Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-24
HE CAUGHT A SUCKER.
The Experience of . Man Who Fortified
His Pocket with Fisbhooks.

sAS EOCASt Win I1eDOooA~
''Bin Charters was very original man
that is. if he was out of a 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 a Main street cigar store tne othef
night. "Bill was also fond OF nshlng On
winter evenings at home, II ne mad notn-
ing better to do, he would haul out his
fishing tackle and inspect 1t thoroughly,
and then, after making two or three new
tangled fly hooks, he'd place the outht
back in its box, at the same time know
ing that he'd be unable TO use MS tackle
for probably six months.
"Biu 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. After settling our ansmithing
business he began explaining the different
methods used to catch the various species
of the fnny tribe. This hook was fine
for trout in the early morning, that
brown tackle was immense at noon when
the sun was shining, and that white moth
fly hook was simply perfection in
the evening just about the time the sun
was setting.
"One 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 l, taking the hook covered
cloth in my hand, did you ever catch any
fish with this arrangement
Eyes, sir he ans wered with laugh,
Il caught sucker Oh that collection last
fall that weighed le0 pounds.
Where and hows' l 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 the
theatre. When we reached the box office
there was perfect jam Of people. left
my wife near the door while l struggled
bravely to reach the ticket window. l
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. ''Stolenl''
exclaimed 1, and retreated.'
"'Mrs. Charters and / walked home.
She felt disappointed; she wanted to see
that play 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 10 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.
81
but I placed it in another pocket--and
again we started for the theatre. There
was still considerable of a crowd in the
neighborhood Of the box Office, and once
more began edgtng my way through fol
the purpose Of procuring tickets. l al
lowed my fish hook money pocket TO take
care OF itself.
Just as I was being handed my
tickets felt bite. l attempted to turn
round. when found I had hooked a very
fine looking sucker in the shape OF vel
dressed man who wore o shiny tile. l PAID
no attention to his tugging at my pocket
as knew after one or two tugs he'd quit
When l reached my wife she said: viii
lam, who is this gentleman with you?"
told her he was a very particular FRIEND
of mine.
An oL1cer stanCing at Ine COor &C
companied my friend and me, at my re
quest, into an adjoining room, where
explained matters. I recovered my los
pocketbook and greenbacks. 1t was keep
ing company with seven other similarly
situated purses. l had to cut the poke
out to have the thief handed over to th'
officer, but it was returned TO me afte
the doctor succeeded IN getting the hook.
out of the fellows hand
Yes concluded Bill, he was thu
biggest sucker ever caught-must hav,
weighed at least 1G0 pounds. And this il
no fish story, either. '"-Stockton Cal
Mail.