The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-05-16


the seasons programme.
"There has been murder commit
ted In a city, village or out In the
country, and the murderer has got
away. The murder may have been
for revenge. robbery, jealousy or what
not. The first thing the police do, fail
ing to find the guilty party within a
f, few hours, is to lay the crime to
tramps. Their own records would
show them that the tramp class is
more clear of capital crimes than al
most any other, and yet the first In
stinct is to go for II. The call goes
forth In city and village to round 1t
! up, and country constables for fifty
miles around are warned to be on the
| lookout.
~ am plodding along country high
way or taking a nap under a tree be-
side the road when the heavy hand Of
the law Is laid upon me. The constable
may have FIVE or six men at his back.
all armed and all regarding me as a
most desperate character. am bound
hand and foot. There Is much rejoic-
ing. The constable feels that he Will
be nominated for sheriff next time.
and those with him know they will be
regarded as heroes for some time to
come. am told that am red
handed murderer and that II l so much
as raise a finger shall have my brains
blown into the next county.
"The procession heads for the county
jail and makes a triumphal entry into
the town. Everybody turns out to see
and TO ask questions. The constable
and his assistants are almost carried
around on the shoulders of the mob. A
boom sets in and real estate jumps 25
per cent 1t is hours before the excite.
ment abates. The telephone and the
telegraph spread the news all over the
country that the murderer has been ar
rested. and the jailer wouldn't trade
places with the president of the Unit
ed States.
"Of course there Is mob Of newspa,
per men. and Of course am pictured
and described as villain and all that.
Our reporter may not even get In to
see me, but that makes no difference
with his writing two or three columns
about the affair and giving my per
sonal description. People are let in to
gaze on wild beast Not man has
the slightest doubt that am guilty.
"If have been captured for a mur.
der outside the county am taken
away after three or four days. If 1t Is
in the county l am kept In jail until
the examination comes Off In either
event I live like a lighting cock. The
, officials all defer TO me. ! get extras
with my meals for being n murderer
J get cigars for being a hero. Ministers
call to see me. and now and then q
: bouquet comes In. am Informed by
) the detectives and others that they
/ have got straight case against mt
) and then advised TO own up and throw
myself on the mercy of the court
That's where the laugh comes in.
/. One Of Two Things Sure to Happen.
. "In the course of week one of two
( things Is sure to happen. The officers
either get the right clew and am Sc
at liberty or am arraigned for exam
ination. In the former case the sheriff
comes to my cell and calls out:
"'Here you miserable old tramp, ge
out of this!
"'What for?'
"'Because ! say so. You are dis
q charged from custody. Why In tn,
! devil didn't you say you weren'
s gulltyY
!. "'But I did,
u "'Don't lie to me! Get out of thi
: Jail! nice mess you have made o
9 1t! People are calling me the bigges
s ass In the statel Get hump on your
self!
Z "And two years ago in an Ohio jail
v where / had lain for week unde
e charge Of double murder, the sheriff
J. kicked me as left the Jail. wen
straight to lawyer and had him ar
--~x.---- ~'-'--.- --r-l