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Tramps
1883
06 22 TRAMP LAW NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED
A sad case of the tramp order hovered around the depot last Monday night and Tuesday morning. A man, or what purported to be one, hailing from Fond du Lac with his wife and four children, arrived at that time and took up their quarters in the ladies’ waiting room for the night. All their earthly goods, some old ragged clothing, the man wheels from place to place on a wheelbarrow, while his wife and four little ones from four to ten years old follow up on foot. The entire outfit was filthy and indeed disgusting, while the care-worn haggard expression on their faces told of the extreme hunger and suffering. The man pretended to be looking for work but we doubt if he would have accepted employment were it tendered him. It is bad enough for a man alone to take the road a tramp, but in these times when employment can so easily be obtained to adopt the shiftless vocation of the tramp dragging his entire family after him, he exhibits a sad case of depravity indeed. The tramp law of last winter should be dealt out to the man with its severest penalty attached. (Jefferson Banner)
Watertown received a visit from the same family last week, their presence seemed to be appreciated by the small boy very much, whose interest in them appeared to be as great as that usually manifested when a circus proceeds through our streets. (Watertown Gazette)
10 01 TRAMP
BREAKS OUT OF LOCK-UP
A drunken tramp placed in the lock-up was released last night by a
comrade, who broke down the door of the marshal’s office and was then able to
turn the key in the door of the lock-up, thus giving the fellow inside his
liberty. Both tramps made a sudden
departure. WR
12 17 PANTALOONS STOLEN
A tramp stole a pair of pantaloons from W. H.
Rohr’s store Saturday morning. The theft
was not discovered for some time after the occurrence. Tramps were offering for sale in the vicinity
of the gas works articles in the clothing and shoe line Saturday forenoon, and
it is supposed that Mr. Rohr’s contribution was among the stock. It is not known that any of the wear was
disposed of. Officers went on the track
of the offenders, but tjey had made good their
escape. WR
12 17 RENDEZVOUS
It is estimated that fifty tramps rendezvoused in the city Monday night, nineteen of them being taken care of in the lockup until yesterday morning. We are now visited by the best dressed lot of these wanderers seen around here for a long time. The railroad boys can account for the change for the better in their garb by the large amount of clothing stolen from them lately in the cabooses.
1891
04 24 SHOULD HAVE BEEN HORSEWHIPPED
A tramp in search of "hardware"
(whiskey) broke a light of glass in the rear basement of Kusels'
hardware store last Sunday evening and passed inside, where he spent the night
enjoying a comfortable snooze until he was disturbed next morning by the
arrival of the shop workmen. WG
05 01 SHOULD HAVE BEEN HORSEWHIPPED
A tramp was taken before Justice Halliger last Saturday and sentenced to 10 days in the county jail for vagrancy. He went about the city with his arm in a sling begging for money, claiming that he burned his arm and was unable to work, but it was afterwards learned that he put acid on it to burn it in order that he might play on the sympathies of generous people. He should have been horsewhipped out of town. WG
12 16 WARM LODGING AND BREAKFAST
Two tramps, begging in the streets, were run into the lockup Monday evening and kept overnight, getting a warm breakfast before their release in the morning. Their trampships were run in again last evening finding the treatment they received, a warm lodging and breakfast, good enough for them. It is not surprising that they repeated their offense, their punishment being so easy to bear. Now is there no remedy in matters like these? Is there no way of making tramping odious, or at least unpleasant to those who undertake such a life. There should at least be some means devised whereby tramps could be made to do work enough to pay for their keeping. WR
1894
01 23 CRIME REPORT
During the year 1894 there were 226 arrests made by officers in this city . . . In addition there were papers served on 121 tramp cases, making the total 226 arrests. WR
04 27 TRAMPS QUARREL
At about` 7:30 o'clock on last Wednesday morning three tramps quarreled near Kunert's machine shop at the foot of First Street, over some razors in their possession, two of them attacking tramp No. 3, who was struck in the face with a rock and knocked down; he was then set upon and kicked in the face, and the razors taken away from him. He was picked up by Marshal Kerr on the side track nearby a few moments afterwards in an almost insensible condition, and conveyed to the city lockup, where Dr. Werner dressed his wounds. His face presented a horrible sight, there being scarcely a spot on it that was not cut and bruised. A short time afterwards Marshal Kerr arrested one of the tramp's supposed assailants, and had rather a rough experience with him, being compelled to use force in conveying him to the lockup. WG
