Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-04-27
A DEADLY TRAP.
Catching . Thief with a Pocket Lined
with Fishhooks.

They were discussing the best way to
bring prisoner from the place. of his
arrest to headquarters at the central Of
fice not long ago, says the New York
Times, and the collar, cuff, and arm
grips were instanced as manual expedi-
ents, and handcuffs, nippers and pocket
bludgeon thongs as mechanical aids.
II KNOW" said detective who had
been to Europe and PISSED some time in
the society of London detectives, chow
piclspockct was once arrested with
out his captor seeing his prisoners face
before he got to the lookup, and with
out anyone putting hand on him. 1t
happened this way: A detective who
was often detailed to gatherings, we'd
dings, the houses of parliament, West
minister abbey, and other public places
often ran across a wiry little man who
he discovered had no business where he
was seen, and did nothing for 4 living.
"Coincidental with the mans visits to
crowded places were complaints of lar
ccnies of articles that were carried in
the pockets of tails of coats, and espc-
cially silk handlerchiefs. The detectives
suspected the little wiry man, but he cv-
lISAOAJ llAN JIlul Otlc confederate
to pass what was stolen so as to be
'clcan,' for the officer who was watch
ing him, and who was nettled at re-
proof from his superiors for his negli-
gencc in not discovering the picl1pocll-
ct, had him arrested twice by other of
ficers and shaken down without find
ing any stolen goods in his possession.
Strange officers were used to make
the arrests in order that the suspected
man might not become familiar with
the principal detectives face, as he de-
termined to get him by hook or by
crook Now l don't mean this for a
pun, but it came out that way. The de-
tective belonged to one of the many
fishing clubs that abound in London,
and was familiar with tackle.
procuring four dozen pnsnellcd
hooks of the size and strength used here
for blaclSfsh, some fax thread and q
needle, he passed an afternoon in turn
ing the tail-pocl1ets of an old-fashioned
frock coat into a thicf-trap- The hooks
were ringed and with the needle were
scwcd bent out just inside the pocket,
permitting hand to enter, but prevent
ing its withdrawal. He knew of book
sale that would be largely attended at
the east end of the Strand and made up
carefully for it, SO that When he left
home he was n pleasant-faced old gobe-
mouche.
''At 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 me 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 q large crowd gathered that
the detective had to take 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-
fessed and went to prison for n short
term, but the Scotland Yard authorities
frowned on the detectives method and
prohibited any further experiments of
the sort for fear the newspapers would
denounce the expedient as cruel. But
q deadlier trap could not be baited for a
'clyfaker.'"