The morning call., 1893-12-29
MARKED HOUSES.
Look at Your Doors for
Tramps' Cipfers.
Migrants Cause Sensation by Their
Suspicious Conduct in the
Western Addition.

People who have homes in the Western
Addition will in all probability find
cabalistic inscriptions on their gates or
doorways if they take the trouble to look.
That is, always provided a midwlnter
tramp has been around and asked for
charity.
From these mysterious marks it may be
inferred that tramps who recently arrived
in San Francisco have a secret organiza-
ton of their own. There may be no name
nor bylaws. no code of rules or constitu-
ton. but all the same such a society exists.
Guided only by sort of fellow feeling
the tramps have ciphers for conveying i'm
portant information among themselves.
Whether a house is good or bad from their
standpoint is easily expressed, and so rep
resenis the extent of their fraternal ac-
tons.
a peep at several doorways in the
Western Addition will show what the
tramps are doing in this line.
Early yesterday one enterprisiug men,
Der of the society went little too lar and
is now in prison with his comrade on a
charge of vagrancy. He gave the name OF
James Sheldon and SAID he had come from
Chicago. His companions name is Oliver
Brandt, also new arrival, SO he says.
Sheldon asked for food at the home of
Mrs. Edwards, on the southwest corner of
Vallejo and Octavia streets. Mrs. Ed
wards gave him ten cents, ana he went
away alter thanking her. Before leaving
the door he wrote N - 42' lust above
the eiectric-belI button. Around the cor
ner. on Vallejo street, the residence of DIR.
McAllister was visited by Sheldon, who
left his mark over the bell-handle.
Other houses in the locality were SINH.
larly marked. Five or six tramps loafing
around attracted the attention of crowd
of boys, who watched them for some time.
Their actions were suspicious. and after
close watching the boys informed Police
man Stanton about what had taken place.
4 son of DR.. McAlllster and Joe Hill, who
lives across Vallejo street, overheard a
conversation among the tIamps.
They were talking OF TO DbIng house."
said one of the boys, land knew when the
house was without anybody 10 watch it.
Everywhere they went around here they
wrote signs ON the gateposts and DOORS"
Stanton saw the fellows standing about
a block off and walked toward them, but
as he approached they ran. The chase
was a lively one while ii lasted, and il was
only after a run OF several blocks that the
tTamps were Overtaken. They were then
taken to some houses where they had WIS.,
tied. In some places they were identified.
so charges of vagrancy were placed against
may be added.
Sheldon is % years of age. He says he
is hostler at the Bay District track. but
could not tell where the track is situated
or how 1t is reached. Brandt is a year
younger. His story was like Sheldon's
They claimed to be newcomers from Chi
cagO, and were actually employed at the
racetrack. Their story is not believed by
the police, VINO are inclined to regard their
writing proclvities as serious matter.
The police theory is that in addition to
making marks to indicate chances for get.
ting money or food in houses these fellows
wrote signs which would I've recognized
later by burglars with designs on the
dwelling. A certain inscription could tell
how many people lived in the house, ii it
is left to a servant or if there is no man
around.
Where refusals were met the tramps
wrote IN. Go" And in a few in
stances waere they were harshly treated
they wrote frightfully vulgar language on
pillars and doors.