11 21 DODGE COUNTY PROBLEM
It seems very remarkable that other counties have succeeded in solving the tramp problem, at least to the extent of making it less of a burden to the taxpayers, but Dodge county allows it to increase year after year, without as much as an attempt to curtail it. Evidently it is of less importance to reduce the taxes of the people than to take care of the political pets. WR
1895
01 30 ANOTHER
NIGHT POLICE OFFICER NEEDED
West siders are crying for another night police officer in their section. It is claimed that one man cannot possibly render service to the business portion of that part of the city and at the same time keep a watchful eye on the horde of tramps and tough characters who infest the railroad tracks from the Junction to the Northwestern coal sheds. It is not deemed safe for a citizen to travel over that route after nightfall. An extra officer is urgently demanded. WR
03 06 INTOXICATED
Four tramps, who were so intoxicated they could barely navigate, were taken in tow by the officers Friday. The following morning they answered to roll call in a justice court and received a sentence of ten days at Jefferson. WR
05 29 ATTEMPT
TO PICK A FARMER’S PURSE
Sunday morning a stir of excitement was occasioned by a couple tramps attempting to pick a farmer’s purse from his pocket in a Madison Street saloon. When detected the fellows were very lively in making their escape, and the police lost all trace of them. WR
06 26 CITY
BEING OVERRUN WITH TRAMPS
The city is being overrun with tramps and will continue to be unless there is a change in existing conditions, which it is the purpose of this item to try and promote. I have had some experience with these fellows the past week, having visited their places of rendezvous and been given to understand that I was liable to have my "head punched" for the intrusion; while I was also favored with a means of further diversion, with the tender of a cold bath in an adjacent well. But I want to speak more particularly of certain discoveries made which may prove of interest to the reader. First of all, a dozen of tramps were found lying in the grass, and all more or less intoxicated, which was easily accounted for when six beer kegs were discovered in their camp, all of which had been emptied except one. Some of the fellows were well provided with money, showing that the generosity of people is misused in its bestowal upon such unworthy objects. The invariable rule should be to give them no money under any circumstances. Many of them who beg for food, after being supplied, instead of eating it, throw it away, so that here again surety is misapplied . Vigorous measures will be taken to suppress the nuisance, but the city government is powerless in its complete stamping out unless we have the co-operation of the public. Dealers in intoxicating drinks should not seII to tramps under any circumstances, it being against good morals if not against law. Cut off their supplies of “booze," and the battle is more than half won. The police have been instructed to exercise the greatest vigilance in the detection of those offending against this ruse. The council will be asked to legislate in the matter, and it is hoped that in this way the tramp problem here will have received a satisfactory solution. - J. T. MOAK, Mayor. WR
1898
Resident offers sleigh to officers
A gang of eight tramps who had imbibed freely of alcoholic spirits held high revelry and caused considerable trouble in the vicinity of the Chicago & Northwestern railway roundhouse last Thursday afternoon.
The police department being notified, Officers Eifiler, Kerr and Pieritz were dispatched to quell the disturbance and arrest the culprits. At about 5:30 the latter were encountered, and after a desperate struggle, in which Officer Kerr was roughly handled but nevertheless succeeded in besting his man, three of the gang were landed behind the bars of the lock-up. They gave their names as Charles Carney, William Bates and Thomas Curlen.
Subsequently Justice Stacy sentenced Bates to the county jail for twenty days and Curlen for five days, the former for using obscene language and the latter for drunkenness. Carney was held for examination on the 11th.
After jailing the above three the officers went back in quest of the other offenders, who it was ascertained had kept up their nefarious work in the meantime. They attempted to ensconce themselves in the roundhouse and, being ordered out by the engine-wiper, Samuel Fluker, had unmercifully pounced upon the latter and pummeled and kicked him so that he was rendered unconscious, when they left him and fled up the track.
Fluker was found by neighbors in this condition and taken to his home. On their way over the police were notified of what had happened by Station Agent Heimerl and Joseph Reinehr and chase was given, Mr. Reinehr placing his sleigh at the officer’s disposal.
As they neared the crossing north of the roundhouse the tramps noticed the pursuing party, but supposing them to be farmers returning home, set about to hold them up. The tramps were somewhat dismayed upon discovering the trap they had fallen into and their capture was soon effected by the officers.
