The Van Buren press., 1898-08-06
THE DOCKFELT CASE
! BY Ward n.eanIey and James Buekham.
sNHR. PAUL DOGKfELT. Of the firm
M Of Dockfelt d Freeman. No. 126

sNHR. PAUL DOGKFELT, Of the firm
u OF Doekfelt d Freeman, No. 126
and 12s -- street, Buffalo, y. Y. sat
in his private office, eugrossed in the
affairs of one Of the largest retail gro
Gerry stores in Buffalo. He was tail,
spare man, and TO an ordinary observer
his appearance was very prep0ssessing.
His clear-cut, kindly face displayed
character In every line-the face Of a
shrewd 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 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
a loud commotion in the main store the
character Of which he could not de-
termine, as his office was iHelosed.
After listening impatiently for a mo
ment, he rose and strobe ont into the
store. As he entered 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 Thomas. and
the head clerk, Edward Balfonr.
Fred Thomas. although he had been
in Mr. DoekfeIt's employ but six week..
was already great fayorite with hiz
employer. Indeed. ii was whispered
among the clerks that, in time. ihe firm
name would be Dockfelt 4 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
setained the old firm name.
Mr.. Balfour was also quite a fayorte
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 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 a stern voice:
What Is the trouble here, Balfour?"
Trouble enough, SIR" replied the
head clerk, wheeling around and adj
dressing his employer. 81 sent a check
for 25 cents down here, together with
a ten-dolar bill, and now Mr.. Thomas
is abusing me for sending him an empty
carrier"
"How's this, Thomas?' demanded
the astonished grocer.
am sure | don't know, sir" said
Thomas. "All know is. that, just now.
Mr.. Balfour's cash-carrier came along
the wire ] took II down, and finding
IT empty. thought Mr. Balfour was play
ing a trick on me, so sent the carrier
back-empty, of course. A minute later
he came rushing up and augrily de-
lmands the cause Of my sending him no
change. That's all / know about IT,"
"Mr. Thomas" said the merchant,
steruly, give Mr.. Balfour his change.
Mr.. Balfour. you may take it to the
customer. Then return Immediately,
nntil 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 perforatiou and send the
lower half TO the cashiers desk in one
of the small cash cups or carriers com
monty used In u retail store. Together
with this check. or tip" as the de-
fached slip Of paper is called, the sales
man would inclose the money. The
cashier would put the tip on a bill file
or spindle; and thus the amount on 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?"
hlAf fNHldlnN luitt NllNtT dollars,
a five dollar bill, some small change.
and six ear tickets" answered the head
clerk.
"Thomns?"
mine contains two fves, one silver
dollar. some small change, two post
age stamps and three ear tickets"
Mr.. Balfour then produced his pocls-
etbook, and II was found TO contain ex-
acily what was enumerated. Mr.. Dock
felt searched the clerks pockets, but
nothing suspicious came 10 light.
He then went through the same op.
GRAFTON with Thomns-with the same
result. Next. Mr.. Doclfelt examined
the cash-desk, and ascertained that
there were no ten-dollar bills in the
drawer After instructing Mr. Thomas
10 charge the missing sum 10 loss aud
gain, the merchant retired to his Office
20 ponder the mystery. How could 1t
have happened? lie had searched both
the clerks, but be could not resist the