River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-24
The Wrong Change.

A New York reporter has been going
about among the hotels inquiring as to
the tricks Of petty swindlers, who ask to
have a bill changed, and then claim that
they have not received the right change.
The clerk of the Brandreth House said
that once wel-dressed man entered the
hotel and asked for change for $50 bill.
-Four s. bills were given him. The clerk
was very busy. Soon the stranger said,
"Look here. See what you have given
me--thrce So bills and 81 bill" The
clerk knew he was right, but several
guests of the house, who were standing
near the desk. said that the man had not
moved from where he stood. The strang-
er Indignantly demanded to he searched,
and at last the clerk yielded against his
judgement, and gave him a IS for 81
bill, which he insisted he had received.
Afterwaad hall boy said he noticed that
the stranger had friend when he came
in, but his friend went out Just after the
clerk handed out the change. That
night the cash account was four dollars
short
At the same hotel, during the war, a
fashionably dressed man ahghted from IA
desk, threw down a S. bill and asked for
change, explaining hastily that he want
ed To pay his cabman. He went out and
y moment afterward the carriage drove
away. The bill was counterfeit. Sew
eral years ago, man who had stayed n
day OF two at the Brandrcth House as
guest, paid his bill, and, rs he was about
to 80 away, turned suddenly, and asked
the clerk 10 change $40 bill. The clerk
who was busy, threw down ter 81 bills.
The departing guest thrust diem into his
wallet, and babe the clerk goodmorning.
"Hold on p the latter called out "Where
is the $40 billy 81 gave it to you" said
the man. at was brand new bill.
Look IN your drawer" II was time
when there was food of new bills.
The clerk looked in his drawer and saw
several. HIS was not convinced, however.
The man glibly explained that on Ger
tain day he had drawn Just so much from
the bank, and then carefully rccounted a
large number of expenditures, which
would leave a certain balance of money
in his possession. Then he counted his
money, and the amount agreed with this
calculated balance. As he bad the mon
CIV in his possession, the clerk could do
nothing except submit to the loss or
bring civil suit. He submitted to the
loss.
At the Grand Central Hotel, boy ask
ed the clerk IN charge Of the hotel post
office for three-eent stamp, and tossed H
five-ccnt silver piece or the counter.
The clerk handed hin out three-cent
stamp and two cents, and swept the five
cent piece into the money drawer.
3 ~ gave you ten-cent piece, said the
boy.
'.You saw me put the piece of money in
the drawer, didn't you?" asked the clerk.
"Yes sir, replied the hoy.
well, if you can find a ten-cent piece
in that drawer" said the clerk, pulling
out the drawer and placing it before II,
boy on the counter, a II give il to you"
There was no ten cent piece in the
rawer.
A clerk of the Hoffman House said
that several years ago weil-dressed man
hurried up 10 the desk with 800 bill
in his hand. for v hich he wanted change,
in order. as be be said, to pay man
small account. He received bundle of
small bills. which he wrapped about his
his fingers and hurried out In half
minute he returned with The bundle of
bills held in the same position. While
they were yet rolled about bis fingers, he
SAID TO the clerk that his friend had gone
and be had not been able to see him.
He wanted to get his 500 bill back,
because he hated to carry so many small
bills in his pockets. The clerk reached
out. took tie bundle Of bills from his
hand, and began to count en-. "They
are the same you gave me, said the man
in resentful tone. If you don't like
my way OF doing business you can 20
else here, replied II clerk. The bundle
was found to be ten dollars short. The
man clustered barely enough TO support
an appearance Of innocence and vent
away.