The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-15

for ensic!ng stiil more nfckels ana dimes
from the pockets Of thu guliibie and phil
an.hroptc public.
Amt this winner" was remark
overheard 4. one Of these gatherings
The speaker was a soung fellow with
one arm and one foot heavily bandaged
He carried a crutch and broomstick
cane and hobbied about in imitation OF
a man who had been through train
disaster. His companions were grtnning
with delight.
fayorise scheme IL to offer for sale
a cheap ring or a brass watch for the
price OF a meal The article Is some
thing no one would feel like taking, but
serves as proof OF the genuineness OF
the applicant and enables him TO pose
as an honest man anxious to give value
received.
Some OF this pernicious class are dan
gerous. For example, some months ago
a rufian with a razor cut the throat or
a pedestrian who had refused to give
him anything. He was proved to be an
ex-convict. and had been Jailed several
times for begging and other petty Of
lenses. He got but six years sentence.
though the assault came literally within
a hairsbreadth OF the victims lffe-
Frequently the gentry are hard 10 ar
rest, forcing the officer 10 club them into
submission CT otherwise handle them
roughly. II Is then their habit TO make
a great ou,cry before the crowd, COM
planning that the oficer is brutal to the
poor heggar. The theughtle<s crowd takes
IT for granted that this is true, and more
or less abuse is heaped upon the police
men,
This working upon sympathy il the sole
aim Of the beggar's art. and upon his ge-
MUS for 1t depends his success Very
many OF the besgars brought to the police
station are found TO have more or less
money, often several dollars In nickels
and dimes. Some spend IL on drink as fast
as they get 1t. II they get nickel they
go for glass OF beer. IL a dime, they
drink something stronger. Growing moro
and more intoxicated. they continue beg
cling until they lose their habitual caution
In keeping out of sight Of the police. be-
come uproarious and are taken to the
lookup
The experiment Of the chaingang was
tried for time in Seattle, and could 1t
have been continued would probably have
eradicated the begging and general hobo
pest, but the gang was kept at work on
the streets, to the annoyance OF pedestri-
ans, many OF whom complained OF being
insulted by men In the gang under the
very nose of the guard, SO the plan was
discontinued. II was imperfect while II
was In operation. however. for II drove
the DeESArS 10 petty larceny, SO IL caught
they could be sent to the county jail.
which il also very comfortable and has
had no Changing.
The effective plan is to have a chaingang
at both places, and Il has been suggested
that the annoyance feature can be avoid
ed by placing the gang at some public
work. as San Francisco did with its hobos
I'm the construction OF the San Bruno road.
In Seattle the city sang could be kept at
work On the side OF Beacon hill, cutting
the streets through and filing In the tide
. fats with the dirt from the cuts. The
county gang could be occupied building a
road around Lake Washington. Only
about four additional men to the force OF
guards would be required, and 1t has been
represented that their cost would be much
more than saved to the city and county
by the decrease In offenses.
Victoria and Vancouver are almost alb
solutely FREQ from begsars and other ho-
Dos for the probable reason that punish
nent for this class is made 20 severe that
hobos oil ever the country would rather
take To work. even, than so to either OF
these cities.
A very feH beggars are deserving and
there Is not an officer on the police force
| who does not from time to time give some
| OF this class Il lift from his own pocket