The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-30
Housewives Should Be
Guarded in Answer
ing the Bell.
Alleged Peddlers, Beggars and
Other Itinerants Said to Be
Planning a Crusade.
A Lesson Derived From the Recent
Guerrero Street Traqedy-Mr.
Lefty on This City.

Until some warning cry, piercing
and penetrating as the recent Guer-
rero-street tragedy, startles them,
housewives are prone to be careless in
so far as is concerned the reception
they generally accord peddlers, beg
garS and other itinerants who ring
their door bells. AS soon as it was
discovered that a coupling pin had
been the instrument of that murder
crime tracers of experience fell upon a
clew The house where murder was
done is but few blocks from the rail-
road right of way, along which there
constantly pass characters of varied
degrees of desperateness who belong
to the army OF tramps that every win
ter become so numerous throughout
California.
Anent these facts a statement made
by a professional tramp ought to
prove interesting:
And It won't be a case of break in,
either. They (the tramps) are going
to give this town her needings, and
Frisco Will get a deal this year that
will leave her ribs bare. There's moth
ing in Los (Angeles) for us; she was
ralIed over last season and won't be
ready for picking again till SO. This
town is all right; Frisco always was.
There's the two race tracks; they
bring the hockey (thieving) guys, and
a straight CRATER can keep a tribe
rum dunn (drunk) for months. They
never pull EN- here except you sit on
a marks neck, and it's only the big
burlies that do that Even if the
bulls (pOlice) did get hostile and
glom (arresD a few it would be the
same, for they couldn't begin to ditch
(jaiD half that's coming"
laration styles himself Chicago
Lefty" Mr.. Chicago Lefty. presum-
ably, quite understands his business,
and, therefore, may be considered an
authority. He and hundreds of the
same brand each year make pilgrim
age to "the coast TO avail them
selves OF Western climate, hospitality
and charity. The wine shops that
these wanderers frequent these days
are alive with tourists, and so large
an influx has been this year that an
additional resort has had to be fitted
up TO accommodate the late corners. All
ranks and descriptions of tramps have
invaded the city with the professed
purpose of stealing when not closely
watched. They do not disguise their
intentions, but, like Mr.. Chicago
Lefty, openly boast that by hook or
crook they will get their portion of
cakes and pint of ale.
Evidence of their presence here is
not at all difficult of attainment. Peep
into one of the many of their hang
outs, some of which will be found just
bordering on Chinatown, others scat
tered throughout the upper Kearny-
street district, and more in south of
Market precincts. The places they
habitually resort to will be crowded
with lily garbed and repulsive hui
mans, who will be porting over tables
amid layers of SHELLS that lingei in
the stagnant air TO recall to reflective
noses the many gulps Of 5 cents a
quart liquor that had in drunken
brawl and maudlin carelessness been
split there.
From these haunts Of vice and vi
ciousness these fellows go forth to beg
bread. These are the fellows who ap-
proach you on the street and almost
on their knees in a tone that seem
ingly betrays a hopeless heart ask you
for a dime or quarter. These ere they
who ring door bells and, sometimes
arrogantly. demand food. Did IL hap
pen that the murderer of Ms. Clute
turned out to be one of these, those
who know what the professional"
tramp is could have uttered that stock
remark. II told you so,' with empha-
al and with meaning