Evening journal., 1900-08-06
WHAT BECOME
Or THH TRAMPS?
Question That Indignant Tax
Payers Are Asking
They Want a Stop Put to The Whole.
sale Arrest Of IIObOeS in
Kent County

Clayton, Aug. 4.-The arresting O
so many tramps along the line of the
Delaware railroad is a much mootet
subject at present and an imporIani
query is, where are these men placed
for safe keeplng2 One fact is certain
Doevr jail will not begin TO hold the
hoboes. The arrest of the wandering
willies has become quite a business in
this town and the taxpayers all ever
the county will be out many dollars.
This money it Is alleged, is put away
in the pockets of a certain few. Detec-
tive Nathaniel Hutchins seems to be
the leader of the officers making the
arrests here. He is assisted by his son.
Charles Hutchinson, James Wright.
Night Watchman Herbert Haynes and
Frank Lord. The men are paid fifty
cents for every tramp arrested. with
the exception of the latter named-I0rd
who receives but twenty-five cents
Every incoming freight train Is care
fully searched by the officers, and woe
to the luekless fellow who is caught
There should be a stop put to these
wholesale arrests, say the citizens of
this community. IL is an expensive
business. Tramps are arrested, the of
hcers, committing squire. and finally
Sheriff John Wharton are each in turn
paid their fees. The tramps are fined.
and If not paid. sentenced to Dover
jail for thirty days. How many of the
hoboes ever spend the month in the
Kent county prison is the principal
topic Of conversation among all classes
in this county. Certain il is that Dover
Jail would not begin to hold these men,
not if twenty of them were placed in
eacn cell. Such being the case. what
becomes Of these prisoners. and is the
county charged thirty days board, are
the question asked by the people. Mag
istrate John CaspersOn. Of Clayton. is
called up at any hour of the night to
try the fellows arrested. Everybody is
making money except Lord, who is
paid but half price for his arrests. Hel
cannot satisfactorily answer who gets
the other quarter The usual plan Is
for the officer to go up to the end of
the north switch. AS the train comes
TO a standstill on the siding the tramps.
at the point of a revolver. are made
to alight. In a moment more they are
In Magistrate Casperson's Office. Five
dollars and costs (S75O), or thirty
days says the judge. No money be-
ing forthcoming. the prisoners are
and sent to Dover jail, but
rs stated above the Jail will not begin
to hold them.
One night recently eight amen We're
arrested in the Clayton yard on a
freight. Among the number was Clar-
ance Hackett.a printer of respectable |
appearance, and an intelligent man. He
pleaded with the officers to let him /
90, saying he was out Of work as a re- |
suit of illness, and was even then hav- |
ng chills. His pleadings were treated /
with contempt by the officers. Hackett |
was sent up for thirty days. He says
hat when Dover Jail was reached he
was released and allowed to go. He is |
now subbing on the Dover Index and |
MS story has created quite a sensation. |
Hackett says that seven other men
we're released with him. Although sem
fenced to thirty days. he says they
we're never in the Jail.