The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06
ROBBING HIS OWN DRAWER.
superintendent POwelps Experience
with a Man Who Hired Cashiers.

superintendent Powell dropped into a
reminiscent mood one day last week in the
Mayors Office, and told of some of his ex-
periences when he first began life for him
self. An early position he held was cashier
in the office of a man whose name is with
held. When he went to work the key of
the cash drawer was turned over TO him,
and he supposed there were no duplicates.
The first day everything went on smoothly
till he counted the cash in the evening,
when he found it was several dollars short.
He went over his books carefully, but
could find no errors, and so concluded that
he had made a mistake in making change.
AS that was his first position, and he was
to receive So a month, he was anxious to
retain 1t, SO said nothing about the short
age to his employer, for fear he might be
considered too careless to hold an impor-
tant position. The next day he was careful
to count all money twice, but in the even
ing he was again snort $. He began TO
think that someone was stealing the money.
Still he said nothing about it, but watched
everybody in the office. Every evening
ended with the same result, a shortage Of
from 81 to g. The only time during the
day that he was out of the office was while
he was gone to his dinner, SO he concluded
TO get a lunch down town one day and
get back to the office in a few minutes SO
he could watch for the thief. He intended
to secrete himself IN a closet and await
developments, but what was his surprise
when he reached the door of the office to
look In through the glass and see his en-
ployer deliberately open the cash drawer
and take out a fve-dollar bill. He faced
his employer ready to fight.
80 this is where my shortage has been
goins, is it, IL there are two keys to
this drawer I want both of them"
II don't know how you will get them;
this is my Office" his employer answered.
Finally, after an angry discussion, Mr..
Powell was put to other work and a new
cashier employed.
The new man had the same experience
for about a Week. AT the end of that time
weeks salary, so he concluded to resign.
The next man TO take the place hap
pened to be an Intimate friend OF Mr.. Pow
ell. MIR. Powell heard OF the engagement
before the new man came to accept the
position. 1t did not take him long to ex-
plain the condition of affairs to his friend,
and between them they decided ON a course
of procedure. When the new man came to
work the next morning he asked how many
employer tod him that there were two,
one OF which ne would retain and the
other be given to the cashier. Following
out the plan outlined by Mr.. Powell, the
cashier told Mr.. T. that If he was hon
est enough to handle the cash for the Office
be was honest enough to hold both keys,
and be responsible for the money without
both keys in his possession. Finally the
keys were turned over. and from that
time on shortage was never known in that
office.
Mr.. Powell says he didn't know how long
such dealings had been carried on in that
Office, but he says he learned afterwards
that before he discovered the trick of his
employer there had been a new cashier
in the office every two or three weeks. He
is confident that the employer had been
stealing from the cash drawer for a long
time. and then charging the amount of the
shortage to his cashier, thus getting the
services of a cashier for nothing.