Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-07-14
THE DOCKFELT CASE
By Ward nacauIey and James Buckhan.
M Il. PAUL DOCKFELT, of the firm
Ifi of Dockfelt & Freeman, No. 12f

NER. PAUL DOCKFELT, of the firm
Ift of Dockfelt & Freeman, No. 1875
and 12s - street, Buffalo, v. Y, sat
in his private office, engrossed in the
affairs of one of the largest retail gro
Gerry stores in Buffalo. He was a tall,
spare man, and to an ordinary observer
ais appearance was very prepossessing.
His clear-cut, kindly face displayed
character in every line-the face of a
'6hrewd yet strictly honorable and
thoroughly sympathetic man. Indeed,
Paul Dockfelt was a man of high and
sincere aims, as well as of public spirit,
and his numerous friends were con-
templating a movement to nominate
him for alderman from his ward
At the moment when Mr.. Dockfelt had
dipped his pen to write an important
business letter, he was interrupted by
d loud commotioD in the main store, the
character of which he could not de-
termine, as his office was inclosed.
After listening impatiently for a mo-
ment, he rose and strobe out into the
store. AS he entered the main room, he
observed that the disturbance pro-
1IOu the O1CC- AL
alteration seemed to be going on be-
tween the cashier, Fred Thomas, and
the head clerk, Edward Balfour.
Fred Thomas, although he had been
in Mr.. Dockfelt's employ but six weeks,
was already 4 great favorite with his
employer. Indeed, it was whispered
among the clerks that, in time, the firm
name would be Dockfelt e. Thomas;
for Mr.. Dockfelt had no junior partner
at that time, Richard Freeman having
died some time before. For the sake of
long standing, however, Mr.. Dockfelt
retained the old firm name.
Mr.. Balfour was also quite fsvorite
with Mr.. Dockfelt, in whose employ he
bad been about three months.
1t was with great surprise and re-
gret, therefore, that Mr.. Dockfelt saw
the young men engaged in a quarrel.
He walked up quietly behind the en-
ragged clerks, who were SO furious at
each other that they did not notice his
approach. and tapping Mr.. Balfour on
the back, said, in stern voice:
What is the trouble here, Balfour?"
Trouble enough, SIR" replied the
head clerk, wheeling around and adj
dressing his employer. II sent check
for % cents down here, together with
a ten-dollar bill, and now Mr.. Thomas
is abusing me for sending him an empty
carrier"
"How's this, Thomas?" demanded
the astonished grocer.
I'm sure i don't know, SIR" said
Thomas. ''All know is. that, just now,
Mr.. BaIfour's cash-carrier came along
the wire. took il down, and finding
1t empty, thought Mr.. Balfour was play
ing a trick on me, so | sent the carrier
back-empty, of course. 4 minute later
he came rushing up and angrily de-
lnaHds the cause of my sending him no
.hange. That's all / know about it."
MIR. Thomas" said the merchant,
>teruiy. give Mr.. Balfour his change.
Mr.. Balfour, you may take it to the
customer. Then return Immediately,
until we settle this affair. Hurry!"
Briefly, the cash system used by Mr..
Dockfelt was as follows: Each clerk
was provided with a small blank book.
opening at the top. Each page was
perforated in the middle. On each side
of the perforation the clerk wrote the
amount of the sale. He would then tear
across the perforation and send the
lower half to the cashiers desk in one
of the small cash cups or carriers COM
monty used in n retail store. Together
with this check, or tip" as the de-
iached slip of paper is called. the sales
man would incIose the money. The
cashier would put the tip on bill file
Al, . ha IN IN the
spindle belonging to each clerk should
tally with the total of the stubs" in
his book This is the method in general
use in retail stores
When Mr. Balfour returned, the mer-
chant said. sharply: Il suppose you
have no objection to being searched?
Each of you may first describe the
contents of your pocketbooks- Bal
four?"
mime contains three silver dollars,
a five dollar bill. some small change.
and six car tickets" answered the head
clerk.
"Thomas?'
mine contains two fives. one silver
collar. some small change, two post
age stamps and three car tickets"
Mr.. Balfour then produced his peck
etbook, and it was found to contain ex-
actIy what was enumerated. Mr.. Dock
felt searched the clerks pockets, bu;
nothing suspicious came to light.
He then went through the same OPP
Grafton with Thomas-with the same
result. Next. Mr.. Dockfelt examined
the cash-desk, and ascertained that
there were no ten-dollar bills in the
drawer. After instructing Mr.. Thomas
to charge the missing sum to loss and
pain. the merchant retired to his Office
70 ponder the mystery. How could ii
lave happened? He had searched both
the aIsxba but he could not resist the