The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-08-04
THE DoCKFELr CASE

L ,.
n; II DoeL',.; * i,eeman. No. 1876
anu iaS - street, Buffalo, N. Y, sat
in his private Office. engrossed In the
affairs OF one Of the largest retail gro
Gerry stores in Buffalo. He was tall,
spare man. and to an ordinary observer
his appearance was very progressing.
His olear-cut, kindly face displayed
character in every line-the face Of
shrewd yet strictly honorable and
thoroughly sympathetic man. Indeed.
Paul Dockfeit was man OF high and
sincere aims, as well ss Of public spirit.
and his numerous friends were con-
templating a movement 10 nominate
him for alderman from his ward.
AZ the moment when Mr.. Dockfelt had
dipped his pen TO write an important
busIness letter, he was interrupted by
q loud commotiou In the main store, the
character Of which he could not de-
termine, a. his Office was iuclosed.
After listening impatiently for . mo.
ment, be rose and strode out into the
store. As he eytered the main room, he
observed that the disturbance pro-
ceeded from the cashiers Office. An
alteration seemed to be going ON be-
tween the cashier, Fred ThomaA and
the head clerk, Edward Balfour.
Fred Thomas, although he had been
in Mr.. Dockfelt's employ but six weeks,
was already a great favorite With his
employer. Indeed, it was whispered
among the clerks that. in time, the firm
name would be Dockfelt & Thomas;
for Mr.. Dockfelt had no junior psrtnar
at that time, Richard Freeman having
died some time before. For the sake of
ling. however, Mr.. Dockfelt
~ led the old firm name.
Mr.. Dalfour was also quite Q favorite
with Mr.. Dockfelt. in whose employ he
had been about three months.
1t was with great surprise and re-
gret, therefore. that Mr.. Dockfelt saw
the young men engaged in . quarrel.
He walked up quietly behind the en-
ragged clerks, who were 20 furious al
each other that they did not notice his
approach, and tapping Mr.. Balfour on
the back, said, In stern voice:
y"Whst IL the trouble here. Balfour p
Trouble enough, sir" replied the
head clerk, wheeling around and ad-
dressing bis employer. II sent check
for IS cents down here, together with
Q ten-dollar bill, and now Mr.. Thomss
is abusing me for sending him an empty
carrier"
''How's this, ThomAsT' demanded
the sstonished grocer.
I'm sure don't know. aiA" said
Thomas. "All I knowi 10, that, just now.
Mr.. BalfouY.s cash-carrier came along
the wire. I tookit down, and finding
IT empty, thought Mr.. Balfour wss play
ing . trick on me. 80 sent the carrier
back-empty, OF course. A minute later
he came rushing up and angrAy de-
mands the cause Of my sending him no
change. That's all know about It."
"Mr. Thomas" said the merchant
sternly, give Mr.. Balfour his change,
Mr.. Balfour, you may take II TO the
customer. Then return Immediately,
until we settle this affair. Hurry!"
Briefly, the cash syetem used by Mr.
Dockfelt was as follows: Each clerk
was provided with small blank book
opening at the top. Each page wae
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
lowes half TO the cashiers desk in one
OF the small cash cups or carriers com.
monty used in retail store. Together
with this check. or "tip," as the de.
tached slip Of paper is called. the sales
man would inclose the money. The
cashier would put the tip on bill fls
orsp'ndle; ard thus the amount on the
spindle belonging TO each clerk should
tally with the total of the "stubs" ir
his book. This is the method IN genera
use In retail stores. .'-
Wh.7 W. Balfour returned. the mer
chant said. sharply: II suppose 70,
have no objection to being searched
Each OF you may first describe tht
contents Of your pocke,books. Bal
fourY''
mine contains three silver dollars
Q five dollar bill some small change
and six car tickets" answered the head
clerk. M
"Thomas?"
mine contains two fves, one silve,
dollar, some smah change, two post
age stamps and three car tickets"
Mr.. Balfour then produced his pock
etbook. and It was found to CONTAIN ex
actly what was enumerated. Mr.. Dock
felt searched the clerks pockets, bu'
nothing suspicious came 20 light.
He then went through the same op
Grafton with Thomas-with the sam,
result. Next, Mr.. Dockfelt examined
the cash-desk, and ascertained tha
there were NO ten-dollar bills in th,
drawer. After instructing Mr.. Thoma
10 charge the missing sum 10 loD ant
gain. the merchant retired 70 his offlc.
70 ponder the mystery. How could I
have happened? He he'd searched boil
the clerks, but he could not resist III,
conviction that, II the money had beeI
u