Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-01
HOTEL ROBBERIES
CHIEFLY SCARES
MONEY AND JEWELS ARE FIRE.
oUENTLY MISPLACED
Hotel Managers Smile When They
Hear Of Thefts-John Mitchell
Has Had Two Funny
Experiences

When a guest of Los Angeles hotel
rushes frantically to the manager of
the house with the announcement, II
have been robbed" and expects him to
| fly into a panic he is apt to be disap-
pointed.
The story is one of the most familiar
that the hotel men hear, and it has be-
come a chestnut which must be borne
patiently, for according to men who
have had long experience in the busi-
ness not more than one out of ten of
these stories is true.
Every hotel man has had ludicrous
experiences along this line, and during
the last week Manager John Mitchell
of the Hollenbeck hotel has had two
cases brought to his notice.
A few days ago a Montana cattle
man was guest at the Hollenbeck.
One morning he came down stairs and
asked to speak to Mr.. Mitchell
Mr. Mitchell, l do not like to make
kick, but 1 have lost S100 and l can't
account for it in any way. 1 wonder
If 1 am crazy or if you have spooks in
this house." said he.
Last night l went to my room, and
after 1 reached there L realized that
had 500 in my pocket which 1 was not
anxious to lose.
MY first impulse was to return to
the safe and put it there, but 1 had my
shoes off and 1 thought that would be
an unnecessary precaution, so did not
do it.
Hides Money in Shoe
Then 1 looked around for safe
place. 1 contemplated putting it in my
suit case. but thought that would not
do Then 1 decided to put it under my
head, when it dawned upon me that
would be the first place a thief would
think of looking. At last a brilliant
idea struck me, and I put it in one of
my shoes, 1 felt confident no one
would ever think of looking for money
in shoe. 1 first placed it in a thin
leather wallet which fitted beautifully
into the sole of the shoe, and 1 went to
bed thinking it would be safe after
carefully locking the door and window
and fastening the transom. You see 1
took every precaution, and 1 do not
see how that money could have gone
out of that room'
I'VE will go upstairs and see what
can be done about it," said Mr.. Mitchell
Have you looked in all your
pockets?" asked Mr.. Mitchell, and the
man assured him that he had, but to
make sure he went through it again
The money was not there. The drawers
were searched, and the suit case and
every other corner of the room, but the
money could not be found.
Looked in Wrong Shoe
Have you looked in your shoes p"
asked the manager.
Say, look here now, you are jollying
me. OF course 1 looked in my shoe the
very first thing. What kind of a fool
do Won take me- fOr0p
During the day the search for the
money was continued. and the man left
without any sign of it.
i feel confident that money will turn
up, and If it does you must write to
me-" said Mr. Mitchell at parting.
Yesterday he received a letter from
the Montana cattle man Offering to buy
anything and everything in sight.
Il looked in the wrong shoe, and
when 1 undressed in my berth that
night 1 found the missing wallet" he
wrote. The joke is certainly on me"
Then followed apologies.
Friday Mr.. Mitchell had a similar
experience, when priest who was a
guest at the house announced that he
had been robbed of $50.
Il do not like to accuse anyone, but
the money was in my possession last
night and this morning 1 have not got
II, ne SAID
when l went to bed I tried to de-
eide what would be the best place to
leave my money, and 1 finally put it
in the pilloWcase. This morning L put
my hand inside the pilloWcase and
the money was gone"
Finds the Bills
Mr.. Mitchell and the priest went to
the room which the latter was occupy
ing, and Mr.. Mitchell found that the
bed had been turned upside down and
the man had been making a search
without finding his money.
Are you sure you did not put it any
where else. father?" he asked.
Sure, man. Why l know that was
where L put it. l remember distinctly
| doing it.. / am a sane man."
Father, let me look in your pockets, "
said Mr.. Mitchell, and the priest laugh
ingly complied with his request, shak-
ing his head the while and accusing
him of making sport.
! would you believe it-in the inside
of that mans vest found the $50! The
bills were pinned in, and yet the father
had not remembered doing it. He was
the most surprised man l ever saw.
and 1 don't think he will ever quite be-
lieVe that spirits or some other power
did not take that money out of the
pillowcase and pin it In his pocket.
I'VE have dozens OF Instances very
similar 10 these, and have a great de-
sire to smile when a theft is reported
TO me. think hotel men generally
will bear me out when l say that verv
few of the thefts reported to us have
ever taken place. When one considers
/ the conditions there ara Uarxy fem ~, o.