The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-03
DICKENS OLD FRIEND.
ruckett Accompanied the Novelist In
His Nocturnal Rambles.

His Nocturnal Rambles.
From the San FrGncisco Examiner.
James Tuckett, formerly inspector Of che
detective department of Scotland Yard,
London, is now on his way east after a long
visit to friends The ex-inspector, who e
now 81 years OF age, rose from the ranks
as an ordinary constable TO the position
which he afterward held. His work was 50
good that he was repeatedly promoted, and
runners" before the special department. OF
detective police was established at Scotland
Yard.
Mr.. Tuckett was one of the characters In
Dickens famous story "Bleak House.
where he figures as Inspector Bucket"
In pleasant chat with a reporter he
| said: my happiest "reminiscences are cons
| nected with my association with the famous
novelist, who, at the time / first made his
acquaintance, was writing his Sketches of
Boz The first time | saw him he was
prowling around Golden square, Solo, IN a
suspicious manner. and followed him and
asked his business. He said he was In search
OF material for newspaper stories, and ha
thought no wider or more prolific field could
be found than in the great metropolis He
was quiet, unassuming young man then,
but he interested me very much by his
flashes Of wit and the evident acquaintance
which be had with the substrate of London
life.
"For years after our first meeting, and
until became inspector at Scotland Yard.
he regularly met me at the station or lefh
word where could meet him. aud together
we have visited every quarter Of London
from Connaught square TO the slums OF
Lime house hole and Radcliffe high way and
every den and hole on the river side Al
times we would enter the dens OF thieves
and evil characters Of all kinds, and the
naFlV pnnrDinlr Ia uunnlA anA
post 20 report, with scarcely a word said
between us; but all the time, furtiVely
glancing at bis face, could see how pro-
foundry he was impressed by all that we
both saw and heard, and know instinct.
lively that ae was quietly gathering ma
terial and storing 1t away for future use tn
those wonderful novels Of his which have
made his undying fame.
TO most men he was silent, but with me.
after a tramp OF eight or ten miles, when
was released from duty he, accompanying
me to my home In the old Kent road, would
make my flesh creep with his vivid epitomo
Of what he had seen. Our friendship grew
very strong az the years rolled on, and
when fame and fortune came TO him and
had ceased active duty and was a welcome
guest at Gad's Hill, we would together res
visit tho old haunts and recall earlier days.
The last time we came together on
tour OF this kind was when he was writing
bue unnnlsneo story, bdWin brood, ana
chen he confined himself entirely TO the
Thames shore on the north and south side.
below Waterloo bridge. On Wednesdays
was always relieved from duty early in the
evening. and IL was a custom for my good
wife TO have 'tripe aud trotters' for supper,
OF which dish Dickens was particularly
fond. Ae invariably dropped In just as the
meal was ready and sat at table with US.
HIS pet was my little daughter Emily, now
married and living I'm Australia
TIE inspector has been. probably, the
most successful thief-taker and detective ON
the force, but he Is chiefly celebrated for
his connection with the arrest and convic-
tion Of Palmer. the Rugeley prisoner. AL
though 80 years of age. he Is still active aud
bright-eyed, and TO look at him no ona
would take him to be much oyer SO.