The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
HOTEL DEADBEATS.
Some of the Schemes Successfully
worked on Hotel Keepers.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
There are many families in New York
who make a practice of defrauding apart
ment hotels out of one, two and sometimes
even three months rent. They come into
newly-opened house. select a fine apart
ment paying something in advance. The
head of the family seems TO be a prosper
GUS man of business, the wife a woman
of society and clubs. and the children
most desirable young folks. They know
how to live well and luxuriously and for
the first month or two they do live in
regal style. There are carriages without
end, flowers. candy. fancy fruits. extra
wines and fine cigars, all ordered from
the hotel, and all written down upon the
hotel bill. This bill grows longer and
longer. and when, after many gentle hints.
payment is demanded, the proprietor sud
denly finds he has been "bilked" The fam
fly, still smiling, still comfortable, bluff
their baggage out of the hotel and are off
TO a newer apartment, where the game may
be repeated
The most persistent and successful of
this class of hotel =" workers in New
York to-day is a widow with two charm
ing daughters. They were carried by one
hotel for six months. the proprietor being
manipulated carefully by one of the daugh-
tiers.
One OF the cIeverest woman beats of
which there is record lived on the fat OF
the land at the finest hotels in the coun-
try for five years She said she was
relative or President Lincoln, and that
she was gathering material for a memoir
OF his life. She was handsome, well
gowned, and bore every mark os respecta-
bility Besides she was fortified with
At ~ int from xx-p1I-
known senator. At the end of the week
would come a telegram from the senator.
which gave the hotel people extended
confidence. Generally she was good for
three weeks at a hotel, and more often
than not she succeeded in getting several
checks cashed, which were as bogus as the
senator's kilograms.
She was trfpped up after a time by GO
ing TO hotel a second time. True, a
number of years had elapsed but hotel
clerks have wonderful memories, especially
when IT comes TO those who have
''bilked" them. The proprietor remem-
bered the fact. but could not place the
woman until the telegram from the SEN
ator came along Then like a flash it
came over him. He accused her OF her
game. At first she denied, then confessed
that she intended to beat the hotel. As she
found a friend who settled her bill, nothing
was done TO bring her 10 justice.
The fake Colonial Dame woman, with
letters from prominent men asking the
hotel people To take extra fine care Of
her because she is an invalid is another
schemer who is we'll known. When
discovered she changes her name. and
seeks out a new scene of operations.
Equally dangerous IS a New England
woman with mania for travel. She gets
ahead OF some theatrical company and
claims TO be Its press agent. She has trav-
eled with profit all over the United States.
Cashing bad checks costs the hotels of
the United states thousands of dollars
a year, yet the hotels have not stopped
this. Mr.. Waz tells OF a recent scheme
which was worked on n hotel at Allen
town, Pa The guest. who seemed to be
q drummer. registered. and while lOafing
around the hotel picked up an acquaintance
with the porter.
'Who is your CASHIER"
'Mr Black" said the porter
Does he cash checks?'
"NO, Mr.. White, the chief clerk, does
that sort of business" cOnhded the porter
Where is Mr. White?'
Hes gone To Philadelphia and won't be
back until tomorrow.
Seems TO me 1 remember White What
IL We used TO call him?' unused the
drummer.
His name is Henry. but most everybody
who knows him at all well calls him
Harry"
This was all the drummer wanted Of the
porter. His next conversation was with the
proprietor.
"oh say. Mr.. Green. where is Harry?"
''Harry's down in Philadelphia for a day
or two" returned the proprietor. Moth
ing / can do for you2'
i've waited around all morning To see
Harry said the drummer. RE always
cashes my checks for me. and l want 10
take the afternoon train
Il guess fix that" said the pro-
prietOr. He did 10 the tune OF $50, and he
has the check yet.