The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-08
To Be Present When One OF
Their Race Is Hanged.
THEY DON'T PROTEST
But Silently Acquiesce in the
Laws Justice.
The Condemned Gypsy Is Gull
ty of Wife Murder.

| streams in the county have approached
| nearer the city and located temporarily
! on vacant lots.
Many have come from distant states,
| travelling in their usual style by wagon
| over the public roads. Go 40 blocks in
any direction from the corner of Broad
! way and Olive street and you will see
half doTen Gypsy camps
They are here because of an APP
preaching execution of Andrew Worten,
the Gypsy wife murderer.
There does not seem to be any scheme
of protest in this, but rather simple
and mute expression of regret and SYM
pathy. They would probably appeal to
the governor for clenIency, however
vain the application would be, but for
the mingled pride and shyness that
makes them hold aloof from the rest of
mankind and has beeen a potent factor
in the preservation of racial purity.
There is slight apprehension of an at
ed the lesson of obedience to the laws
he takes no part in making. Even if it
were feasible it is doubtful if the Ro-
many people would attempt to wrest
their brother from the hangnan. Their
doctrine of fatalism does not encourage
enterprise of that character.
None of the camps are large commun-
tiles. 1t is rare that a camp numbers
more than two families, and generally
these are close rela tiveS. A number of
the camps have but one family, and
these are generally of the well-to-do
class.
Passengers by the Lindell cars on
Finney avenue are familiar with that
thrifty looking camp under a little
clump of oaks on Taylor near Finney.
That is a fair representative of the bet
ter class of nomadic homes. About that
camp there is an atmosphere of clean
Illness and open-air comfort that is re-
freshing in this hot weather. The
strong, well-kept spring wagon, the trio
of tents in which the family dwell, the
gaudy hammock swinging between the
trees, the big -"Egyptain Fortune
Teller"-the cool and open tent in which
the sag of the family permits the con-
fiding to cross her palms; all are pic
turesque features of we'll ordered Gypsy
life.
The family at Finney and Taylor are
Their name is Norton, and they claim
to be English The father of the fami-
~ has North of England accent They
There are six in the family including
the mother of the man of the camp,
who, as may be supposed, is the pur-
veyor of future events. A wife and
three children make up the rest of the
family. This family say they are not
much interested in Worten's fate They
Know all about it, for the pile of news
papers in one corner of the visitors
tent, showed that the family kept we'll
informed on the news of the day.
The head of the family said he knew
some or WOrten'S people, but had not
seen any of them in several years. He |
did not regard Worten as anything |
more Inan a gypsy by birth.
His wife, as [ understand said Nor
ton, was not full blood, and they had
not lived in Gypsy fashion for years. |
guess she was not a good woman"
What is the idea of your people with
regTrd to Andrews trial? Do they
think it was fair?''
ON, l suspect So We people, YOU
know, believe in justice. and if this
young man killed his wife and he ad-
mits he did, he deserves punishment.
Inc Gypsy mother shook her head
ana moaned some words of sympathy
for the boys mother and sister, but she |
had no word of complaint against the |
law.
The most important camp of Gypsies
in st. Louis is that on Easton avenue.
RMS camp is really a double one One
branch is ON EaSton avenue and News
tead and the other at Easton and Whit
tier. Both sections are greatly interest
ed Worten's fate, for the father and
mother of the young man are we'll
known to them. The elder Wortens are
members Of a camp out in the country
said to be near Clayton. When efforts |
were being made to save WOrten from
the gallows a few weeks ago the mother
of the young man came into town and
stayed 10 days with the Thorndykes, one
OF the families camped on EaSton ave-
nue.. These and a family of Wilson's.
and yet another family, the head of
which refused to tell his name COM
prise the two branches of the camp.
The Gypsies are reticent, tinid peo-
pie, and it is difficult for visitors to get
information from them.
A bunch or two of fire crackers and a
pin wheel, bestowed upon a young and
patriotic Romany, however in q de-
gree loosened the tongues of his elders.
One of the Wilson's, a dark-skinned wo-
man, who said she knew the Wortens
well, did most of the talking. She said
the WOrtenS came from New York state
but had Travelled over most of the Uni
ted States. They had only been known
in the west since the son had got into
trouble.
THE old mother" she said, ''is a good,
honest woman and her heart is broken
at the disgrace and sorrow that has
come upon her. There are four in the
WOrten family living-the mother and
two sisters. one of them married, and
the other a young girl. The father is
in an insane asylum in New York
state"
Asked as to the probable number of
her people who have been attracted to
st. Louis by Thursdays event the wo-
man said she did not know.
I'VE people who live in little COM
don't know much about ether camps.
We have heard though, that some OF
the camps have moved nearer to town.
We have few acquaintance in other
families, and we don't know much of
what is going on
Asked as to whether the people of her
class had subscribed towards Worten's
defense, the woman professed not to
know.
I'VE sometimes help people In trou-
ble," was all she could be induced to
say
She added. however. that the wortens