Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-12
MANY TRAMPS HERE.
Men Who Beg on the Streets and
Make it Hard for the Honest Poor.
TRYING TO RID THE CITY OF THEM.
Judge kimbaIl Intends to Send
Down All Arrested.
THE WORK OF RELIEF

0--
And now the professional begSars, who
are known to the police as bum tramps."
are complaining of hard times. Just at
present these unwelcome guests are ap-
pearing in greater numbers in this city
than ever before. and they are farins bet
ter than usual Along the principal thor
oughfares they are to be found stopping
persons and asking for a nickel or dime.
Most of them manage to keep out of the
hands Of the police, for, as one of them
stated, they can see a policeman at long
range. Many Of these men have been here
during the winter months regularly as
the winter came. and scores Of them have
been arrested and sent down. During the
past seasons they have stopped at cheap
lodging houses and begged money enough
on the streets to pay their little bills and
buy what whisky they wanted. This year
they are taking advantage of The charita-
BILE institutions and are posing as working
men out of employment. In this way they
make 1t hard for the honest workngmen,
who are really willing to work.
Way laying Pedestrians ON HI Street.
Saturday night these men were on the
streets as usual. and large number of
them managed to operate along the line
of street northwest from 14th to 18th
streets. They appeared in gangs of from
three to six, and during the time they were
there few persons passed without being
stopped. Money was demanded Of them,
and some of the beggars went so far as to
use profane and threatening LANGUAGE. A
telephone message was sent 20 police
headquarters but when the officers reached
the neighborhood the gangs Of robust beg
gars had disappeared.
At the room Of the central relief COM
mittee this morning the tramp question
was fully discussed, and, while 1t was gem
orally admitted that many persons asking
for assistance are worthy ones, 1t was
stated that a large number Of those who
solicit aid are professionals.
A few days ago one of these profession
ais was frank enough to say that the strin-
gency in the money market seriously af-
fected his business. During past years. he
said, he could go out any evening and beg
S to so. but now he is seldom able to get
more than a dollar or two.
Evidences of Hard Times.
Some Of these men bear outward evil
dences of having seen hard times on freight
trains. while making trips from one city
to another. One man who appeared Satur-
day was in a bad way. Not only was he
dishgured. but his clothing was dilapidated.
So bad was his general appearance and
condition that he was given an outfit and
sent to the hospital.
On the sidewalks in front Of the places
where these men are lodged and fed they
gather in crowds. cover the pavements
with tobacco juice. and at times indulge in
profanity to such an extent that respect
able persons are shocked when they pass
by. Recently the police have paid but
little attention to this class of men, and
those who wore out their welcome and
left passed the word along the line until
row there are more Of them here than
ever before.
In Judge KimbalPs Court.
Judge Kimball announced in court this
morning that he intended to protect the
citizens of Washington against the army of
beggars, and gave notice that every one
caught on the streets stopping citizens
will fare badly at the hands Of the court
James H. Mccain was on trial at the
time, and the statement of Policeman Ea-
ton called forth the remark from the court
He was in the army Of tramps begging
on H street Saturday night" said the Off
Ger, and I've seen him on the streets stop
ping persons. but having on my uniform
could not get near enough to him to hear
what he said.''
I'm a tradesman out of employment"
said the prisoner. who had plead guilty to
the charge against him. I'm a married
man; and live at No. 2s1 Wyckoff avenue.
Brooklyn"
1T makes no difference where you are
FROM, said Judge Kimball. You can't
beg on the streets in this city, and the court
is going to protect the citizens. and send all
such persons to the workhouse."
McCairn was sent down for thirty days
In default of real estate security.
Another man appeared under the name of
George Wilson. and officer Schneider told
the court that he found him on the street
demanding money of persons. The prisoner
was recognized by another officer as James
Riley OF Georgetown, and the court fix ii
his bond at $50. and the default at sixty
days.
Helping the Deserving.
While these impOstors are endeavoring to
live on public charity, the members of the
relief committee are engaged In an effort to
extend relief to the really deserving poor
who belong here. Saturday six large loads
OF clothing and provisions were sent to the
police stations. and early this morning the
central office Of the Associated Charities
received good supply, while one load was
sent to Rev. Mr.. Woodruff, who is N charge
of the charitable work at Faith Chapel
Ihere was a fairly good supply OF cloth |
Ing and provisions on hand at the rooms
OF the central relief committee this morn |
ing: There was larger supply of gro
ceries on hand than usual, several sacks of
corn meal being among the donations The
supply, however. was by no means larger
than the demand. Applicants were not as
sisted until the merits of their cases were
decided upon after an investigation. A few
exceptions to this rule were made in the |
matter Of clothing. in the case of those
who were almost naked. The snow storm
this morning drove in many poor persons |
most OF whom wanted shoes.
Trying to Get Out of Town.
Now that some of the professional beg |
gars are being arrested. the police expect |
many Of them will make an effort to get
out Of the city. Many applications have
been made To Sanitary Officer Frank for |
trans portation by these men, but the funds !
provided for that purpose are very low, and |
as Mr.. Frank thinks the money was not |
In Intended for such persons, he has refused !
them They will therefore have to walk |
or beat their way on outgoing trains If |
they want to leave and escape term in |
the work house.
Real Estate Matters.
John E. Wright has purchased of r. W. |
Tyler ct al. for 5000 sub 10 and part co. |
square 9I0-1s.7S feet on South Carolina |
avenue between 10th and 18th streets south |
Gas or