The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-12
A DIME BAIT SHOWS
WOMEN MOST HONEST
Two-thirds of Persons Tested by
Merchant Kept Excess Change
Knowingly.
MANY DON'T COUNT MONEY

ELLIcoTTvnLE. " Y, Jan. 11--How
many people would return dime that
was given TO them at store in excess
OF their rightful change? "a
A merchant here interested in human
honesty in small matters has just car
ried out a test. which shows these re-
suits: That two-thirds of the persons
who notice the extra dime pocket IL and
walk away; that between the men and
the women little over so per cent. OF the
former are honest. while the women are
divided evenly. half and half. and that
90 per cent. OF the persons who get small
change at a counter do not bother to
count II.
This Ellicottville merchant struck upon
the dime as the coin which when added to
n customers change would excite the
least suspicion, and at the same time be
OF enough value to test unconsciously his
or her honesty. so twenty-five OF these
silver pieces were given 20 the clerk 90
getting back change.
CareIes. Woman Pockets Dime.
The frst person 20 buy, a woman. gave
bill of large denomination. In the con-
siderable change she received was the
extra dime. She took her bundle In one
hand and, stufling the change into her
pocketbook with the other hurriedly left
the store.
man came next. who laid down half
dollar for a 10 cent cigar. Five dimes
were his change. He counted them surely
enough. but seeing the clerk engaged
in other work walked away without fur
ther words.
These two customers had been watched
v...N
visible. Neither of the next two Gus
toners was careful enough to examine
the change and went away without know
ing they were honestly dishonest.
The fifth. however, a woman, counted
her change as carefully as though she
were often cheated. and perceiving the
dime made her exit quickly.
It was only the sixth person, this time
a woman. who counted the change anG re-
turned II.
OF the twenty-five customers tested only
Ave others besides this woman went
back to the clerk 20 tell him he had made
a mistake. or this total OF six, four were
men. Opposed TO the six were eleven Gus
toners who knowingly walked off with the
extra dimes, nine OF them men and two
Of them women. one started at first to
return his coin. but with a second thought
arranged things with his conscience and
walked of without telling.
Men want to Appear Moneyed.
The character OF the eight customers
who hustled away without CHANGING ut
their change interested the invisible mer-
chant. Three were young men who wished
to make an impression of carelessness
with money. Four were business men
who were honestly In a hurry. The eighth
A woman, was evidently a tnoughtless
and careless one.
The merchant was personally acqua lnted
with each OF his customers. All had repu-
.atlons for integrity and honesty. lie Is
that had the amount been
larger none would have failed to return
Il.
Another example OF petty dishonesty in
another part OF the store was being OBJ
served at the same time. A woman about
10 buy candy saw that the clerks at
ention was elsewhere. From an open pile
lf candy she put several pieces into n
bag already weighed out from II. When
1er turn came to buy she was careful 10
select her extra filled bag. for which she
paid 10 cents.