The prisoners gave
their names as Robert Gray, Thomas Ryan, John Gukeen,
Charles Haney and James Clark. Saturday
morning Justice Stacy committed them to jail at Juneau to await their
examination tomorrow, when it is expected Mr. Fluker will be able to appear
against them. Mr. Fluker was quite
seriously injured, sustaining a broken rib and some pretty sore bruises, but he
is recovering nicely. His assailants, it
is
hoped, will receive their just deserts at the hands of the law.
1899
01 11 TRAMPS
LODGED IN CITY LOCK-UP
Chief of Police Block reports that during the year 1898 1,648 persons mostly tramps were given lodging in the city lock-up. The total number of arrests made on warrants was 171. WR
12 20 WATERTOWN GAZETTE CONDEMNS TRAMP
Last week Thursday a tramp with his arm in a sling was going around the city begging for money. He claimed that he scalded his arm while working at Janesville and was endeavoring to reach his home in Green Bay. Marshal Zautner took him before Dr. Werner, who examined his arm and agreed with the marshal’s opinion that the scar thereon was not induced by scalding, but was self-inflicted for the purpose of playing on the sympathy of the public, and thereby extracting money from people who might sympathize with him. He was then placed in the lockup, where he made a confession to the marshal, saying that he produced the scar by placing some acid upon his arm for the purpose above stated. He was taken before Justice Stacy and given ten days solitary confinement in the county jail, during which time he will have a chance to reflect on the heinousness of his crime.
Any person who will mutilate his body as this fellow did, and for the purpose, does not deserve to live. Watertown Gazette, 12 20 1889
1900
01 02 ANOTHER
NIGHT POLICE OFFICER NEEDED
The Watertown Daily Times
publishes an article in which it says:
“It is openly charged by police officers and at least one justice
of the peace in this city that men who are sent to the county jail at Jefferson
as tramps are in some cases, it is alleged, allowed their liberty before the
expiration of the sentence imposed.”
Sheriff Jaehnke, when shown the above,
denied the charge that he ever willingly allowed a tramp or other person in his
custody to leave the jail before the time for which he sentenced expired.
He said that it is possible that one may have escaped from the
stockade, as it is a difficult matter to prevent one from securing his freedom
if he so desires, but if so it was not with his consent.
We know that Sheriff Jaehnke is
endeavoring to faithfully the discharge the dusties
of his office, and when he made the above statement we believe it to be
true. – Jefferson Banner. WR
1901
02 20 TRAMP
SENTENCED
On Monday Justice Stacy sentenced a tramp giving the name of Henry Somers to the county jail for thirty days as punishment for having smashed several windows at the home of H. J Hoffmann, West Main Street, Saturday evening. Somers was drunk and upon being refused admittance to the house proceeded to his work of the Carrie Nation order. He was subsequently arrested by Officer Eiffler. WR
03 13 TRAMPS
CAUSE DISTURBANCE (1)
Monday evening the police were
called upon to quell a disturbance near the Junction which was being carried on
by four tramps who were badly polluted with liquor. The tramps were very
boisterous and daring, and made matters extremely unpleasant to the people of
that vicinity. Chief Block and Officer
Bruegger responded to the call for help and upon arriving on the scene found
the “hoboes” all ready to fight for their liberty. Nothing daunted, the minions of the law
warmed up to their task and in short order had two of the disturbers who seemed
particularly anxious to battle in complete subjection. The remaining two were also captured with the
aid of other police. Yesterday morning
the tramps were brought into justice court and given county jail
sentences. WR
07 27 POUNDED
INTO SUBMISSION
Tramps have been rather
numerous in this city of late, a gang of about one dozen being rounded up by
the police one evening recently. They were
vicious and some of them had to be pounded into submission. WR
08 09 TRAMPS
CAUSE ANOTHER DISTURBANCE
Last Monday evening a tramp made
things quite lively on the west side for police officers. Officer Butzler ordered him out of town, and
refusing to go, he was taken in charge by the officer. At the corner of West Main and Montgomery
streets, without warnings or provocation, he struck the officer in the mouth,
inflicting an ugly cut, and then followed this up with another punch in the
face. Officer Butzler thought it about
time to retaliate, and knocked foe fellow down.
The tramp then refused to go further, and Chief Block was sent for. His persuasive powers had no more effect on
his trampship than Butzler’s, and the unruly fellow
was given a ride to foe city jail in a wheelbarrow. On Tuesday morning Justice Stacy sentenced
him to 15 days in the county jail. Nine
years ago our officers had the same kind of trouble with the same tramp, and he
did not visit our city again until last week.
