Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-02-16
Hpm RSp@'s WesklyJ

,--Cg us * !
Epm Ripe's WesslyJ. =
The cruel and AkSbH -incouceivsbly
ferocious murder OF Mrs. Maybe and
her daughter il q little village OF Long
Island, sad.sotIsx .equa1ly- mysterious
murders which.hAj fAtely shocked the
COMMUNICATIVE hponsht tho problem
of the tramp before tue country N
the most startling manner. Evefy- ono
familiar With rural or village lite can
readily understand the conditions which
make suoh deeds not only possible, but,
within not very long periods, almost
certain. The scattered population, the
isolated dwellings,, the peaceful habits,
the want-ef any organized or efficient
police, with the existence of q olass OF
wanderers, idle or half idle, and often
criminal, spreading Themselves v the
country-these are the clements Of the
situation from which spring with con-
siderable regularity petty thieving, out
rage, assaalt, burglary, highway rob
berry, and murder, uoss Of which go un-
detected ana unprnisiied.
'Tramps," for the greater part. are
the overflow from city life. Their ranks
are recruited from the vicious, the lazy,
and the unfortunate, who, driven from
the haups. Of organized society and the
police, become, theF rcHFacte1g and
habits incline fheh, SsgshS} t6ie1exg
caiminals.j The greater vnlmber,< fe:
simply idfers, stroIling f1om place to
place, begging a dinnF heK. a break
fast there, aIodginginsonx' 6Wld6sp.
or sleeping q "a .1slN hi1eand lying
on the piliernn Sati,A fqosts orceeni
fields. These are mefsfy'the drones of
the great human hive, Sbd dris opt in
filth and disorder their miserable lies.
But with these are the men ofTscrimha
instincts and habits, fred with brutal
lust, hungry with the greed born Of dis
sipation and drink, reckless of life, their
own or others, and trained in the terri
bic school Of self-indulgence Of our large
towns. Woe to those who may meet
them in the lonely ways. or may extend
to them the hand q charity Their
trail across the Woods and fields is
marked with crime too horrible 10 de-
scribe, in comparison with which murder
itself il less terrible. And it is td one of
these that the ,household may at
any moment be openedwhen tie ragged
costume, the unshaven face, the sun
burned hands, of the sturdy beggar ap-
pear ct the door. II is with this ele.
ment that society must make up it's
mind 70 deal.
The obvious weapon with which to deal
with il iapolice force. The average vii
lage Of country community will shrink
from this.F, The suggestion TO them
meana ali 5ongardzed force Of }lah;c coats,
with tNgeanh and captains;; a1ldItht
omnistiA ia genera,iy MJsi# MHe;
tives. Ah&klis Is not necessary. VIVA
is needed is q small force of mounted
men, young, active, alert, with just
enough orSahization to eAnable them IT.
act tokathet. and @ngh aisaithne t,
secure fidelity. Their chief function
would be prevention rather than eithcl
detection or arrest. Patrolling tn,
country roads frequently and rapidly
keeping q constant watch on suspicion
persons, appearing often in the NOR
secluded and exposed pieces, theycorl
o o make it extremely dangerous 10
the criminal classes. An Intimate m.
familiar knowledge of all persons VII
legitimate occupation is easily aeqrii4
in country neiehborhoods and 1s
solves one-half the diaRSnlt1es of po+ic
work. Acriminal ID really far safer j
the dense populations Of thercities tina
he could be in n village with sucir Al. o,
ganization. since in the latter he woul
necessarily be a marked man, and coul
hardly move from point to point unol
served.
Such q force should be organized
every county. or it might with adva,
tagc be made q State forca. outside
the larger cities. It's members shonl
he carefully selected, with absolute fre
dom from political interference. The
should serve for life. or rs long a. the
we're faithful and capable. They shou.
have a graded increase in salary, or pr
motion, according to length Of servi
and superior merit. They should I
we'll mounted, uniformed, thorough
instructed. and vel Differed. The
shouM.be pensienei Tor disability in Il
service, or on retirement FOR honorah
cause, according 10 servhs. These r
quiremcnts, which are 81 vaIne IN Al
force. would be essential in this, becau
OF its peculiar nature, and the ~necessi
OF securing the best men at the mo
economical rates. Properly manage
such a force wonld practically rut
end in a short time to the worst evils
which is not entirely feasible. The ia
that the tramp is practically unknown
the tramp and there is nothing in il Il
1ax1r y ~