He was sure that they had not soured on him because he was a state catchpole.
"When Egypt Went Broke"
Holman Day
No. But the question is whether it doesn't oblige me to act as if it had; whether I oughtn't, if I've got this suspicion, to take some steps at once to find out whether Northwick's really gone or not, and to mix myself actively up in the catchpole business of his pursuit, after I promised him he shouldn't be shadowed in any way till his three days were over.
"The Quality of Mercy"
W. D. Howells
I don't think that even a bad conscience ought to hurry one into the catchpole business."
"The Quality of Mercy"
W. D. Howells