Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23
THEY WANTED TO ENLIST
Five Wel,-Dressed Young Hen Arraigned
in Police Court.
All Released Personal Bonds
Pathetic Story Told by Man
Out of Work.

Five fairly well-dressed men stood In the
dock before Judge Kimball this morning
and answered to charges of vagrancy and
suspicion. They We're arrested at Benning
yesterday just after the arrival of a freight
| train from Philadelphia. Policemen Creagh
and McTaggart took them into custody.
These men all came in a box car
Policeman Creagh told the court.
He explained that a score or more of men
land at Benning on freight trains every
day Many of them have been put in box
cars and the brakemen instructed TO
release them when the District line had
been crossed.
I'm from Philadelphia John Flemming
said, and | have friends at Fairmont, w.
Va. | got on the wrong train in Baltimore
yesterday. Now I've got enough and if you
give me a chance I'll go back home"
William Martin and John Gordon. young
men who said they live in Philadelphia,
made a plea for their release.
We came here to enlist. said Martin.
Why didn't you enlist in Philadelphia?
Il did try, but the surgeons rejected me-
was his answer.
That's what | came here for, too" said
Martin. II tried to enlist in Philadelphia.
but the doctors wouldn't pass me-"
John Rhodes declared he was merely
passing through the city when the police
got him.
That's my case said Thomas w. King
I'm on my way TO Richmond. and l have
the price of the fare on the trolley road to
Alexandria.
There was nothing about the appearance
of the prisoners to indicate that they Were
ordinary tramps Judge Ki1nball believed
their stories and released them their
own recognizance.
Asked for Ten Cents.
q am not a vagrant. sir. said an elderly
man whose name was given as Frank b.
Ramsey.
He was sitting in park yesterday when
arrested him. said Policeman Cooney
The old man had been drinking and
saw him begging"
For what did he beg?"
Something to eat, your honor" replied
the policeman.
officer Haynes of the Humane Society
told the court that the old man asked him
for 10 cents.
What was his condition?" the court
asked
He was pretty full" the officer answer
ed, and when l told him / feared he
wanted the money for whisky he said:
don't drink"
And that's right" said Ramsey to the
court. Il never take drink
unfortunately the testimony is against
you" the court remarked, land so is your
appearance"
Ramsey declared he had never been ar
rested before. He had on no shirt, but no
explanation of the absence of such a gar
ment was given
Sixty days on the farm was his SEN
teIce.
Pleads Guilty.
Frank Clark surrendered to the police
this morning, pleaded guilty to a charge Of
vagrancy and asked that he be sent down.
but the court refused his request and dis
missed the charge.
The case was a particularly sad one, rs
told in court, and Agent Massey of the
Prisoners Aid Society volunteered to assist
the unfortunate man. Clark came here
five weeks ago looking for work. He had
so when he reached the city and now his
money Is gone. For three days he had
been without food.
Why do you want to go TO the work
house?" Judge kimball asked
Because l can't get work he answered.
He said he had made every effort posi-
BILE. but had not succeeded.
Henry H. Cooley was in court for va
grancy because of his intemperance. He
admitted his guilt and was released upon a
promise TO let liquor alone.