Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-30
HIS BULLY GRAFT.' .
John Murray, Tramp, Took Possession
Of a SpinSter'S Home.
Smoked in the Parlor, Reclined in
an Easy Chair on the Porch, and
Feasted on Chickens-Unexpect-
ed Arrival of the Owner Brother,
a Fight and a Prison Cell.

Binghampton, n. Y, June 29.-About
two weeks ago Miss Lydia Hill, who
lives at Silver Lake, a few miles from
this city, decided TO make visit to her
sister, who lives near Montrose. Ac-
cordingly she closed her house, care
fully locked all the shutters, pulled
down the shades to keep out the flies,
made an arrangement with the son OF
her nearest neighbor whereby, for
consideration, that youth was to teed
her chickens, and departed, serene in
the assurance that the place would
take care of itself while she was gone.
1t didn't. There came one to take
care of it. He was a tramp; name,
John Murray; appearance, picturesque,
but unprepossessing; habits, domestl-
Gated or fast becoming so, when rudely
interrupted. John. wandering along
that way three or four days after Miss
Lydia's departure, cast longing and
weary eye upon the place. 1t looked
comfortable His practiced vision dis
cerned the recognized signs of tempo
rary desertion. There was no guardian
dog TO bite him; nothing but toothless
hens. John decided to settle down and
live the life of citizen of the COM
munity He entered the house of Miss
Lydia Hill, found all to his taste, and
promptly took up his residence there.
From that day he never cared to wan
der from Miss Lydia's fires.de.
1t was a soft berth for John Murray,
tramp. He slept in Miss Lydias bed.
He cooked on Miss Lydia's stove. He
smoked the pipe of peace and con-
tentment in Miss Lydia's parlor,
thoughtless. or perhaps careless, of the
fact that Miss Lydia would have
thrown several assorted conniption fits
upon the lowered carpet at the mere
thought of tobacco smoke in these
sacred precincts; and he enjoyed Miss
Lydia's favorite view of the sunset
from Miss Lydia's pet rocker on the
side porch. Miss Lydia's garden fur
nished him with a sufficient livelihood.
is exterior was decorated with the
overs thereof. and his interior with
ne fruit. When he wanted exercise
chased Miss Lydia's pullets-and TO
victor belonged the spoils. He
en- went so far as to anchor Miss
yda's tame pullet TO the pump by
r right leg. to the end that she
light not lay her eggs where he would
I'VE difficulty in discovering them.
fe was one rose-grown bower Of ease
I'd plenty
Certain OF the neighbors wondered at
eing a strange man about the place.
/ that region neighbors mind their
wn business. One or two of them
poke in a MISUNDERSTANDING way. and
ohm Murray, householder and gentle
ian of leisure. remarked airily that he
ad rented the place. To the boy who
anne TO look after the chickens he
aid: You needn't come any more.
I've took this place. chickens and all,
and I'll take care OF II.
Daily the care Of the chickens grew
less. also the number; also the vege-
tables. fruit and flowers. AS for John
Murray. he waxed fat and ever happier
until the advent of Miss Lydia's bro
ther. Miss Lydia's brother. although
not large. is stalwart. When he saw
John Murray sitting in Miss Lydia
rocker on the side porch he almost
choked with wrath and amazement.
John had come to believe that he really
owned the place. Therefore, when Miss
Lydia's brother questioned him. he re-
sponded haughtily: Keep off the
grass. I'm runnin' this place"
The next instant he and the rocker
flew off the side porch together. John
Murray. tramp. again, and in that ca
pacitv fed to the recesses of the house,
with Miss Lydias brother after him.
Then began a terrible wreckage of Miss
Lydia's front parlor, which was COM
pleted ten minutes later. at which time
Miss Lydia's lodger was pretty much
of a wreck himself The victor tied
him up with the remains Of the cur
tains and drove him over to MOntrose
to iail. He is there waiting an exam
ination now. and is in a frame of mind
far from eontrite. "Oh. it was bully
graft while it lasted he remarked,
licking his lips as he entered the Jail.
Miss Lydia is expected to return to
what is left of her home to-day, and
there is talk of importing company
of militia to prevent her from breaking
into the jail and lynching John Mur-
raw all by herself, when she beholds
the effects of his fortnight's occupa-
ton.
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