The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-11
TO GET RID OF Them
Begging 10 Be Stopped in the City Of SCran-
ton.
FIRST TEST Case TO Be MADE
A Little Child Picked Up on the Streets
Yesterday to be Given a Hearing by
Mayor Connell-Under the Provi-
sions of City ordiSance-Colonel
Ripple interviewed.

Begging on the streets OF the city Of
Scranton, or in any part of the city, is
to be stopped. The Associated chari-
ties has taken up the matter in dead
earnest and u test case is to De made.
For years the city has been infested
with a class who. although being not
in needy circumstances. instruct their
progeny to daily 90 out begging from
door to door, asking for and taking
everything conceivable, from loaf of
bread to pair Of shoes, hat shawl,
a dress or coat.
Even in the city's most prosperous
condition the begging has been prac-
ticed with profit and the mendicants
are not confined to any particular pOr
tion Of the city. Girls, and even boys
OF tender years. are sent out, and in-
stead Of independence and selfreiancs,
they are taught to become hypoCrites
and prevaricators
The public generally will rejoice that
an end is to be put to this disgraceful
practice, aud if the effort proves sue.
cessful, as it undoubtedly will, it will
aid very materially in separating the
deserving from the unworthy, and will
place the latter class where it properly
belongs, behind the bars Of our penal
institutions.
ATEST CASE.
A little girl apparently under l2
years of age. is the first person to be
arrested, and Il test case is to be made
of her, The little one, who is from the
West Side, was picked up on Lacka-
wanna avenue yesterday She gave
her name as Dumbrowski and ad-
mitted that she and her mother went
from door to door begging. The mother
herself is liable to prosecution FOR send.
ing the child out in the deplorable con
dition in which she was found
She was in ptiable condition when
found. She was lily clad and, Judging
from her appearance, the water mains
of the Scranton Gas and Water com
pany are not laid in the vicini ty of her
home.
The little one was picked up by Mrs
Pettigrew and taken to Colonel Rip
pies office in the Third National bank.
An officer was sent for and the little
waif was then taken to the city hall.
Later in the day Mrs Duggan applied
soap and water with good effect and
the child was then sent to the orphan
age, where she will remain until Mayor
Connel's return from New York, when
the hearing will take place.
LAW IN THE CASE.
The arrest was made under the fol-
lowing section of city ordinance:
"Persons found begging In the streets
by policemen, shall be taken before the
mayor, and if found to b. proper subjects
for relief, they are to be taken before the
directors of the poor If found to be va.
grants or imposters, to be dealt with by
the mayor according to law
Colonel Ripple, president of the As
sociated Charities, thus defined the
intentions of his organization in the
premises to a TRIBUNE reporter last
evening: &C.,
1--WE are acting in the cause of hui
manity. We want to put an end to
begging. 1t is our desire to separate
those worthy of relief from those that
are not. To the former class we will
accord all that the means at our dis
posal will allow The other class viii
have to earn an honest livelihood or 90
where they properly belong, behind
the bars, "