SECRET UNION OF VAGABONDS

Evening Star, Issue 20010, 30 October 1928, Page 3

SECRET UNION OF VAGABONDS

« PRESIDENT" ARRESTED HOW TRAMPS GET WIND OF DANGEROUS DISTRICTS. Arrested on tlio road at Limoges, near Periguex, a vagabond carrying a beggar’s wallet, but without identification papers or money in his pocket, was found, on being searched, to have his pockets full of small squares of paper marked with peculiar signs. On being questioned by the gendarmes the man, not without vanity, declared that he was the president of the International Syndicate of Vagabonds and Tramps. He said that the syndicate, or union, has thousands of members throughout Europe, and that the fees for admission aro fixed at one franc (about 2d). Tho curious signs on the papers which ho carried wore tho orders, secrets, etc., which the president distributes to bona fid© candidates who fulfil certain .conditions, for the union is somewhat exclusive, and admission is not to be had for the asking, even by those willing to pay the stipulated ice. SIGNS KNOWN TO INITIATED. Tho president’s reticence about explaining some of the union’s secrets has lea to his being detained for further questions. However, it is known that the vagabonds have Jong been organised, and that the members of the organisation are numerous, that they keep up a sort of national and international correspondence, and use ‘to advantage numerous signs and tips known only to themselves. Some of these the police have discovered, such, for example, as the simpler marks they leave in conspicuous places in towns or villages through which they pass. When they have been well received at a farm they mark the door or window, tho wall, or a tree, with an “X.” When, on the contrary, they have been badly received they leave a square mark. Other signs indicate that properties are guarded or that there are vicious dogs. The headquarters of gamekeepers and the gendarmes are indicated, and in communities where warfare is made on vagabonds a certain signs is left meaning “ Leave as quickly as possible.” There are numerous other signs and marks known only to the initiated.