If you're a tramp in Chariton, dress accordingly

Transients were an issue in Chariton during late February, 1892, as the days lengthened, winter's cold moderated and an increasing number of men took to the road --- or rather the rails.

The following paragraph from The Democrat of Feb. 29 gives some idea of how they were received. Hotel De Gartin refers to the county jail, "Gartin" to Charles F. Gartin, sheriff at the time and resident jailer, with his family.

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The so-called "tourists," in other words "bums," have been flooding our city for sometime past, and wanting nights' lodging at the Hotel De Gartin. The city mayor has been quite kind to them. He put them to work cleaning street crossings or on the rock pile to pay for the same. They are on to him now and are giving the town the shake.

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Three of those "tourists" learned the hard way that week to be cautious about appearing in the latest fashion, also as reported in The Democrat.

Three tramps were arrested last Saturday by Marshal Godfrey, all wearing new suits of clothes. They also had some new clothing in  bundle which they were carrying with them. They were taken before Mayor Barger and given five days in jail, and the clothing as advertised. Wednesday, a merchant from Hepburn, Iowa (we did not learn the gentleman's name), claimed the goods had been stolen from his store one day last week.

Hepburn is a town in Page County with a population as of 2020 of 17. I doubt there's a clothing store there these days.