The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
METHODS OF MENDlCANTS.
How Some Of the Professional Beggars En-
deavor to Arouse Sympathy and Obtain Aid.

1T have lived in Indianapolis oil my lifs.n said
an old citizen the other day. land I never saw
az many professional beggars in Indianapolis as
there are ut present"
How do you account for the inoreassf
II hardly know to what Ii should DO attrib-
uted. Maybe is 10 the growth of tho city, for
beggars always seek large cities, bat believe
the main reason 10 that they are dealt with more
leniently here than in any other city In the
country. They are mover prosecuted In tho City
Court Occasionally one 10 arrested ~ vaga.
bond and Is sent to the work. house, but that
amounts to nothing. an the work-houss has no
terrors for them since the stone-pils has been
abolished Many of them. have no doubt.
glad To be allowed spend ten days there
occasionally. There isn't section Of the city
that Is not annoyed by the chronic beggars.
ent ways of reaching the sympathy of the resi-
dents. believe nine ont of every ten are frauds
and II the police would arrest every one OF them
ing done"
An officer of the police force gives It as his
opinion that mistake 10 made in giving shelter
During the last three months an average Of ten
vaRabonds have slept in the station-house at
night. Frequently. citizens who drop
in At headquarters during tho evening
they had seen begging during the day, and
feiening great distress, or some physical disa-
oulty. occasionally turnkey stout, out or
curiosity, searches the men before they are put
inside, and sometimes finds some curious
things The other day. in going through the
pockets of an old chronic begear he found tho
following very unique letter. written on q
Capital House letter-head:
My Dear Sir-I know how customary IL Is for ap-
peals OF benevolent nature to be brought to your
notices am that in the philosophy of giving
you guided in the impulse of the heart than
in the hand. To be as brief and succinct as can,
desire to state that am mechic whose lines have
not fallen in pleasant places lately have been sick
II you can assist me, by giving some old clothes
ladder Of fame which may be remembered but
forgotten: To person OF your brand intellect
of supererogatiou to dwell on the necessity
of being suitably attired in applying for Job This
If can present myself in proper shape think
/ can get employment Can you assist me in coming
impostors who frequently, Il was going say daily
elicit your charity. can readily appreciate the deli
and who are not. Hoping that you may not class me
anong the common herd Of humanity who are con-
tnually asking for something, and always get Left
remain yours with profound respect.
THAT man has been begging old clothes and
selling them TO secondhand stores for very
good amount" said an officer who read the letter.
land have doubt he is making q very good
living out of the business"
Business men are tormented most by the beg
gars. The undertakers are frequently imposed
Flanner. "a sad-faced man came into my place
of business and said his wife was dead, and
asked me to make estimate of what the cost
of the funeral would be- On one of my letter
heads I prepared an itemized statement. and
he took the slip. saying he would be
back in few hours and order a coffin. The
same day heard Of him in another part Of the
city begging for funds with which to hurry his
dead wife. He would cali a man. show him
my estimate of the cost, and in most
eeived small amount AS he had given me his
address made inquiries Tiers and found out
that no such man lived there. he was simply
professional beggar. His wife was not dead, if
be had any. and he had simply got my name to
IN estimate for the purpose Of helping him |
along"