The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-01-01
Confidence MEN
"REMINISCENCES or A YOHE CLERK
Bogus Drafts Passed on the Un-
sOphisticated---The Stolen
Baggage Check Dodge.

speaking about bunco steererS and
gold brick venders" said the night
clerk of the Yohe, in the course of a
pipe talk with a Canton News Democrat
reporter, "a man in my position meets
all sorts of fakirs and confidence men,
Some of them try TO swindle the pro-
prietor; others aim to touch the
guests; while occasionally a drummer
makes an effort to get the better of his
firm.
"A clever hotel swindIer came here
q short time ago. He had obtained
possession of few railroad baggage
checks in some way known only to him
self. AS he entered the office he care
lessly tossed them upon the desk, reg
best suite in the house, at the same
time requesting that we get his baggage
from the station.
There was nothing peculiar in this,
so / ushered the stranger to an elegant
second floor suite and sent for his bag
gage. The porter returned after a time
and said thegentlemans trunk9 were not
at the depot. / Immediately notified the
guest. He said his baggage should have
been there by that time but to try
again the next day.
We'll the game was new to me, and
| did not suspect that anything was
wrong. OF course the baggage did not
arrive the next day nor the next. The
fakir feigned displeasure and wrath,
and sent word to the railroad officials
to have tracers sent out for his property.
BY the time the tracers had proved that
no such baggage had ever been shipped
the swindler had skipped and the house
was the looser.
Forged checks are sometimes worked
onto hotel clerks who permit themselves
to become overawed by a display of
wealth. I was caught that way once
A gay drummer came to the hotel and
Immediately began to exhibit glaring
| evidences of prosperity. He carried a
hundred dollar bill, which he displayed
at every opportunity. On the morning
following his arrival he declared that he
had been robbed. He preferred a check
for $43 drawn on a Canton firm in pay
ment of his score. He seemed so in
nocent and honest, and had acted so
much like a harmless boy, that it did
not occur to me to doubt the validity
of the check. 1t was forgery and was
the loser by the amount of his bill,
besides about $40 in change which had
advanced to him.
"A Hebrew bride and bridegroom
once spent week in Canton on their
wedding tour. They were given the
bridal chamber and were as happy as
clans, till they were ready to go. Then
Abraham shufiled up to the desk and
asked for his bin. When I told him it
was $40 he threw up his hands in comical
despair, and after a series of ejacula-
tions that included the names of all
the prophets he said he had missed some
Of the meals and was entitled to a re-
bate. l told him that made no differ
ence; the meals had been here for him.
Before making a settlement, however,
he decided to consult mis- wife. After
few moments he returned, rubbing his
hands and otherwise showing that
something pleased him.
Rebecca says you owe her $45,' he
said as he re-entered the Office.
What? I never saw your wife,
piled, wondering what game he was up
to.
oven, she says you did. Der money
was dere for you. Wy didn't you come
and get 1t?
Occasionally a drummer gets a sup-
per and bed, or a bed alone. He then
gets his meals at a cheap restaurant
and keeps the difference, charging the
house the full hotel rate.
"I had narrow squeak few years
ago. There was q poker room in the
hotel at which l was then working. A
drummer borrowed $50 from me to buck
the seductive tiger. and instead of TAX
ing 1t quietly, he kicked up big row,
although 1t had been a straight game.
got my money back, for the fellow who
won It was an employe of the hotel"