The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-31
TIFF1NY G. co. sVINDLED.
A Mistake In Names that Cost tho Firm over
Thirteen Hundred Dollars.

Fiop, ne Brinnrpe BJlenn
On the 7th OF last December n gentleman
OF tall. commanding figure black moustache
and pleasing address rented m Office IN the rear
Of Fehsenleld's cigar store ia Light street
rho next day sign painter inscribed the fol
lowing on n conspicuous side OF the door. TIL
WINS lifted up very pleasantly with chairs. desks,
and long tibl.. whercon were displayed sam
pies of cotton. g.. Tho gentleman himself was
so pleasant. 80 mild spoken. aud 80 captivating
in manner that in short time he became great
invOrtn with all with whom he came in contact
MIR. Fohsenil'd the ci.,armnkor. was especially
well liked 10y the cotton broker. and in a few
days their acquaintance rpened into mutual
Mr. Pierce was a great smoker and good
Judge of tobacco. Mr. Fehscnneld II seems.
manufactured cigar lust to his liking. Be-
sides purchasing literally himself he gave tho
cignrmakcr tho name OF very dear friend OF
his living NJ Norfolk. whom he said would prove
Tho name OF this friend WINS George l.. Lenicr
the address Morrisc,ts, Hotel. Norfolk. va. A
box was sent to that address, and week later
Mr.. Pierce informed tho clgarmakcr that his
irlend was 30 very much plnased that he would
take thousand. Mr. Fchsenlcld had not 50
many OF the brand wanted on hand, but MS he
Ind ut least 600 OF them. ho GLADLY made the
shipment
On tho 29I OF December Mr.. Pierce walked
into the cigar store, and carclcssly throwing n
check for 81 900 ON the counter in front OF Mr..
Fehseniicld. requested him to hold on to IL until
n genilnmnn should call and claim 1t IN pay
mcnt Of bill He further requested Mr.. Fohscn-
field to take n receipt and keen II for him unit
hs acemstomdd poe bow bhp p sa n eran
fully down the street. Ie has not bocn seen
sln,e. Tho cigars. however. were only part.
and very insignificant part OF tho business
transacted 10y tho insinuntinR cotton broker.
While sitting in his Office. enjoying his cigar.
his hnnd and pcn were Nv no means idle. De-
cenbcr the 18Th he procured the following letter
10 one OF the best known jewellers IN New York:
Gtsfs desire 70 buy Tor my vie Tor ca T.tna' a
ser.her. To- Ne cycnl, msehgd 100! white. ,..,...
% D..
500 Also, hoy can ! manaic to see BON ,ctii9ss IN
You truly Tnoa,s rmact
The letter wos printed on paper honrng tho
name, business and address ol tho cotton broker.
On Dee; 20 he received in reply Il letter which
reads as follows:
Mg rmoSA. llsHcr-Sis Not having time 20 write and
hbcry Of scniims two pair. o. d ,,nd ,arnss VAIN 4
~ 81, and 500 rcscctvriy The stones 1rc very white
aonai co't RcspceHay . ca" '' '"''-s' WIN 10 n1'
Tho earrings arrived 10y Adams express on
tie 22i MI. md as already stated. on the % |
Mr.. " Tn. Pierce. cotton broker. III Light
street rear. office" left for parts unknown.
The New York firm. which had been SO
clevcrly swlndled. nitcr three or four DAVIS
had elapsed, became uneasy. Their claim.
however. alter patience had become OK
haustcd was sent 70 their attorney in this
city with instructions to investigate and
take legal steps If necessary. for its collection.
The case WAS placed In tho hands Of a detective.
Ihr detective visited tho cotton brokers' Office.
searched his dosk. his papers. and his cotton
samples. hut not trace. not tao slightest clue
fNuli tN lNNnfl. lie tnpu sfNftHl on TIE tftHk
" tho cigars. and discovered that Thomas
Pierce ami George l.. l.nuler werH ons and the
same person. But there the clue came 20 n
SUD len halt. The cigars had turncl into smoke,
ana not eNsn tho ashes remained.
Prom me- Biniao- sun
Tiffany x Co.. tho New York jewellers hnvo
| engaged the services Of tho Baltimore p1iict
| Department Ia look for an alleged cotton broker
| oi this city, who. under misauprchrnsion on
| their part obtained from Thorn twi pairs OF dlh-
| mond earrings. valued in the aggregate ut
| $3.50. and In now reported non est Lust De-
ccmbcr a man rented an oil 80 at III Lishi
| street. and put out his sign ns Thomas Pierce
| cotton broker" Dec. is he wrote t. TIFFANY
| n Co.. using "a sheet of paper at the head Of
| which WIS printed, Thomas Pierce. cotton
| broker. ia Light street. Bliiimorr." H.
stated that ho desired 10 buy for his wifi
| for Chrrstmaa a pair Of solitaire ear
| rings. He lid not know whether he preferred
| To have the settings In plalinn or gold hui
\ wanted 10 sre both settings SO that his wife
might make her choice before ne RENTED the
| money. The New YORK jewellers applied ~ q
| mercantile agency To ascertain the business
| standing OF their customer. Tho mistake was
! made Of suppos ing that AIR. Thomas Pierce o
| Baltimore a we'll known coffee impCricr and
| ship owner. WIS the gentleman Tiffany Co
were inquring about. and hc was reported &c
| bc No. l. Tho jewellers sent by cNyr,ss &
! their correspondent two pairs OF diamond
| earrings. vnlucd nj 500 and s67j respectively
| which rnuch"d here Dec. %. The next day
| after receiving the package thu cotton brukcf's
| Office was deserted. and that Thomas Piece,
cannot be found.