The Mankato free press., 1910-05-27
DRIVE OUT A BUNCH.
GYPSIES WERE TOLD TO MOVE ON
BY CHIEF lvND.
Dusky Natives of Italy Intended to
Camp in North Mankato, But the
Officer Would Not Stand For It;
the Authorities Looked Over the
Babies, Suspecting There Was a
White Child Among Them.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
| When the gypsy band arrived from
Eagle Lake yesterday afternoon and
crossed over into North Mankato, Chief
Pond feared that they would camp there
and make trouble, so he crossed over
and tried to enlist the assistance OF
the village marshal in driving them
out. The marshal was willing to ''lct
George do it," but uccined to 90 him.
self. Mr.. Pond went and found the
band halted at the foot of the Bel
grade hill. He ordered them to leave
at once, but they said that they wished
time to do little trading at the
stores, SO he gave them twenty minutes
to leave. They left within the time
limit.
Looked Over the Babies.
Early last evening Chief Pond rc-
ceived a telephone message from Fred
Day of Eagle Lake. saying that the
band had white grill about four years
old, with them, which ought to be in
vcstisatcd, as it might have been kid
mapped, people feared
MIR. Pond organized party of eight,
and with w. J. Jewett's and C. X.
Otto's automobiles went in pursuit of
the band. They followed the trail
for about nine or ten miles west before
they found them encamped on the bot
tom land opposite Judson on the Pelton
road. Mr.. Pond struck the camp about
nine o'clock, and remained an hour,
making a thorough search. His party
was armed, as it was not known but
what there might be trouble. Judge
Comstock and Thomas McGOvern were
among ,the forces, ready to do battle for
law and order.
Bunch Was Saucy.
The gypsy band was inclined to he
somewhat saucy. In passing II. c. Ran
dalPs farm. gun dropped from one
of the wagons, and Mr.. Randall told
them that they ought to be more care
full, or someone in the highway might
get hurt. One of the band replied that
it was none of his business, as they
were on a public highway and could do
as they pleased.
Mr.. Pond was recognized rs the chief
of police, and after little parley
the gypsies gave him the freedom of
the camp and invited him to make
careful search. They showed him the
white child. and he saw that her com
plcXion and hair were very fair, but
that she had black eyes. The mother
and father were both very dark but the
chief became convinced that the child
belonged to them. Another mother
showed him her child, which was quite
light. One mother of four days old
baby proudly showed him her child,
which was lying on the ground with a
blanket over it. The mother was as
spry as any in the camp. In fact, ba-
bies We're so thick and so laid out on
the ground. haphazard like, that Mr.
Pond and his party had to be careful
not to step upon any of them.
About Thirty-fve in Band.
The entire party numbered thirty or
thirty-iive people, and claimed to be on
their way to Dakota, and promised to
move OH this morning and make no
trouble. One woman, who had sheet
iron stove, tried to hide fine Plymouth
Rock cbic~en behind it., so that the
chief would not see it, evidently hav-
ing come in possession of it none too
honestly.
children had generally only single
garment to cover them, yet they did not
seem to be suffering from the cold or
damp night air. The cooking was being
done out of doors, and the camp was a
motley looking place. Some of the men
we're hardened appearing, but they made
no trouble.
1t was learned that the band at |
tempted to pitch camp at the top Of
the Belgrade hill but that Mr.. Hod-
son forced them TO move on.
Driven Out of st. Paul.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: 'Movc on!"
\ husky looking policeman twirled
,n ugly looking billy in his right hand
and glared at the leader of band of
fifty Roumanian gipsies-men, women
md children.
'Ugh!"
The leader wiped his swarthy face
with red bandana handkerchief and. !
with a wave of his hand, said few
words to still swarthier gipsy lying
n a covered wagon, his feet protruding
from the end
The man lazily dropped off the vebi-
lie and rolled cigarette. a few min |
ltes later he was among his fellow
nomads and gibbering in a tongue lin |,
Known to the policeman Men cursed, /
Tonien Kissed and children stuck out
heir tongues at the policeman as they
irove away in the direction of Min
lcapolis.
Five or six blocks farther on they