The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-30
ALTERNATING HOBO
PASSING THROUGH
"Vag" Cases Now Numep-
Gus in Police Court.
HOW THE GAME is WORKED
Plans Of the Shifuess to Get Drink
or Money From the Well
Disposed.

or Money From the Well
Disposed.
a never failing sign of approaching
winter Is the return or The yegsmau and
hobo 10 the Capital city
These gentlemen of the road. lazy,
shiftless- eternaIv thirsty. are begin
ming 90 arrive in Washington in verita-
BILE droVes, ON their way 20 the warmer
chimes of the South.
In the spring these hibernaJ0rs pass
Through on their way North, in the
fail, they reErace their steps This. with
the idHug. begging. and drinking dur
Ing their stay in the different towns that
strike sheir fancy, may Doe said 10 be
brief history OF their lives
A few. sometimes many, are detained
in Washington Tor periods ranging from
fifteen TO ninety days This stay Us en-
urely at the expense of The Govern
OF their Inability IN prove the unLrutn
OF the warrant charging them with
without visible means OF support IN
short a ''Vag-
Confinement Welcomed.
II am unusually early or severe cold
spell has set in, this confinement is well
coined. for the hobo as at least sure of
three meals a day, and though his bot
lie is taken away from him. iu return
le is sure OF a bed.
il the weather is pleasant however,
the unfortunate win test his ingenuity
10 the utmost in a frantic endeaVor 10
prove that his presence iu the city Is
entirely accidental. ana If only given tl-
opportunity be- win depart forthwith
A few. a very few are released. The
luck. cursiug the Judge Wh0 sentenced
them. the pleasant weather they are not
permitted 10 enjoy. anything and every
El.uE 0u which their rage may vent l--
self for the hobo. his savage instinct
once aroused is fierce animal lie
has allowed his VIII power ana seIf-cou-
troll 10 lie IN latLarEic state for SO
lor@ that he has practically lost both
faculties. and gives himself over 90 his
Ilss without the slightest effort To cou-
l-.- himself
Released from custody the average
hobo loses no time in leaving the city
usually DF freight. oE Side Door Pull
Iltu AS 10 is called lE the FRA lerI-ltl
some. however. are unable 20 With
stand the temnt4ti1n of the ey=r-sgs5rla e.
Ing saloon doors They enter. and tler-
-laaFs some one who VIII llE 81
drink one drink leads % another and
-A more tEa- one case me ln-i .l-lll
weak iu character rather than criminal
Is aEain brought before one OF The Dis
lrleI judges ou the same old charge
No Mercy Now.
Whatever Ieuieuey may have been
sh0Hu him an his FIRST trial. be now 5E-
poets no mercy. Ills promises OF re-
formation are dI=reg8rded. and he IS
sentenced often % Gle fullest extent of
tle IsU 50 much Tor Che transient
Eoa1-
Washington is also tue LeaGguarter5
OF "a few skilled h1boes who have eIe-
waited bessiug t8 a One art. With mar
E=I1us skill they devise taIrz of former
upuIeuee- ana hard luck which usually
cause the approached citizen Lo -glge
APP readily and Elerails-
a fool can never make successful
hobo TO attain success. The man must
ue past master OF the ara Of facial es--
presslol- 1e possessed OF "a vivid i1aei-
nation for Wea wing Iis story. "a fauItI---
memory rlE le must uUt approach rua
same man TWICE and above all- keen
INSIGHT llrl character. So trained u.s.
inns last IaellrE amaug many G[ Lla
-E1l-l1l.E-- tltL the hobo HLI- ont 0t FL
crowd el I1-ftE uEeTrinziE pick out
IIs police are familiar with those
Flel5let-rs. and keep sharp lookout TO
eaten tlria ll lle art Of begging The
lan1eS arc equally familiar with the u0-
joe. however. ana keep an equally sharp
Lookout --at Lh- officers of the Jaw do
non catch Them working those ssh nom
-- consider legitimate Victims
Rarely aBagged"
The alaeer. having more at stake
Keep the keelar lookout AS a result
our rarely sees ONE uf tl- WASHINGTON
Regulars iu the Police Court
Probably che most s.zIlit1l worker I'm
lI= Ila was "a young man with yellow
lllr and blonde muztaehe. OF pleasing
address, ANA always neatly dressed