Residents Bothered Daily by Rough, Insulting Beggars

Chico is now swarming with tough characters, and the officers are puzzled to know what is best to be done to get rid of them. They do not desire to make a big record on arresting hobos, but there are constant complaints that the vagrants are pestering residents in all parts of town. In several parts of the city they have robbed the orange trees of their fruit, and in some instances they have stolen the fruit when they know the owners were watching them. Most of those arrested give the same old story, that they are either on their way to Keswick or are returning from there.

If the vagrants continue to swarm into Chico, it is likely that Justice Collins will instruct the Constables to round up every hobo in this locality and bring them before him. They will plead guilty, and he will then have the opportunity to sentence them to ninety or more days in the county jail, and suspend commitment long enough for them to get out of town.

Hobos in Court Constable Potter and

Goe had three hobos before Justice Collins yesterday for arraignment on charges of vagrancy. They gave their names as Charles Roberts, John Smith and James Dunn. Roberts pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve twenty days in the County Jail. Smith gave the Judge a smooth talk, which caused him to have some doubts that the prisoner was a real hobo, so he turned him loose.

Dunn is apparently a real tough, and he declared he would bluff the Judge out. When taken to Court, he would not say a word. He would answer no questions asked him by the Justice, and refused to enter a plea. “Take the prisoner back to jail,” ordered the Judge, “and keep him there until he is ready to be arraigned.”

— Chico Daily Record, Jan. 19, 1899