Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-27
HE CAUGHT A SUCKER.
THE EXPERIENCE OF A MAN WHO
FORTIFIED HIS POCKET WITH
FISH.POOKS.

FORTIFIED HIS POCKET WITH
FIsI.POoKs.
"Bill Charters said a man IN a
Nam street cigar store to a Mail
reporter, "was fond of fishing. On
winter evenings at home, if he had
nothing better to do, he would
haul out his fishing tackle and in.
spect it thoroughly, and then, after
making two or three new.fangled
fly hooks, he'd place the outfit
back in its box, at the same time
knowing that he'd be unable to use
his tackle for probably six months.
"Bill lived IN Boston when
first knew him. That was eighteen
or twenty years ago. He was a
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.
zone huge batch of hooks at.
tracted my attention. There were
probably thirty very small eye
hooks all sewed securely to a jagged
piece of cloth string drilling
about the size of your hand.
"Blll, said |, taking the hook.
covered cloth in my hand, did 'you
ever catch any fish with this ar.
rangementp
"'Yes, sir he answered with a
laugh, Il caught a sucker on that
collection last fall that weighed
100 pounds
"'Where aud howp | 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 vile and decided
to 90 to the theater. When we
reached the box Office there was a
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 discovered that my peck ct
book was gone. "Stolen p ex-
claimed |, and retreated.
"tMrs. Charters and | walked
home. She felt disappointed she
wanted to see that play. A thought
struck me instantly, and just as
quickly as possible put my plan
into execution. Turning my money
pocket inside out, | hastily sewed
all the small fish hooks ] had on the
inside of that pocket in such a
manner that when my pocket was
showed back to its proper position
the barbs of the hooks stood out
and pointed downward,
"I took some more money with
me-bnt I placed 1t in another
pocket-aDd again we started for
the theater. There was still con-
siderableof crowd IN the neighbOr-
hood of the box office, and once
more | began edglng my may
through for the purpose of procur-
ing tickets. | allowed my fish.bOok
money pocket to take care of itself.
g. Just as was being handed
my ticket | felt a bite. | attempt
ed to turn round, when | found /
| had hooked fine-loOking sucker
in the shape of a well-dressed man,
who wore a shiny tile. paid no at
tentiOn to bis Juggling at my pocket,
as | knew after one or two tugs
he'd quit. When [ reached my
wife she said civilian, who is
this gentleman with you ~ | told
her he was very particular friend
of mine.
WAn officer standing at the door
accompanied my friend and me, at
my request, into an adjoining room,
where | explained matters. re-
covered my lost pocketboOk and
greenbacks. 1t was keeping CON-
pany with seven other similarly
situated purses. | had cut the
Rocket out to hand the thief
oyer to the officer, but it was re-
turned to me after the doctor suo-
ceeded in getting the hooks out of
the fellows hand.
eyes continued Bill, She was
the biggest sucker | ever caught
must have weighed a least 100
pounds. And this is no fish story |
either" -Stockton (Cal) Mail.