Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-24
Large Number Driven to Cover by
the Weather.
ABLE-BODIED YOUNG men AMONG THEM
Wanderer Who Was Both hide
pendent and Grateful.
POLICE COURT SCENES

Tree lodgings are furnished had to put on
extra coal last night. This was rendered
necessary for the reason that, in addition
to the change in the weather conditions the
number of tramps and others to be pro.
vided for greatly increased This is the
season of the year that the knights of the
road on their journey southwark usually
reach here In large numbers, and this year
mas proved no exception to the rule.
The tramp or nomad of today, the police
find, is much different from the so-called
tramp of years ago. In all the hundreds
who come here during cold weather few
are found who carry a tramp's outfit-towel,
soap and comb, and the occasional razor
harmless old men roaming about the coun.
try, sleeping in barns and outhouses, the
police find thousands of strapping young
men who are simply on the go because they
will not work. These men have given the
police great amount of trouble during re.
cent years, and the officers are puzzled to
know what to do with them, except to
Vag them, as they say, and endeavor to
nave them incarcerated in the workhouse
among those who stop at cheap lodging
houses end charitable institutions the DO
nee are constantly finding thieves, and the
ofhcers say II the courts will support them
in their work they will resume the raidins
OF their testing places and make the strang.
ers account for themselves. Some of these
so-called bum tramps have already been
arrested
Pleased With the City.
While q large majority of these men coma
through here on their way to a warmer
climate they are generally so well pleased
with ths city that they prefer to remain.
and unless sent down on the farm or driven
out of the city they make this their resting
place for the winter and seek a cooler eli
mate in summer
Among these men thare are many who
play upon the charitable people bv work
.Eg confidence games. Some by the use
Of acids make their arms present the an
peaIahce OF having baen scalded, and when
lney beg on the streets their apparently sad
physical condition eXcites sympathy and
brings forth small sum of money Then
mere are others VINO work the one-arm
game Whlle other strong and sound men
use clutches only for the purpose of play-
Ing upon the unsuspecting pedestrian MANY
small boys are picked up and made to do
the begging. These are especially valuable
IN ina work of getting food from houses
by working these games the men find no
trouble in getting money for lodgings and
whisky, and the police reports show that
many men live in this way during the en-
tire season.
1t is not every man found begging who
Is dangerous to society, however for MANY
honest workingmen forced to walk or
get the assistance of freights in getting
from one place to another. These are the
men who generally suffer most for thav
nave nothing to hide, and their honesty
Is not always rewarded so well as are the
tricks and receptions of those who belong
to the other class.
Some of the old landmarks of the wan
derers have disappeared during recent
years and new resting places have to he
1ornd: Brother Whiteford's temple, at
me the "a street railroad bridge, was one of
their favorite resting places Other old
buildings in which they slept have been de-
str0yed, but they are able to find new ones
and those who are willing to do small
amount of work con get good accommodate
items.
Exception to the Rule.
Richard F. Ryan, an aged man who spent
a night in tbs municipal lodging house. and
then failed to get work, is one Of the latest
arrivals This old man, a native of Dublin.
where he was born more than sixty years
ago, was extremely thankful for what was
zone for him. He made no attempt to
shirk his work, but was willing to do more
than what was required of him. There was
a prospective vacancy In the force al the
lodging house, ard the old man was to
nave been given the position. The vacancy
dlc not occur, however and then Ryan went
to the Police Court and asked to pc sent
w Tic nc wanted TO there he
cause he could work fer what was given
him.
To Policeman Flynn, at the entrance to
the court, he explained his troubles, and at
his request a charge of vagrancy was nre.
ferred against HIM
What do you want me to do for your
Judge Scott asked
Ssnd me down where can earn my liv-
ing. was his frank response.
Where do you belong?"
nave no home just at present, and be-
cause of my old age and the severity of
the weather cannot do any more walking
just now
Where are you FROM"
Il came from Pittsburg, where I was
robbed of all 1 had in my store, and l then
started for Florida. where l have some
friends"
Judge Scott volunteered to pay the old
mans board for a few days until some
thing better than sending him to the work
house could be done. This he refused to
accept as he objected to receiving charity
L m old and not as strong as 1 once
was" he said, but I'm willing to work for
what l GET
The judge finally gave him three months
on the farm, as he requested, and he re-
sponded that he had something for which
to be thankful.
Pleads for CIemency
Patrick F. Brady, an able-bodied young
man, who says he came from Brooklyn
was also before the Judge. He was willing
to accept anything other than prison SEN
tence. and this the court forced on him.
This morning about 1890 O'clock" said
Policeman Whalen, Brady was in a hotel
office creating a disturbance, and the Dor
ter elected him. When he returned the
porter made an attempt to put him out
again, and he drew a knife on him.
The knife exhibited to the court was an
ordinary table knife with a razor edge
and the stranger declared he had used it
for shaving purposes only.
Let me CO." he said, land I'll quit the
town"
Ninety days. said the judge, 'in default
of fine
Grateful Little Stranger.
There was a little stranger In the civ
this morning VINO expressed his thankful
ness to Major Sylvester before departing
for Chicago. Arthur Nelson is his name.
and he is now on his way to his mother.
The boy Is only fourteen years old, and
until he left home, four months ago he
had assisted his mother by turning over
to her his small earnings. He Joined a dog
and pony show and went as far as Florida,
The company disbanded and he made his
way this far ON freight trains Who,, h.