screamed ''murder !" That frightened
off the tramp, and he ran across thu
lots, out of sight.
Another one occurred in the SAINT
town. A tramp called at the kitchen
door of the residence of 7. b. Wax
man, on Palmer Hill. He insolently
demanded bread, and was offered SOM
by the servant girl. He threw the
bread on the ground and said he want
ed money. Just then a carriage com
ing up, he concluded not to enforce hi!
demand, and he ran off through The
back lots and disappeared.