The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-10-10
HOTEL DEADBEATS.
SHARP RASCAlS WHO ARE TOO MUCH
FOR THE sAREWDEST CLERKS.
Some of the Tricks by Which They Obtain
Accommodations without Paying and
Also Borrow Money-Enpty Trunks and
Bogus Packages.

Also Borrow Money-Empty Trunks and
Bogus Packages.
Despite every precaution taken by
shrewd hotel clerks large number of
persons are constantly engaged in secur-
ing board and lodging by fraud.
1t is usually supposed that when a
guest arrives at hotel without bag
gage he cannot secure accommoda-
lions unless he pays in advance, but the
| tricky "deadbeath not only will live
in the hotel free for week, but in
many cases will secure loan from the
unsuspecting gentleman behind the desk.
The "deadbeato constantly evolves
new tricks to do up the hotel man,
and it was not many days ago that
we'll known hotel was d6frauded in
very skillful manner Of a weeks board
and some of the cash in the till. The
"deadbeat' walked into the hotel lob
| by and in confident manner placed his
name on the register as hailing from
! Chicago. He was neatly dressed and
carried a small grip. He informed the
clerk that he was travelling man on
his first trip to the coast
Travelling men are good customers, SO
the new arrival was assigned to "A good
room. He handed two baggage checks
to the clerk and requested that his
trunks be sent for from the depot In
an hour or two he inquired why his
baggage had not been sent up to his
room. The porter was sent for and ex
| planned that the transfer company had
not been able to find it. Inquiries We're
made by telephone, but the railroad
people could give no information of the
missing baggage.
"Well, l am in nice fix, said the
new guest to the hotel clerk, for all
my clothes are in my trunks, and snp
pose the things have gone astray
The clerk Was very sympathetic, for
travelling man without his clothes is
indeed to be pitied. The fellow man
aged to borrow $50 TO buy some shirts,
collars, ties etc. and went cut Of the
! hotel voWing vengeance against the rail
road company He even had the hotel
clerk pay for telegram to Chicago in
quiring at the depot there as To where
the trunks healing certain numbered
checks had been sent to, The reply came
back that they would look the matter
up, and pending the information the
new guest had Il royal good time At the
hotel In few days he disappeared,
and it then daWned upon the hotel men
that they had been neatly swindled by
the means of two baggage checks which
I
i'll Chicago or elsewhere.
Another favorite trick TO defraud a
hotel is done by means of confederate
One man will go TO a first class house
and secure good room. About the Sec
ond day he will be in the Office, and
while there the hotel clerk will receive
telephone message purporting to come
from we'll known store asking if Mr..
| So-and-so desires the goods he ordered
sent up to the hotel. The clerk will nat
urally ask the guest the question, and
he will reply that he desires the goods
sent up. When the package arrives, there
is always $40 to $50 to be paid. The
hotel man is requested by the guest to
settle the amount and charge ii up i'll
my bill. 1t does not pay to offend
ii guest whose appearance indicates
wealth, so the money is handed ont i'll
payment. The guest now disappears,
and his trunk is found to be cheap
one and generally full Of paper, while
the package which has been paid for
by the hotel people is also worthless.
Bogus kilograms and lettcrheadS are
frequently used by "deadbeatso III or
der to secure little ready cash until
my money arrives" and very often
the scheme works all right, for Il hotel
clerk is always afraid Of offending "a
guest in these matters, for should he
mistrust an honest man he will injure
the hotels reputation While most no.
tells make it rule not to cash drafts or
checks II loan money, still very often
the 'dcadbeat will make them break it.
A scheme which has recently been
worked all over the counly was fer the
"deadbeat" to send by express pack
age TO a hotel III another city. II would
be heavily sealed and marked, "Nalne
5000, :" and the hotel man, thinking
that it contained jewelry intended for
guest soon to arrive, would put 1t i'll
the safe In Il few days the "deadbeat "
would turn up at the hotel register ana
inquire if package had arrived for
him. He would be told that il was in
the safe and he would tell them il con
tanned watches and yaluables. The same
night loan of $40 would be asked fer,
and the hotel man. remembering the
valuable package in the safe, would in