Evening star., 1899-03-22
OFFICER PLAYS TRAMP
Mingles With Knights of the Pike and
Makes Captures.
Resultant Interviews With Police
Court Judge-WashingtOn Describ-
ed as Bad Place for Hoboes.

Policeman Lusby played tramp yesterday
and mingled with several knights of the
road whom he found in the Anacostia
freight yard.
Say, mister" said colored man to him.
eff you amt careful the cops will get YOU
How do you know they will?' asked the
officer.
Il heard in Alexandria yesterday" he
answered, that eighteen men were arrest
ed here the day before for ringing door
bells apd getting handouts
This colored man afterward gave his
name as James Epps, and with him was
Delly Mccoy, also colored, and white man
named Charles Trainor
Them fellows don't know what they
talking about, pard,'' said Trainor 10
the officer. Il quit work last year because
l wasn't making much money, and I've been
bumming all the winter. Unless something
easy turns up, I'm going to bum all sum-
mer.''
why did you go to Alexandria" Judge
I<imball asked Epps this morning Did you
want to get the smallpox
No, SIR" ne answered. Il was looking
for job.
How did you learn that so many people
had been arrested here?"
Il was asking some men what kind of
town it was. 1 got in the freight yard yes
terday and was going to hurry through, but
| got arrested
Judge Kinball said he was glad the city
was getting such reputation among the
tramps. and he hoped it would Spread all
along the line.
Escapes Are Few.
Washington" the judge tod him, 'fs
q dangerous place for tramps, and but few
of them escape the police
Trainor said he arrived here in box car
yesterday. He was asleep and was much
r,rl,n ,,ol I. hSc
city, instead of in Baltimore.
The court heard the officers statement
about Trainors bumming, and sent him
down for sixty days. Epps and Mccoy
said they were on their way to Philadel-
phia- They were held for two weeks, and
the judge advised them to leave the city
as soon as they are released.
Three white men, who gave their names
as John Martin, John Raymond and Frank
Kenny, were in the tolls alleged va
grants and suspicious persons These men
reached here yesterday, according to their
statements, and last night Policemen Cover
and Simpson arrested them.
They were visiting the hotels and ask
ing for food was the charge made by the
officers.
Where did you see them?" the judge
asked.
Their last call was at the Riggs House."
Each of the defendants was sent down
for sixty days
The Judges Estimate.
The same officers found James Lloyd and
Cornelius Shea on Pennsylvania avenue
begging for money to pay for their nights
lodging.
Il wasn't begging declared Shea II
came here with my friend. and We were 60
ing to Pittsburg to work"
That's what all the tramps say" re-
marked Judge kimball. land if they found
work they would be scared to death. l
think you men are looking for work so that
you can get away from 1t. The citizens of
Washington shall be protected from those
who are going from one section of the coun-
try to another.
A sentence of sixty days was imposed
Samuel Crawford, colored man from
South Carolina, attempted to assault a citi-
zen of Twining City last night because he
was refused meal. The prisoner admitted
the begging. but denied the charge of at
tempted assault preferred by Policeman
Smith. who arrested him
You Will have to go down for sixtv
days the judge told him. ''and when YOU
get out / would advise you to start for
home"
The last of the lot of alleged tramps was
n coiored prisoner, who gave his name as
William Dawson
w here was he arrested?" the Judge
asked Policeman Berman.
Il found him on Pennsylvania avenue
begging" the officer answered
was only asking for something to eat
and a place to Sleep was the prisoners
statement.
A sentence of two months was the result