The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-03
THE VAGRANCY ElCR0BE.
Important Discovery Resulting From the
Close Study of Migrants in the Re-
eorder's Court.

Mayor George ". Dick has decided
to rigidly enforce the vagrancy law
in Sumter. At the recorders court
Saturday, over which he presided, the
police had two colored men viz: Jim
Sharps and Charley Sanders. arraign-
ed for vagrancy. The Mayor, after
diagnosing the cases. decided that it
looked very much like vagrancy was a
contagious disease, as both raen had
it and had been in close contact with
each other. He did not consult the
health officer, however, but as Chief
of Police Bradford and his police Off
GERS are all experts on that peculiar
contagious disease the Mayor prescribed,
SIS or 80 days for Jim Sharps, ssand $40
or 20 days for Charley Sanders.
| His Honor, the Mayor, has been
Investigating the disease recently nam
edin scientific circles, Uncinariasis or
Anchylostomaisis, or in plain English
"the hook worm disease, which is
said to PRODUCES debilitating, languid,
inactive kind of don't care for exer-
else feeling, and makes a man kind Of
banker after living on the shady side
of easy street without working. In
some patients this disease is often
mistaken for malaria, in others it is
supposed to be produced by the lazy
germ,' as some scientists call it.
When fellow hangs around town for
a long time looking for a job and
never finds it, the police force begin
to think he is affected with the long
name above mentioned, which they
have to leave to the health officer to
pronounce. This disease was known
to the Egyptians three thousand five
hundred years ago, but, of cousse,
Mayor Dick did not catch on so soon.
It was only after the campaign for
mayor started that he became familiar
with scientific research. One of the
most characteristic preliminary symp-
toms is manifested by craving for
sitting down on the railing around the
Court House square. Chief of Police
Bradford recently prohibited the po-
lice from indulging in this luxury
and the Board Of Health forbade the
health officer doing business at that
place, for the good of their health.
The ordinary treatment consists Of
thymol, an organic stearopten antisep-
tic, given in large Doses But Profess
sor Bill Seals" our up to date coun
try supervisor, has modem sanitar-
ium ssbuilt along up-to-date sanitary
lines by Mr.. Edgar Skinner, for use
of the chain gang. Tie treatment
, consists of forced exercise and substan-
tial dieting Of rather monotonous
kind, which is said to be unpleasant
to the germ of laziness, sometimes
called "Uncinaria Americana" So
] arrangements were made with Profes-
sor Seals to treat all persons afflicted
!, with this unfortunate disease which
for convenience the City Recorder,
Mayor Dick Acting Mayor Bob Hayns-
worth, and the Chief of Police call
"vagrancy." It has been noticed that
persons afflicted with this disease u.s.
ually congregate together and are fond
of each otner's society. So it was de-
cided by the policemen that the dis
ease was contagious by personal con-
tact or association. In order to pre-
vent the spread of this infections dis
ease Mayor Dick has issued orders to
the police force to rope in all persons
afflicted with tendency towards
vagraucy, and send them up before the
recorders court for correct diagnosis
and treatment. Migrants will find
Sumter warm place for their money
hereafter. There are not great
many here, and the Mayor Goes not
think this climate good for their
health. Mayor Dick has considerably
augmented the chain gang by sentences
imposed in the thirty or forsy cases,
he has tried while acting recorder.
He generally admonishes all fist
offenders that repetition Of their
appearance at the recorders court
will result in a play to the full limit.
| He also has systematic way of con-
Quoting municipal business. ALI
complaints are referred to the chairmen
of the various committees, or to the
proper executive officers of each
department of the city government for
prompt action. He gives great many
matters his personal attention, and
frequently consults with the various
chairmen Of committees, aldermen and
city officers. The city council is 7erS,
business-like body, conservative, pEo--
gressive, yet careful. Each man feels.
his responsibility. There is no dis
cord among the members of city coun-.
ell. Every department is looked af-
ter by the different committees.
Every officer tries to do his duty. The
police force is very active as can be yer.
flied by reference to the recorders
court docket. Order is preserved
splendidly. The new office recently
created, "City Recorder - has beea
proven to be very good thing for the
city. His Honor Judge G. NJ. Hurst
has filed the Office very ably, and incs
dentally filed the county chain gang.
The Judge is now rusticating for his
health on Sulivan's Island, the Isle Of
Palms and Charleston. When be re-
turns he will be in good trim for.
business, and will dispense Justice
with firm baud
The very heavy rains recently caus-
ed food of water in several parts
of the city. This was caused by water
being damned on account Of drain
pipes being stopped with trash from
yards thrown in the street drains
This practice has given lot Of trou-
| b1o on6 hoe ooct tho citv cop,o mopoE