Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-20
INDUSTRiAuS IN COURT
Several Of Them Arrested In Georgetown
for Begging.
They Tell q Sad story Of Destitution
I'm kclly's Camp-Remarks
by the Judge.

anxious, to have the half-starved men move
en- and desert this vicinity. Virginia and
Maryland, as well as the District, are feel
Ing the effects Of the presence Of so many
men who have not proved themselves
desirable citizens. The farmers in this
vicinity are now complaining of depreda-
tions committed by the so-called indus
trials. and some Of them even go so far as
to charge that their crops disappear over
night and find temporary resting places
In the camps. There are more generals,
colonies, majors and sergeants In the ranks
Of these different armies than there are
about the drinking saloons Of the city. and
when rations are short these bearers of the
titles come first in the ''pass-around" Ac-
cordinS to the statement of one of the men.
who had not taken a bath for several
weeks. and who had been two days without
food, there are about $40 Of these men float
Ing about here, and they are suffering for
food Throughout the country, as well as
in some parts of the city, especially George
town, these hungry individuals, who pre-
tend to be crying for work. are begging
Tor FOOD, and many OF them go SO far as to
demand 1t as a matter of right. In this
way the women and children are being ter
rorized, and the police are now arresting
all such persons found violating the law.
Becoming Desperate.
There Is nothing to eat in camp, and
We are becoming desperate" said one of the
men arrested yesterday, and he undoubted-
ly expressed the feeling of q large majority
Of those who left their homes and employ
ment to follow the call and march Of the
so-called "Commonweal of Christ"
Six of these alleged Migrants were ar
rested yesterday and hauled up before the
Police Court this morning, where Judge
Miller was emphatic in his denunciation
of the leaders. who style themselves gen
erals"
Five of the prisoners were arrested in
Georgetown, while the sixth man was ar
rested in the county. His name was given
as William Dugan, and his residence as ST.
Louis, Mo. Policeman Pierce arrested him
at the house of Mrs. Brooks, on the Lough-
borough road.a long distance from the camp
of kelly's alleged army across the river.
Dugan. VINO is strapping young man, has
the appearance of being able to do Justice
on farm at any kind of work. He called
at the house and asked for food, and while
waiting for Mrs. Brooks to return from the
pantry, Policeman Pierce walked in learned
the object Of his visit and placed him under
arrest.
So many citizens had complained to the
officer that he felt it his duty to arrest
every member of the "commonwealers''
found on his beat.
DuSan's story.
Things have become terrible" said Du-
gan to the officer, land I'm Just getting
desperate. But" he added, I'm not the
only one who is starving; there are hun
dreds of them about here VINO are in the
same condition.
His story to the court was that he came
here Wednesday, and went over to the
camp and vas soon starved out.
went to the house in the country yes-
terday and asked for work or food" he
said, land the lady said she had no work,
but would give me food"
han tool ho, -, ttxa
ter and questioned the man concerning his
reasons for Joining the army, and what he
expects to do in the future.
Il Joined the army" was his answer to
others to see IL the government wouldn't
relieve Us. We thought We would try to get
the government to do something for u.s."
Where were you last employed?"
Canton, Mo-"
What pay did you get?'
Il got 81 .25 day. but didn't have full
days work. and so I couldn't get my board
out of it,
Have you any family7"
He said that thus far he got nothing from
the army except that Kelly the so-called
had given him some food At New
port. Ohio. he said. the army disbanded.and
Kelly told the men to get here the best
way they could. And" he added, they
have not all arrived yet"
He was led to believe that the army would
succeed In getting Congress to do something
and that the men would get work on the
Mississippi.
What He Expected.
How did you expect to get work ?" asked
the Judge.
Expected Kelly would feed u.s."
Has he any means?"
We'll, 1 can't tell that, but the labor
unions have been helping us right along"
IF they have been helping you," said the
court, why are you beggingT"
The food gave OUT
Judge MiIIer's Remarks.
You have been terribly misled," said
Judge Miller, land everybody sympathizes
with you. and there is no one on earth who
does not want to help you if you are really
in earnest and want work. But the people
won't help tramps and vagabonds.
This is a terrible state of affairs Here
you are, several hundred in number penni-
less and without food, and here because of
some crazy idea in your head about what
is to turn up."
Further questioning brought on. the true
condition of affairs. In the camp over the
river the prisoner said, there are several
hundred men without tents, blankets, food
or even spring water. At the time of his
arrest he said, he had been without food
for more than twenty-four hours, but never
W. til he Joined the army had he experienced
such suffering.
He expressed a desire to return in the di-
rection of his home in the west, and Judge
Miller said he would certainly like to as
sfst him back home.
II don't want to send you to the work
house" the judge told him, but If this
begging keeps up that is just where you
and your companions will have to go.
Il heartily sympathize with you poor,
misled men, but have not a bit of sympa-
thy with your leaders. They are keeping
you here in idleness and starvation for their
own purposes. If / let you go what will
you dor
I'm 20 over to see Kelly and tell him I'm
going home" was his answer.
Given u Chance.
.rThe people here don't propose to feed
these organized bands of men, the Judge
said. 'If they would scatter over the
county and make an honest effort to get
employment they would no doubt succeed
for farm hands are In demand In some sec
tons of the county. 1 believe you are an
honest man and / am going to give you a
chance to show your manly qualities
Thomas Baker, Patrick Kelly and Charlie
Clark were then called up. They had been
arrested fer begging in Georgetown, and
each man told his story They came here
as members of the so-called Kelly army,
and one Of them started with the army in
He said they Jared well in the
west and the people of Omaha and Council
Bluffs wanted them to remain at those