The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-03-02
POCKET LINED WITH FISH
HOOKS.
A Ptckpocket Undertakes to explore
1t and Finds Himself Caught.

II ana F1nus H1mself Caught.
A remarkable story cane to light yes
terday regarding IN experience on Mon
day night of Charles Osborne, the min
ing ma II Of Shasta County. with pick
pocket, in which he clme off immensely
best. Osborne has Just s,iled for South
Africa in company i'll j. G. Petty. The
story IS so unusual as to seem hardly
credible, but is youched for in a way to
carry belief
Osborne arrived here several weeks
ago lie is one Of the best known min
ing men Of California. having mined for
years i'll the north He Was the diScov-
ercr Of the Gladstone gold mine. French
Gulcil, which he sold for $4,000. AS
he was on his way to Johannesburg to
take charge of some mines ;lld lid not
know when he would get buck hr spent
some time here seeing the sights and
taking his ease preparatory to starting
While here he sent to Rcdding for
81 .ON which he received by express.
Mich Of this money he carried on his
person, for Osborne is a big. stalwart
man, who has been about the world,
and is not afraid of anybody. one
night over a year ago, when he and his
friend Petty were out seeing the sights.
a light-fingered man touched him for
two $50 gold pieces, which he had in
cne 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
- a
1t at the time, however, but set to work
devising plan for thwarting any SINH
lar accident in future.
In dim way he reoollected that he
thought some one had put a hand in his
pocket on the might he lost the coins.
Osborne, as is customary among many
mining men, wears substantial cOrdu-
ray clothing, and these are equipped
with unusually strong pockets. In the
right pocket Of his trousers, therefore,
he Skillfully arranged half dozen big
fish-hooks, each carefully fastened to
its place, and in such a way that they
would offer no resistance to hand be-
ing inserted, but the hand would be
grasped ny the barbs while being with
drawn. Any one OF the hooks would
hold a 1Opound salmon.
Thus equipped Osborne again started
forth. AT the corner OF California and
kearny streets fakir was blltheSOmely
expatiating about his wares. and the
man stopped to hear what he had to
say DESTROYS of testing his invention,
he iingled two or three $40 pieces care
lessly in sight. and then dropped cou-
pie Of them into the yaWning nav be-
low the fishhookS Then he leaned back
and became absorbed in the street
corner oratory. In a few moments,
sure enough. he felt hand going down
his pocket 1t moved slowly and care
fully. but every time the fakir said any
thing to 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 Il 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?"
csl.l /, llS CduSLi. Sdiu TIE man,
looking IN and turning pale
We'll. come right down here to a
policeman. lie will help you take it
Ont," replied the mining man, and he
moved off as he spoke. the thief being
forced to trot along by the side of his
cantor
"Oh, | didn't get any money For
heavens sake let me go.' cried the
thief
Osborne did not care anything about
imprisoning the fellow and furnishing
him further. He declared he WOULD
not have minded it bit if he had lost
the additional gold d pieces. All he
wanted WAS to see if his trap would
work. So he released the fellow and
lot him 60. He immediately ran away
and 0storne returned to his hotel. fol-
lowed by several people. H. L. Bcms
and others examined the fiShfOok-
guarded pocket 1t had considera BILE
blood in II from the lacelated hand OF
the would-be- -thlef.-San Francisco
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