Such fellows deserve harsh treatment.
Chief Block says he is the most utterly ugly fellow that has ever
visited our city.. WG
1905
12 08 QUITE
SEVERELY GETTING ONTO TRAIN
Thursday afternoon, a tramp who gave his name as Ole Larason and his home as Minneapolis, was quite severely injured while attempting to get onto a moving freight train on the C.M.St.P. railroad near the east side depot. He was brought to the city hall and taken into the office of Chief of police Block and Dr. F. C. Moulding, the surgeon of the road summoned, who upon examination found two of the bones in his right foot badly crushed, which would in his judgment, necessitate an amputation of the foot. He dressed the wound and made the poor fellow as comfortable as possible under the circumstances and at 7 o clock in the evening he was taken to the Northwestern depot enroute to the poor farm at Jefferson. The unfortunate is a Norwegian and speaks but little of the English language and through an interpreter it was learned his name, residence and the name of his son, Carl Olson, 1102 Camdem Place, Minneapolis, also that in a small town near Chicago he was robbed of his watch and five dollars in money by two negro roughs and was trying to beat his way back to his home. It was quite probable that he had ridden for a long distance and being cold and stiffened got off the train to exercise and get his blood into circulation and was injured in his endeavor to get upon the train again. As the poor fellow had no money with which to buy smoking tobacco, Dr. Moulding generously gave him the money with which to buy a supply. WR
1933
09 02 POLICE
IN DRIVE ON “JUNGLES” TO CLEAN OUT HOBOES
Police in drive on “Jungles” to clean out Hoboes
Police this afternoon started a drive against hobo camps located in the “jungles” along the Milwaukee and North Western railroad tracks, following complaints that an unusually large number of men were making their headquarters there, doing their cooking and establishing sleeping quarters.
A number of police left the city hall in a car shortly before 2 o’clock to open the drive. They will order as many men as possible out of the city, it is said.
The police were equipped with tear gas in case of trouble and were prepared to bring the leaders to jail if necessary.
The “jungles” have long been the favorite hangout for hobo hordes and a drive is carried on every so often to rid the place of the most undesirable types.
Complaints about tramps becoming abusive when begging food and clothing have been coming in to police lately and in neighborhoods which never before were visited by tramps are reporting them in recent weeks. WDTimes, 09 02 1933
Cross reference note:
Down at the end of Monroe Street, behind the Union Park. Go up to the depot (that isn't there anymore) or cross the tracks on Lafayette Street. When you went up there, behind the tracks where the two different railroad tracks met and crossed. There was a patch of woodsy area where the "homeless bums" would pitch a sleeping bag, build small fires and "live" until chased out.
CROSS REFERENCES:
Chapter on Watertown Police
Department
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/PoliceDepartment.htm
A rude tramp had lodgings Saturday night at the police station. He
somewhat amused the officers by demanding that they provide him with
cigarettes, specifying ...
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/Miscellaneous016.htm
We are surprised at the ridiculous statement concerning the history of
the tramp question in Dodge County published in a Milwaukee paper and taken up
by
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/miscellaneous015.htm
Dec 6, 2009 ... “Two Merry Tramps,” that familiar
music comedy by Bessie Bennet and Jerome Travers, will be played at the Turner
Opera House next Sunday ...
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/tremonthouse.htm
The building, as is well known, is unoccupied except by tramps and
vandals, and it is supposed someone was quite anxious to see the rookery go up
in smoke
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/Buchheit_William.htm
09 21 Two tramps named Bradley and Woodford were sentenced by Justice
Henze Monday to the county jail for ten days on a charge of vagrancy. They
were ...
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/Bowling.htm
No light has been shed on the origin of the fire, although one story is
that it was the work of a couple of tramps who were refused aid and were
determined to get ...
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/CM&StPaulRailway.htm
Thursday afternoon, a tramp who gave his name as Ole Larason and his home
as Minneapolis, was quite severely injured while attempting to get onto a
moving
Above HAS BEEN added to chapter on TRAMPS
www.watertownhistory.org/articles/FireDepartment.htm
No light has been shed on the origin of the fire, although one story is that
it was the work of a couple of tramps who were refused aid and were determined
to get ...
History of Watertown, Wisconsin