Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-14
THE BLUE JEAN TRAMP
Sad Romance of n Man Robbed of Intended
Wife, Money and Reason

Sad Romance of n Man Robbed of Intended
Wife, Money and Reason.
During the debate in the house on the bill
recently making a crime for a man to become
tramp, Mr.. Ney, of Lebanon rose in oppo-
sition 10 the measure, and in the illustration
of his position alluded to poor unfortunate
In his vicinity, known as the ''Blue Jean
Tramp" 1t was merely a reference, but it
awakened in the mind of a writer now con-
nected with The Times desire to know more
OF the story of the man, and subsequent in
quiry las developed a story as thrilling as
any that has been made public about the "Old
Leather Man.
Inc story, as picked up from various
sources, is as follows: Way back in the thir-
ties there resided in town in the northern
part OF this state a family of the name of
HICKS, consisting of John Hicks, a wife, q
daughter, Jennie. and Dwight a son. The
young children were given all the advantages
possible In those times, for Hicks was a well
to do farmer and not at all stingy. He Yves
proud Of hischildren, and nothing that money
could BUY was wanting to make their lives
complete. There was one sorrow that dis
turbed the old man, however, and that was
the envious nature of his daughter. She en-
bodied the very principle itself of getting all
you can and keeping all you get"
Thers was no charity, no generosity in her
nature She would take the belongings of her
brother and without compunction appropri-
ate them to her own use Her brother, how
ever, was almost diametrically opposite
free he irted and generous to fault were the
fundamental principles that underlay his
nature. This wide divergence of the two was
the cause of SO much trouble between them
She grew to hate her brother with unnatural
hatred, and he grew bitter and Indifferent,
but was of too happy nature to acquire the
aspect IF more than forgetfulness
In this way they grew to manhood and
womanhood, and Jennie married the man of
her choice. Then the father and mother
died, leaving the two children equal portions
in the estate. This CALLED the spirit of Jen-
ME. Her avaricious nature could not be con-
tented With half, but she wanted the whole
Then tesan a scheme which robbed her
brother of three things-his intended wife,
his money and his reason.
A year after the parents death Dwight be-
came enamored of pretty miss named Ida
Arnold. She had been a resident of the
town but a short time, and she reciprocated
his affection. Now it happened that Dwight's
sister had taken a violent dislike to Ida, and,
with apparent friendship, she whispered cruel
words into her promised sister-in-law's ears
They bore fruit. Suspicious as most women,
the vile ISLANDERS grew to certainty, and she
renowned almost at the altar the man she
had promised to love. Dwight, confounded
and crazed, left the house. Drink was the
solace for his sorrow, and into dissipation he
plunged.
His sister, without compunction or fear,
then began systematic method to gain his
wealth. His brain gradually softened under
the inflI of alcohol Returning one day
TO the house of his sister with whom he had
lived he was spurned from the door without
a dollar in the world. What little of Dwights
reason remained was shattered and he left a
homeless man, without reason or money to
sustain life, and left to the tender mercies of
cruel world. In his demented condition he
began his tramp from door to door. For
years lie tramped, going over and over the
same route until now he has become regular
caller n Lebanon, always wearing blue
jean jumper, which has won for him the
sobriqust of the ''Blue Jean Tramp" No
one fears him; every one pities him and well
comes i'm to the fireside. Retribution has
overtaken his sister. A few years ago she
was thrown from a carriage and killed. Such
is the story of the Blue Jean Tramp the
clew to which fell from the lips of MIR. Ney,
of Lebanon Hartford Times