The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-08
IERR0RI2ED BY IRANPS.
! Colony Of Them Infest Morris
town, New Jersey,
RESIDENTS IN CONSTANT FEAR,
Their Chief is a Despondent Tailor.
He Occupies a Palace Eight by
Twelve Feet and Works the
Gang in Organized Squads,
Friends of the Dogs.
Residents of Morris county, N. J., arc

Residents of Morris county, n. J., are
tcrrorized by u regiment Of tramps, who
have been prcying upon them for Il
III the vicinity until next winter. Shcr-
iii Edmund y. Backer has been appeal
ed to TO drive tho tranps out of me
county, but thus far he has done moth
ing. and tho people are afraid to raise
their hands against the vagabonds, lest
they rctnliato by burning thoir houses
and barns or commit crimes of even
worse character.
There have lately been Il few addi.
tons to tho company, so that there are
nov close to 90 tramps at large in tho
neighborhood.
Tho tramps havo leader named Cal
lahan, who used to be respectable tail
or in Morristown. He is about 30 years
old and resembles Napoleon Ill Hc
has son, who is Il law student, and
two daughters, who are employed III
Newark as typcwriters. Ho lost his
business and in fit of desperation tool.
to the road. He was elected leader of
his follow trampS because of his expert
cnco and intimate knowledge of the
roads and inhabitants of the county. He
knows them all, and every morning the
gang meets at his hut and receives or.
dcrS.
All do not forage on tho same day 1t
is not necessary for moro than n third of
their number to go ont at once. They
tako turns, SO that all will havo done
their shares of work every three
days.
Only fow of the tramps are accom-
modated ut night in Callahan S hut. Ii
is II small affair, about 2 feet by s, and
not much more than 6 feet high.
Tho hut is mainly constructed of sto-
len lumber and is lifted up with a few
ahclvcs, which serve as seats by day and
hunks by night. Mats and pieces of car
pet relieve them somewhat of their
hardness.
Callahan has his regular dodgers who
pay him extra for the privilege Of sleep
ing III his foul den. Tho rest have had
to find sleeping quarters elsewhere
they accordingly have appropriated TO
their use several barns, which they pre-
cmpted as If they had natural and legal
claims TO them, and the owners do not
dare TO object. There is not house
within ten miles around that they do
not visit regularly -Four or five will
sometimes call III one day ut single
house and beg for victunls or money, o.,
both. They are quite dainty in their
tastes, and if food of inferior quality j.
offered them they will reject it, and il
hey arc refused aims they will threaten
to uso force. They often ask for cloth
ing, but they arc SO independent that
they will accept only garments that arr
IN good condition. One fellow told a
Morristown woman who offered him her
husbands castotf suit that lie couldn :
take it because it was too much worn.
'Beggars," ho said, must be wei
dressed and make good appearance or
they won't succeed If your husband
hasn't got better suit than that. LEI
him come with mo to camp, and IN
get him ono that will look respectable -
Tho tramps have already made friend;
Of all the dogs in the vicinity of tho
camp. The dogs visit them and are well
fed, and consequently when tho tramps
call at tho houses tho dogs do not mo
lest them
The tramps make no secret of their
purpose. They say they intend to remain
III their camp all summer, and they OK
pect TO have Il good time if they are no,
driven out. New York Times.