West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-03-20
TALES or 4 TRAMP.
How They Run HIM ia Jail Gee aston
ally But We're Always Glad TO Let
II i'm 60.

II have had more or less 20 do with
county iails in my time. observed the
tramp and while il hasn't hurt me
any believe IL has been for the benefit o.
the benefit Of the jails. Il is though in the
rural regions that tramp ought to be in
jail on general principles aud they don
always stop to figure the difference be.
tween a tramp and dilapi5a,cd gentle.
man. when a new sheriff is elected. he
signalizes the event by rounding up tramps
in his county, aud deputies and constables
ate always on the lookout for fees. 1t
would be strange II hadn't been cought
in the net a few times but as said. /
don't think my reputation suffered very
much"
! Il got my hrst county Jail in New Jersey.
was placidly tramping ovor the country
when a farmer offered me work at picking
| berries. He had twenty hands az work at
an average Of a dollar and half day
! but he wanted me to buckle TO il at 90
| cents didn't object to the work. but to
/ the price, and he had me arrested as a
vagrant A constable happened to be
! handy and was run In. kept in jail for
four d ays and then brought out for exami-
nation. l made my dist kick on the jaler
I demanded the fare aud the sleeping
accommodations allowed by the law. and
he showed me into a dark cell as a
reward. I asked TO argue my own case
before the justice, and almost upset the
state OF New jersey. | had the farmer in
box within ten minutes The constable
had arrested me without warrent. and
] soon had him shaking. Under the law
should have been examined within twenty.
four hours. and when ! went for the l. p.
he grew pale The iailer had not only
received me without a commitment. but
had withheld my legal privileges and ille
gally punished me. ! made all these things
so clear that there was Consideration.
was offered my liberty but wouldn't take
it. was offered apologies but waved
them aside held them on the ragged
edge for whole day and when finally
decided to continue my wauderings ! had
$40 in my pocket and was looked upon with
considerable awe They didn't collar.a
tramp in the county Tor the next three
years
THE average justice OF the peace is a
car when tramp is brought before him
| He hears tho testimony OF a farmer and
the statement OF a constable aud imposes
sentence of thirty or sixty days without
reference TO the prisoners risht have
always felt il duty to bring them down
OF their perch. had been run in down in
Ohio under the vagrant law The com
plainant was a farmer who Lad offered
me work and his honor had imposed sen.
tence aud was looking self complacent
when arose and demanded my legal
rights. made the farmer acknowledge
| that he had no work for man and no
money to pay him If he had worked and
exhibited a felon on my finger as proof
that couldn't work anyhow defod
them to prove that had asked anywhere
for food or that had slept in any ones
barn and that was meditating evil They
put up the prosecuting attorney against
me but he dropped the case in ten minutes
! and advised the farmer TO settle with me.
/ got suit OF clothes out OF il and let him
on and the justice did me the honor to pat
mc on the back and call me smart man
Under the law in every state a sheriff
gets so much per head for feeding prison
ers and in most cases their rauons are
| specified. II IS the object OF the sheriff TO
make all he can and prisoners in most jails
| do not get half their allowance They had
me in jail in Indiana for stealing turnips
! took them right enough and had no Kick
/ coming but the first meal in Jail showed
| that the sheriff was starving the prisoners
/ fof the benefit Of bis pocket called him
/ up and quoted the law and he hauled off
and knocked me down. got little besides
/ bread and water during my fifteen days
/ but lcf che jail 90 go before court and
I urcd a warrant for assault and battery.
/ Then also began a suit against the sheriff
/ ior failure to comply with thc law and for
/ personal damagcs There was good deal
I Of chatting no FIRST bnl Il was suddenly cut
l oh ihe sheriff was the most surprised
/ man iu Indiana when hc learned that be
/ bad no legal right Co assault an inofcnsivc
/ prisoner iic bad always supposed that be
/ couid knock prisoners about as hc listed
/ De was convicted aud fined sio aud costs
anal thc other suit never came 90 trial Py
the advice OF his friends De bought me OF
and thc iI'apidaied gentleman had cash in
his pockets Cor thc next three months.
lbcy Thought they bad me dead 60
rights once in Michigan bot they burned
thsir fingers worked three days Tor r.
| farmof Coz an old silver watch and two days
later was arrested on tifc highway by an
over fealous constable as 90 thief . didn't
Do 1uf worrying 1s thc IlI happened TO be-
a decent ono lnd thc officer won't at t and
uorscd Hp hrHnufui case against mc.
Two farmers who bad bccn robbed almost
believed chat my watch was part of hc
l uIunafr and a fHIrT u.na TUaH sure of DO