Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-07
BEGGARS FORM A TRUST
Gigantic Organization Unearth-
ed at Indianapolis.
BLIND MAN GENIUS OF OCTOPUS.


Lists Of Residences and "Easy"
People to Professional Mendicants.
Proof Of q System Extending Over
the Country Found.
What Is believed to be regularly or
ganized "beggars' trust" has just been
unearthed through an investigation
which was inaugurated by the officers
of the indianapolis charity organiza-
lions, and the developments have been
followed by sudden hegira of the
members Of the trust, who are now
possibly operating in some other city,
says the Chicago ecordHerald. Sec
rotary Grout of the Associated Chart
ties had his attention called some time
ago to a marked increase in the num-
Der of house to house and street beg
CARS, and little investigation con-
WINGED him that the mendicants were
being brought to Indianapolis and, aft
er working it for awhile, were sent to
other cities and their places filled in
Indianapolis by new men and boys un-
der regular system.
Officers were detailed to investigate,
and it soon became apparent that ev-
cry beggar that came to indianapolis
sooner or later reported at the home Of
Alphonse Hoover, blind musician and
beggar. He lived in one room with his
wife and two daughters and had one
boarder. He went to indianapolis from
Pekin, H., in 1899 and had been there
but short time when he applied to
the county for aid. He had been assist
ed from time to time and piled his
trade of begging and playing the accor-
dion without hindrance by the police,
but the inquiry developed the fact that
he was receiving part of the earnings
of other beggarS and that he was in
communication with all who cume to
the city.
Charles Hall, who played fiddle
about the courthouse, gave the business
Of the trust partly away, and the Off
GERS expected complete details from
him, but he was married to a good
looking young woman one morning and
went away on his bridal trip and has
never returned. Before leaving he
turned over a paper to John Devine, u
one legged young man who went to
Indianapolis from Cincinnati, which
proved to be letter from Hoover, in
which the writer told Of the easy
gratis" which existed in indianapolis
and where to call when he came for
further information and directions
who to strike"
Deyine said that Hall had 5000 when
he left indianapolis with his bride.
Devine admitted that he too, had re-
ceived letter from Hoover and that
friend named Lancaster, with whom
he had travelled gave Hoover his Gin
cinnati address. The authorities had
Devine's record looked up, and it was
learned that his sister in Cincinnati
had received letter from him in which
he had inclosed 81 and said that he
had just struck new graft" with
prospects Of good results, and he would
send her some more money soon.
The officers of the Associated Chart
ties, under direction of the board Of
children's guardians, then went to
HoOver's house to take his two daugh
tiers away, but Hoover had heard Of
their coming and managed to secrete
his children until he could arrange to
get out of the city, and he left the next
day for Kansas.
In the house, however. the officers
found typewriter lists which contain
ed the names and residences of a large
number of citizens, and these were di-
vided into sections which were regu-
larly allotted to certain persons, the
names of the latter having been pro-
vided for by leaving certain blank
spaces to be filled in later. The lists
If residences at which beggars would
receive something contained the names
VI many well to do citizens.
When the lists We're shown to De-
,ine, he admitted that Hoover had fur
1ished him one like it when he first
vent to indianapolis and that he had
,aid him dollar week for it's use till
le had learned the houses and names
" the owners. total of So. He said
hat Hoover furnished lists of people
n different parts Of the city and that
lis wife had had large number Of
hem made on the typewriter for the
Use Of the boys" He also said that
ut whose instance he went
D indianapolis from Cincinnati, had
ne Of the lists, but he had paid IS for
lis and had taken it with him when he
eft the city. AS rule the lists were
ot sold outright, but rented at a dol
ar week. the borrower putting up a
orfeit. which was returned to him
1hen he gave up the list before going
way.
Devine said that Hoover was arrang
lg to extend his system to other cities
nd was having lists made for use in
nose cities when the board of chill
ren's guardians got after him, and he
ms forced tO leave