San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-17
It's a Crime to Be Broke
and Looking for a JOB;
In Pasadena a Negro Is
Held Because He Has Too
Much Coin.
BY GRAHAM STEPHENS.


Copyright, 1924. by Consol. Press Assn.
Los Angeles. Cal, March Ills it
crime for a man TO be broke when
he arrives in Los Angeles!
That is the question that has been
raised here this week. Scores of men
are reported to have been arrested and
lodged in Jail for no other reason than
that they had come TO the land of sun
shine without money in their pockets.
Los Angeles jails are SO crowded
mostly with impccunious tourists =
that il has been facctiously suggested
that the authorities should he prose
cuted for violation of the rooming
house ordinance.
The police contend that Il man who
is broke and hungry may turn To crime
on shis own account or may become
an easy tool of some criminal band.
Therefore he is far safer in jail, ac-
cording to their view.
Many prominent persons. welfare
workers and those interested in the
missions claim that man without
money has every right of any other
citizen To come to Los Angeles mi
of work. They are preparing
to demand the release of those held
in Jail who are found TO be without
a criminal record. Irhey will also de-
mand that the police cease the prac-
tice of arresting men in search OF
work or Il meal as without authority
of law.
Had Too Much Money.
Over in Pasadena where the best
resort hotels are. the winter Ravens
of the wealthy, the police have little
to arrest man because
he is broke So they changed the
thing around by arresting visitor
just because he had too much money.
George WiscmoOre. 'cullud." from
Swan Lake. Ark. just arrived. hap
pencd to open his battered valisc be-
fore the eyes of two detectives. It'll
to contain nothing but one
dollar bills.
If that boy didn't hit that crapl
game Il lick. I'm Chinaman,' gasped
Jne of the detectives.
WHO. me. boss: no. sub. All don't
shute wifi dem freckled cubes. Me.
Abs cured" said George.
\ brief inquiry disclosed that
George had $1400 in one-dollar bills,
500 in other currency and sack |
'ull of small silver coins that
weighed more than eight pounds.
Where did you get it:' George
was asked.
We'll. you see, boss, nah nanny.
,he saved it fob me. She nevah had
10 use foh banks after de Freedman's
Bank busted right aftah de wah, and /
Il Ill L. - 81
iIh. and she din't lax no big money,
,ause it didn't look lax twas us much,
IN was hard for her to count. 50
rhen all brung home the thuty dol
abs that all make at de sto' every |
Month, thutty dollars and my chewing
eerbach. she jest naturally had il
roke up INTO dollah bills and twO-bit
nd foh-bit pieces, so when she died.
nd all look in de trunk. de hills was
IL dere and de teapot was jus cram
ned to Dustin wifi two-bit and foh-bit
,ieces."
The teapot shouted the detec-
ives.
YES, sub. boss. dat's wheah she
ut in in de trunk-right in de tea
ot"
Was your code name 'Prune' and
rasn't Florida the place you intended
0 go?'
Gees Smilingly to Jail.
NO, sub. nah names George and
ey doan't call me out of nah name.
III heard about dat Florida. too, but
h jus, stahted OFT and kept no u
omin' and heah all is"
George, laughing and showing his
ppth went along 10 the CITY prison |
he most willing captive ever known
4 Pasadena and surrendered his
GARD for safekeeping.
"Ah amt even been in no Jail be-
,ah, but if you all wants TO fin out
bout nah. ali rode from Swan Lake
, Pine Falls with Mrs. JOnes-yOu
now. she used to be Mrs. Harris be-
III her second husband died and from
eah TO heah, an l only spoke to one
thah eullud man. so a amt been IN
o bad company"
Chief Kelly promised George to look