Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-06
HE CAUGHT a SUCKER


Inc Experience Oh . Dx8o ~ No KOttAD00
His Pocket with Fisbhooks.
"Bill Charters was a very original man
that is, if he was out of job he'd de-
wise some way Of his own to procure the
wherewithal to keep fire in the Crate
and provisions in the pantry" said man
in q Main street cigar store the other
night. "Bill was also fond Of fishing. On
winter evenings at home, II he had moth
ing better to do, be would haul out his
fishing tackle and inspect it thoroughly,
and then, after making two or three new
tangled fly hooks, he'd place the outfit
TACK in its box, at the same time know
ing that he'd be unable to use his tackle
for probably six months.
ssBiIl lived in Boston when first knew
him. That was eighteen or twenty years
ago He was tinsmith by trade. /
went up one night to see him concerning
some work he had been engaged on for
several days. Bill was in the dining
room examining his fishing tackle when
entered. After settling our tinsmithing
business he began explaining the different
methods used TO catch the various species
Of the finny tribe. This hook was fine
for trout in the early morning. that
brown tackle was immense at noon when
fly hook was simply perfection in
the evening, just about the time the sun
was setting.
Zone huge batch Of hooks attracted
my attention. There were probably thirty
very small eyehooks, all sewed securely
to jagged piece Of cloth-strong drilling
about the size Of your hand
"'Bill said T. taking the hook covered
cloth in my hand, did you ever catch any
fish with this arrangement
Yes sir, he answered with laugh,
i caught sucker on that collection last
fall that weighed 160 pounds
Where and how | asked, hardly
knowing what Bill meant, as had never
seen a sucker that weighed more than
three or four pounds.
Just this way, replied Bill. One
night my wife and decided to go to Ito
theatre. When we reached the box Office
there was q perfect jam Of people. left
my wife near the door while | struggled
bravely to reach the ticket window.
asked for two dress circle tickets, and
when put my hand in my pocket TO get
the money to pay for them l discovered
that my pocketbook was gone 'Stolenr'
exclaimed 1, and retreated.'
"'Mrs. Charters and / walked home
She felt disappointed; she wanted to see
that play. A thought struck me instantly,
and Just ms quickly as possible | put my
plan into execution. farming my money
pocket inside out / hastily sewed all the
small fish hooks had to the inside Of that
pocket in such manner that when my
pocket was showed back to its proper posi-
ton the barbs OF the hooks stood out and
pointed downward.
- i took some more money with me-
but | placed it in another pocket--and
again we started for the theatre. There
was still considerable Of crowd in the
neighborhood Of the box office, and once
more began edging my way through for
the purpose Of procuring tickets. al
lowed my fish hook money pocket to take
care OF itself
Just as | was being handed my
tickets felt bite. / attempted to turn
round, when found had hooked very
fine looking sucker in the shape Of n we'll
dressed man who wore a shiny tile. | paid
no attention to his Juggling at my pocket,
as | knew after one or two tugs he'd quit.
When / reached my wife she said "Will-
lam, who is this gentleman with youS'
told her he was very particular friend
OF mine
can officer standing at the door &C
companied my friend and me, at my re-
quest, into an adjoining room, where l
explained matters. recovered my lost
pocketbook and greenbacks. 1t was keep
ing company with seven other similarly
situated purses. had to cut the POCKET
out to have the thief handed over to the
officer, but it WIS returned to me after
the doctor succeeded in getting the hooks
out Of the fellows hand
d" Yes, concluded Bill, he was the
biggest sucker ever caught-must have
weighed at least 100 pounds. And this is
no fish story, either. stockton (Cal.)
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