The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-24
HOTEL ASTOR WATERS
MUSCHENHEIM SAYS THEY STOLE
AT LEAST $500 A DAY.
Makes Charges Against Thirty Of Them.
and Five Are Arrested at Once
worked with the Check ers. VINO Made
Prices to suit--some Made SI3 Day.


W. G. Musohenheim OF the Hotel Aston
went to the West Forty seventh street
station Last night and told the police that he
had caught thirty OF his walters and checkers
In plot to rob him. Az result OF his story
number Of the hotel employees were
arrested.
About a month ago, said Mr.. Muschen-
helm, II became suspicious Of wrongdoing
because the receipts from the restaurants
we're far below what they should have been
compared with the purchases OF food.
I employed private detectives, watched
various Of the employees and became con-
vinoed that there was an elaborate oon-
spiracy between walters and checkers to
defraud the hotel.
To-day we gave the third degree to
three Of the walters, and they made full
confession. The one In whose information
place the grea test confidence told me
that he had been employed in the hotel
since October 6. and that he had been IN
on the graft ever since that time. The
checkers. re said. gave the walters In the
ring checks below the bill OF fare prices
II they gave any checks at ALL Very often
no checks were given.
According to the Information obtained
from this waiter and others. the money
OF my guests was divided into three parts.
The waiter kept so per cent, gave 25 per
cent to tho head checker and divided the
remaining rs per cent. among the other
checkers who were In the conspiracy.
One OF the walters said that his share Of
the graft had amounted to so to Sl2 a day
for two months.
Mr. Muschenheim said he could not even
appro ximate the amount taken from him
by the conspirators. The conspiracy be-
gan very nearly a year ago, he said, but he
did not think that the stsalings were at all
large In the early innings.
In the last month"; be said. Il have
undoubtedly lost at least $500 a day on an
average The money has been taken from
every one OF the dining rooms, for one
kitchen supplies all. am certain that none
of the cashiers was involved in the conspir-
acy."
Capt. Gallagher put Detectives Quinn,
Fitzpatrick, Waitzfulder and Curry on the
case. Early In the evening they arrested
these Ave John Campbell. lis West Sixty
first street. chief checker; Clarence Sheldon.
s7 West Fifty-eishth street, checker;
Thomas Greenwood, II Amsterdam avenue.
checker, Sheridan B. Lewis, 22s East For
tleth street. checker, and Michael Spohr.
lsA West Fifteenth street, waiter, They
were looked up on Q charge Of conspiracy
to defraud.
Mr. Muschenheim leases the house at
zoe West Forty afth street, which
adjoins the hotel. Many Of the
walters. who get t25 . month and board.
IL ~, AZ q nominal mira
While the detectives were searching for
those of the suspected walters who do not
live there Mr.. MuschenheiEn had In this
building his private detective force keeping
watch over q dozen other walters supposed
to have been In on the game.
They were not arrested Immediately, for
the reason that the detectives hoped to
secure further evidence from them. The
three men who confessed were assured Of
immunity from prosecution.
Mr.. Muschenheim does not think any
of the guests OF the hotel have proited
from the conspiracy. unless such guests
happened to be personal friends Of the
walters or checkers. 1t was q very easy
matter for the waters to provide them
selves with dummy checks showing the
full amount Of the bill. collect the full
amount and turn over the check on the
hotel blanks to the cashier.
Only one uest. Mr.. Muschenheim said.
noticed the crookedness. or at least only
one called the attention Of the manage
ment to it. He was eating dinner there
last night ran up bill Of 90 cents and
when he paid it noticed that the waiter
neither brought check nor took the money
to the cashiers desk He reported the
matter at the desk in the main Office, but
was unable to identify the waiter posi-