The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-02-22
POCKET LINED WITH FISH
HOOKS.
P1cIxpOcsSet Undertakes to explore
1t md Finds Himself Caught

HUME.
Picxpocs<et Undertakes to explore
1t md Finds Himself Caught
A remarkable story came to light yes
terday regarding IN experience on Mon
day night Of Charles Osborne, the min
ing man Of Shasta County, with a pick
pocket, in which lie clms of Immensely
best. Osborne has Just sailed for South
Africa in company in j. G. Petty. The
STORY IS so unusual as to Scent hardly
credible, burt is vouched for in a Gay to
carry belief.
Osborne arrived here several weeks
ago. He is one Of the best known min
ing men OF California. having mined for
years in the north. He was the discov-
crer Of the Gladstone gold mine, French
Gulcl, which he sold for $4,000. AS
he was on his way to Johannesburg to
take charge Of some mines and lid not
know when he would get back, he spent
some time here seeing the sights and
taking his ease preparatory to starting.
While here he sent to Redding for
$1,000, which he received by express.
person, for Osborne is a big, stalwart
man, who has been about the world,
and is not afraid OF anybody. One
night over Year ago, when be and his
friend Petty were out seeing the sights,
L Mght-fngered man touched him for
two 500 gold pieces. which he had IN
one Of his trousers pockets. This was a
surprise to- Osborne, and set him to
thinking. He had never had anything
like them happen before, and he was
| much annoyed. He said nothing about
| 1t at the time, however, but set to work
| devising a plan for thwarting any SINH
lar accident in future.
| LII a dim way he recollected that he
thought some one had put hand in his
! pocket on the night he lost the coins.
| Osborne. as is customary among many
| mining men, wears substantial oordu-
| ray clothing and these are equipped
with unusually strong pockets. In the
| right pocket OF his trousers. therefore,
he skillfully arranged half dozen big
| tish-hooks, each carefully fastened to
it's place, and in such a way that they
would offer no resistance to hand be-
ing inserted, but the hand would be
grasped by the barbs while being with
drawn. Any one. Of the hooks would
hold 10-Dound salmon
Thus equipped Osborne again started
forth. At the corner of California and
Kearny streets a fal1lr was bllthesOmeIy
expatiating about his wares, and the
man stopped to hear what he had to
say. DESTROYS OF testing his Invention,
he jingled two or three $50 pieces care
lessly in sight, and then dropped q cou-
pie Of them into the yaWning nav be-
| low fichh h1O No1Ir
and became absorbed in the street.
corner oratory. In A few moments,
sure el4ough, he felt hand going down
his pocket. 1t moved slowly and care
fully, but every time the fakir said any
thing tu make the crowd laugh it went
down with more confidence. Pretty
soon Mr.. Osborne felt that he had a
man at his elbow who was doing some
deep thinking. He knew this by the
commotion that had taken place in his
pocket. He said nothing, but he knew
something was going to happen. 1t
did, When voice said:
Say. mister, I've got my hand in
your pocket"
What in----have you got your hand
in my pocket for?' said Osborne, cheer
fully, why don't you take it Out!"
Il can't; it's caught said the man,
looking up and turning pale.
well, come right down here to a
policeman. He will help you take it
out replied the mining man, and he
moved Off as he spoke, the thief being
4 forced to trot along by the side of his
caDtor.
'Oh, I didn't get any money For
, heavens sake let me go!' cried the
thief.
Osborne did not care any thing about
imprisoning the fellow and Furnishing
him further. He declared he would
not have minded it a bit if he had los
the additional gold pieces. ALI he
. | wanted was to see if his trap woult
work. SO he released the fellow an6
let him go. He immediately ran away
and Osborne returned to his hotel, fol
lowed by several people. H. r. Beni:
and others examined the tishllook
guarded pocket 1t had considera biz
, blood in it from the lacerated hand O.
the WOuld-be- thef.-San Francisco
Chronicle