The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-01
A DEADLY TRAP.
Catching Thief with Pocket Lined
with Fishhooks.

Catching a Thief with u Pocket Lined
with Fishhooks.
They were discussing the best way to
bring prisoner from the place of his
arrest to headquarters ut the central of
flee not long ago, says the New York
Times, and the collar, cuff, and arm
grips were instanccd us manual eXpedi-
ents, and handouts, nippers and pocket
bludgeon thongs rs mechanical aids
II KNOW" said detective who had
been to Europe and PISSED some time in
the society of London detectives, chow
piclSpocllet was once arrested with
out his cnptor seeing his prisoners face
before he got to the lookup, and with
out anyone putting hand on him. It
happened this way: A detective who
was often detailed to gatherings, we'd
dings, tho houses of parliament, West
minister abbey, and other public places,
often ran across u why little man who
he discovered had no business where he
was seen, and did nothing for living.
''Coincidcntal with the mans visits to
crowded places were complaints of lar
cenies of articles that were carried in
the pockets of tails of coats, md espe-
cially silk handlzerchiefs. The detectives
identity had moro than one confederate
TO pass what WINS stolen so as TO be
Clean for the officer who was watch
ing him, and who was nettled at re-
proof from his superiors for his ncgli-
gcncc in not discovering the piclspock-
ct, had him arrested twice by other of
ficcrs and shaken down without find
ing any stolen goods in his possession.
Strange officers were used to mako
the arrests in order that the suspected
man might not become familiar with
the principal detectives face, as he de-
tcrmincd to get him by hook or by
crook Now 1 don't mean this for
pun, but it came out That way. The de-
tcctive belonged to one of the many
fishing clubs that abound in London,
and was familiar with tackle
Procuring four dozen unsnelled
hooks OF the size and strength used here
for blaclSfish, some fax thread and
needle, he passed an afternoon in turn
ing the tail-poclSets of IN old-fashioned
froclz coat into thicf-trap. The hooks
were ringed and with tho needle were
sewcd bent out just inside the pocket,
permitting hand to enter, but prevent
ing it's withdrawal. lie know Of book
sale that would be largely attended at
the east end of the Strand and made up
carefully for it, SO that when I've left
home he was pleasant-faccd old gobe-
mouchc-
Eat the book sale he took care to be
as vacuous and unmindful of his sur
roundings as possible, but noted the
presence of the suspect and waited
calmly for bite. 1t came There was
tug at his coat and bitter oath, and
he knew that his mans hand was seized
by the hooks, and that he would not
venture to risk the agony that tearing
away forcibly would inflict So he said
quietly: If you follow mo our surgeon
will relieve YOU and attempted to walk
to Scotland Yard, half mile away, the
trapped thief following with his hand
in the detectives pocket
But such large crowd gathered that
the detective had to take q cab and he
landed the man safely in the detectives
office He was held by four of the hooks
and the barbs had to be cut OFF before
they were extracted The thief con-
fesscd and went to prison for short
term, but the Scotland Yard authorities
frowncd on the detectives method and
prohibited any further experiments Of
the sort for fear the newspapers would
denounce the cXpcdicnt as cruel. But
deadlier trap could not be baitcd fora
'clyfaleer.'"