The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-17
cHOOK MY MONEY"
of the Frvinr-pan Into the Fire.

Out of the Frying-pan Into the Fire.
There is a young fellow in this city, now
happily again in the clutches of the law, who is
not unknown 20 fame. He is but ~ years OF
age, and yet go nimble is he as a cbeUdlter din
dustrie as to win the highest encomiums from
his elder brothers in crime, and to merit the un-
ceasing attention of the officers of the law His
name is Charles Wells, but his proficiency as
pickpocket won for him at an exceedingly early
age the euphonious and expressive title Hook
my Money" which he has continued to carry
until this day.
To vary the monotony which the constant
repetition of this sobriQuet would induce, he
occasionally is called Bunk Thackaras Kid
"Hook my Money" about three weeks ago,
dexterously lifted ellpacked wallet from the
pocket of one Mr.. Clark, who would not have
discovered his loss in time to catch the expert
thief, had not bystander witnessed the inge-
NOUS operation and promptly ''snatched" the
offender Yesterday the case was brought be-
fore Judge Finletter and jury; the evidence,
which was of the most conclusive charac-
ter, was gone through; the counsel
evolved their legal lore and his
Honor charged, when 10! to the great concern
of the prosecuting attorney and the pleasure
of the kid" and his surrounding satellites, it
was discovered that one heavy Teuton who sat
profoundly silent throughout the entire proceed
ing, was as innocent of the slightest knowlege
of the English language as q new born babe.
Carefully the Court interpreter made his tedious
way through the evidence in dialect suited to
the comprehension of the somnolent Juror.
Ihe Jury then retired, and II we may believe
current report an amusing scene transpired in
the iuridical sanctum. To their dismay the
jurors discovered that it was impossible to
reason with the German, since he could not
speak English nor they his language. Various
and ingenious we're the schemes by which they
might secure from him an assent to a verdict of
guilty, and to one he would repeat ''yah," and
to another 'nein" Finally they reappeared
before the Judge, and instead of announcing
that they could not agree, and thus putting the
criminal upon another trial, they decided upon
verdict of "Not Guilty" and "Hookmy
Money" was set at liberty
Just as soon as he had slipped thus remark
ably through the meshes of the law, he started
for the Schutzen Park, where there was crush
of people, and where he pictured to himself lay
harvest of fat wallets waiting to be garnered
He tried his hand, and found that three weeks
confinement had not dwarfed its powers; and
then with saDguine expectations dropped mis-
dexterous dgits on to plethorce portemonnaie
that lay at the bottom of capacious pocket of
q partially unconscious celebrant.
just as he had drawn the coveted prize to the
surface, Detectives Gordon and Haggerty, who
had kept keen watch upon him, took him into
| custody. He was for the moment stunned by
this turn in his fortunes, and then made the air
blue with execrations. He was brought to the
| Central Station again a prisoner within two
hours after he had been set at.liberty under such
remarkable circumstances.
He will have hearing this afternoon. May he
| this time find haven inMomensihg.