The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-27
PEG LEG, THE TRAMP.
Probable Suicide OF the last OF n Trio Of
Crippled Tramp Despcradoes.

| Probable Suicide OF the Inst OF n Trio Of
| Crippled Tramp Despcradoes.
HABn1sBuRa March 26.-The tramp with q
wooden leg who was killed on a Maryland rail
| road ono day this week was tho last OF trio OF
| crippled tramps who for years had been a ter
ror to tho smaller towns and farming COM
munities OF southern Pennsylvania and tho
| rural localities OF northern Maryland and
| Wost Virginia. They always travelled togeth-
| or. Ono of the vasabonds had lost his right
arm, another his left leg, which was replaced
by IL rude wooden ono the tramp had made
himself and tho third was also minus leg
and walked with crutches-
Tho tramp with tho wooden leg was the
master spirit OF tho trio. Ho was known as
Peg Leg. but his roal name was believed to DO
Thompson. the worthless son OF q we'll known
Maryland farmer. In spite Of the crippled
condition of these three tramps they got about
the country with surprising facility. and were
expert chicken and sneak thieves. Wherever
they appeared they did not beg food or money.
but simply demanded Them They delighted
in insulting and frightening women and chill
dren and their fayorite way OF announcing to
the inmates Of n house that they were on hand
was to smash in window with crutch
Many times farmers had resisted the assaults
OF the three tramps only to be worstod in the
fight and suffer tho moro heavily in tho loot
ing Of their premises. Constables had fro
quently sought to awe them with tho majesty
OF the law. and although the tramps had often
quietly submitted to arrest it was seemingly
only to enjoy tho pleasure Of overpowering the
officer before no had got to his destination
with them. either by knocking him senseless
with crutch or binding him hand and foot
and leaving him helpless by the roadside.
Three years ago. late in the fall. these three
tramps appeared in Adams county. and in va
rious parts of the farming region had terror
lied tho people or days. Emboldened by their
success and by the large quantities OF cider
they had compelled the farmers to give to
them. they carried their operations into Get
tysburg They ran that historic town for half
cal aided BY hdpw people with guns;
1aks be S@ tie sif %
Unlocked the s" sss eSs sticking s the
one Of them. The cell doors in the Gettysburg
Eoy ait lifted them ALL This KY was Always
hung on n nail in the wall OF tho narrow corr-
srutcRss s' Was "f locked. As it was aiterward
learned. Peg Leg; who was in tho cell next the
stasF 5srph aaafsy sasf tie
a when Peg Leg called the att tent OF the
him to Knock It down. with one Il
RI se fse @ss f Ps it in s bis a is
dark. he unIock ed his cell and came out and
oct his 6st t % as ee iron
ins thus made was; only i4xi5 inches in Size.
honeh fss escaped Ses got sowa
undiscovered. and it was two days before any.
sttSs Ias ' that the Three ramps We're at
Littletown. q short distance, from Gettysburg.
They had taken possession OF tho place.
snH o The W s9 sn let had
with, his 0omraie's crntches. and, when the
c GSnH S in the ue chur @S Witch T hes
swore they would burn to 9th the ground unless
ing ing liberal suantit fe Of iaqor The People.
fearing for their, church. Ind been complying
there did not seem to any hope Of tho
trampS going away. aid was asked from
4, posse Of constnblcs went to Iittestown.
and going to tho CHURCH demanded the sur
Fs g @ adn the am w hH e wss SG
finally gained an entrance only to find that the
tramp ni nI escansd by bnfk Wndow and
woods. They, were overtaken; and after
d.sp.1at. ilght, du,rinG; which the constables
and In e esa Leg hn? kss
Other "@sr T HSS cissre oaer fRsr hSG
got, out Of town with bis prisoner the latter
md. knocking the constable senseless with
them. Jumped from tho wagon and fed across
1hS d ~ lie Xs nS oh dy me
when shot in tic arm by one Of his pursucrs.
The three were then taken back to Gettysburg.
und were scnt to prison for eighteen months.
started ont on he same career In less than
sS1 ana 1hT thg bv m WH sshss %ss
in their old fashion. Tho other two escaped.
Last It,,,, summer during having time. the tramp
IA Pam sylNunin
or into tho woods. That same forenoon n farm
hand who went in the havm9w to NOV away
n load OF hny: discovered dead man lying in
one corner IT was the one-armed tramp. His
ragged clothing, in front was covered with
play was suspected. and the wooden; legged
Voluntarily back to the farm where the dead
the tramp had been IN tho last stages OF con:
sumption. and hal died from hcmorrhnge Il
rom sG oT fun" that oh n tInt G dE
was on tho way with hin. to the poor house q
! nat county having carried him on his back
%r me" wo WhGH ms th bocams too
wok.up in the barn ard found his cOmpani"n
dead he Thought he could do no more for him.
ma nh inlt rs n Dody to DO disposed OF by those
From that time, Peg Leg had roamed along
G o., q, thc tries Ola stamning grounds bu, MT
subdued. and had become ,reticcnt ana Iu.!-
nnch"y. The engineer Of the train that ran
over and killed him the other day says that
he tramp came out OF the woods at the side ~
tho railroad. not n hundred yards ahead Of The
train and walked away up the track. The
whistle was sounded sharply and contlnnons-
was ground to pieces under the wheels. Many.
moving the man. believe that no sought the
death that overlook him.
The Growing Sentinsnt Aaain.t Capitsi