, 1886-04-17
A REIGN OF TERROR.
Tramp Desperadoes in the Neigh
borhood of the Stock Yards.
A Boy Badly Beaten---Asking for
Protection---Tramp Round Ups

For some days the city has been com
pletely overrun with tramps, but from
whence they came or why so early in the
season is something of a mystery. The
past installment of that obnoxious class
were a pretty decent set of men compared
with those who have centered here
within the past week, and many Of the
former honestly sought employment Not
SO the last batch, however. for in addition
to their providing around the city day and
night, begging for food and money, and
the other iniauities in a small way they
have INDUCED in, ihey have virtually
taken possession of the stock yards and
the southwestern portion Of the city, and
have inaugurated a quasi reign of terror
there. During the entire week, day and
night, they have been infesting that
neighborhood. and it has now reached
hat point where property is unsafe. and
not only this but life is, or very soon will
be, unsafe also. From a full dozen to
twenty tramp desDeradoes have been
lounging around the stock yards since
Tuesday, and Oh Wednesday two of them
caught and severely beat a little boy who
CHANGED to be in that portion Of the city.
Others who we're with him fed in terror
aud since that time the boys have con-
| sidered it unsafe to frequent hat locality,
So bad and desperate did this tough gang
become, that on Thursday last they got
to fighting among themselves and one of
their number, who is now confined in the
~calaboose, was terribly beaten, and as
he claims, stabbed by them. As
stated in yesterday mornings is
sue of THE LEADER, A. mid
night raid by Officers Smalley, God
dsrd and Sullivan was made in that
vicinity and several of them captured or
dispersed, those captured being locked up
10 the calaboose. Yesterday morning,
word having been received that there
were more of the ~''toughs" in that vicin-
ity, Sheriff Craig and Deputy Sheriff
McGonigle made a raid also in hat local
ity, and captured FIVE of thu tramps, who
we're marched to the county Jail and
locked up. Subsequent to this raid by
Craig and McGonigle yesterday, word was
received from some Of the people living in
the extreme southwestern portion of the
city that there were others of that class
still prowling around the neighborhood,
and that they were fearful that the des-
peradoes (for such they really arel would
set FIRE to their buildings, and asking that
the officers of the law take necessary pre-
caution against their threatened depreda-
tons. This has been done. and the To-
cality will be well watched and guarded
night and day until the gang are all cor
raled or driven put OF the city. Four Of
the parties arrested yesterday were ar.
raigued before Judge Fisher and were
fined the usual amount, which they Of
course could not pay. and were incarcer-
ated in the county jail. There are severaI
of the gang yet in the city ~calaboose, and
their cases will be investigated to-day.
This state of affairs is one that cannot
be fully controlled by the city marshal and
police, as the gang are u part of the time
without the city limits, and the police Of
course have no authority to deal with
them outside their own jurisdiction. If
this miserable gang continue their depre-
dations or do not leave the city they will
be in luck if they are not very sum
marily and effectively dealt with.