The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-05-15
THE "eLug JEAN Tramp
Sad Romance of a Man Robbed of Intended
wife, Money and Reason.


During the debate in the house on the bill
recently making a crime for man to become
tramp, Mr. Ney, of Lebanon, rose in oppo-
sition to 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 reference, but it
awakened in the mind OF writer now con-
nected with The Times desire to know more
of the story of the man, and subsequent In
quiry has developed q story as thrilling as
any that has been made public about the "Old
Leather Man."
The story, as picked up from various
sources, is as follows: Way back in the thir-
ties there resided in a town in the northern
part of this state family of the name of
Hicks consisting of John Hicks, wife, a
daughter, Jennie, and Dwight, a son. The
young children were given all the advantages
possible in those times for Hicks was well
to do farmer and not at all stingy. He was
proud of his children, 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 em-
bodied the very principle itself of sgetting all
you can and keeping all you get"
There was no charity, no generosity in her
nature. She would take the belongings OF her
brother and without conjunction appropri-
ate them to her own use. Her brother, how
ever, was almost dramatically opposite
free hearted and generous to a 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 a nature to acquire tho
aspect of moro 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 began u scheme which robbed hen
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 short time, and she reciprocated
his affection. Now it happened that Dwight's
sister had taken n violent dislike to Ida, and;
with apparent friendship, she whispered cruel
words into her promised aster-in-lawis ears.
the vile ISLANDERS grew to certainty, and she
renowned almost at the altar the man she
had promised to love. Dwight, COMPOUNDED
and crazed, left the house. Drink was the
solace for his sorrow, and into dissipation he
| plunged,
His sister, without conjunction or fear,
then began systematic method TO gain his
wealth. His brain gradually softened under
the influence of alcohol. Returning one day
| to the. house OF his sister with whom he had
lived he was spurned from the door without
dollar in the world. What little OF Dwight's
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 he tramped, going over and over the
| same route until now he has become regular
caller in Lebanon, always wearing a blue
jean jumper, which has won for him the
sobriquet Of the "Blue Jean Tramp" No
ono fears him; every one pities him and wei
comes him to the freside Retrlbution has
oyertaken his sister. A few years ago she
was thrown from carriage and killed. Such
is the story Of the "Blue Jean Tramp the
Chew 10 which feh from the lips of Mr.. NeyI
| Of ebanou-Hartford Times