The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-05-03
Vagrancy Law.

labor to operate U farms and rae
tories; at the same time the necessity
for enlarged feed production and all other
wal materials is greater than ever be-
fore. While II seems almost incredi-
bic that there should be loafers and
idlers in this time of need, yet the fact
remains that these parasites still exist,
and in some places in considerable
numbers. Only slackers are idle now.
Is it not u patriotic duty to see that
these persons at least earn their keep?
Hon. Frank M. Thompson, Attorney
General for the State of Tennessee re-
Gently wrote me as follows relative to
the enforcement of the vagrancy law
as a help in receiving the FARM La
Dor shortage:
1--WE have in Tennessee a complete
and perfect law covering vagrancy. The
law not only defines what a vagrant is
but prescribes the method of punish
ment, the officer who shall try the case,
as we'll as the officer who shall prefer
the charges; and also makes it the duty
of any citizen to prefer the charges.
Furthermore, it is made a misdemeanor
and a fine of $1,000 is imposed on any
peace officer of the State, including
sheriffs, constables and all policemen
who fail to prefer these charges when
they know a man is guilty of any of
the things which render h IN a vagrant. "
ANY persons falling within any one
of the fifteen classes set out and identi-
fled in the first section of this Act is a
vagrant, viz:
~ lramps.
~ Able bodied persons leading idle,
immoral or profiigate lives.
(3) Persons without visible and law
full means of support.
() Habitual l%Oafers, loiterers and id.
lers in towns, cities, or neighbOrhoods,
or about railroad stations or other pub
lie places.
(5) Persons trading in stolen pro-
perity, or in any alcoholic liquors.
(6) Every common gambler.
81 Operators and employees of
gambling devices,
81 Persons engaged in obtaining
money ~fraudulently, by trick, device or
occupation.
() Persons lettering about the pre-
misses of others after sunset.
(10 Able bodied persons subsisting
upon the charity of others.
11) Prostitutes.
az Keepers of houses of prostitu-
ton.
(13) Keepers of gambling houses.
(14) Persons living on the wages of
minor children.
(15) Persons from l6 to q years of
age, not at work nor in school, and
whose parents are not able to support
them.)"
"This Act is Chapter 256 of the Acts
of 1907, and consists of ten sections.
These various sections will also be
found in Thompson-Shannon's Code of
1907 at Sections 3O37-A to 1929 AS
The second section of the Act makes 1t
the duty of all officers as well as all
private citizens to have such vagranro
arrested and tried. The 3rd, Attn, 9th,
9th. 7th, and 9Th Sections of this Ac,
give in detail the procedure for ths
trial as we'll as the tribunals befor
whom the trial is to be had for the OF
Tense of vagrancy. The 9th Section OF
the Act provides that if any officer
named in the second section of the Ac
to-wit any sheriff, constable, or pollc
officer, shall fail, refuse or neglect to
perform the duties therein required
which duties are to swear out a war
rant and have the vagrant arrested am
tried, that such officer shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor. and shall be fined not
less than S25. 90 nor more than 500 90.
You will see by inspecting this Act
that it not only provides for the arrest
and trial of a vagrant before a justice
of peace; but it also contemplates that
be may be indicted by the Grand Jury
and tried either in the Circuit Court or
Criminal Court of the State"
IF you will get a copy of this Act
either from the Acts of the year 1907,
or if you will examine the sections of
Thompson-S hannon's Code for 1907
above cited, you will have no trouble in
discerning the entire law upon this
subject"
Under its provisions there ought
not be the slightest trouble in suppress
ing all vsgrancy in the State.
Yours very truly.
FRANK NJ. THOMPSON, Atty Gen.
From every side comes the cry for
more help. IL every nan will do his
duty in this matter vagrsncy can be
stamped out. Let us make this slogan,
Work, Workhouse, or War" really
effective.
Will you help?
Faithfully YOURS.