EVASION OF CAFE CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 18175, 16 January 1923, Page 6

EVASION OF CAFE CHARGES

" ALIKE El) DODGES BY PATRONS Conductors of oily cafes have long been complaining Una some of their patrons were tjy higem.jiis (lodges of <mo kind and another sytOiinaucally evading payment of Uir amour, ls due, according to the schedule of cliaiges for the articles which had been supplied to their orders by the waitresses Per instance (says the Melbourne *Ag« ’), a party of, say, three persons might cuter h cafe and order from the menu card edibles that would be cliurgeabta at, Bay, 2s each The waitress would make out the docket accordingly and present it. to the iiereon who bad given the order. But instead of paying the amount shown on the docket the party, if it hud dishonest in tout, awaiting a favorable opportunity, would remove to a distant table, order a soda fountain drink, which would involve a payment of perhaps only (id each, and, presenting only this docket at the counter, would pay the sum of Is CJ ami walk out. This wou.d mean that the cafe would lose 6s. With a view to preventing such evasions sonic of the larger establishments for some time past have been employing ejiecial agents, A cß.;c of alleged evasion of this kind was brought before the City Court, On December 22 the accused—a well-dressed woman who at find refused to disclose her name, but finally gave the name of Ellen Smith—was apprehended at the Obtenon Cafe iSwanst<in street, and was chargee with having, " after incurring a deb 1 !, or liability, obtained credit, from John H. Lukey hi means of fraud." The evidence for the prosecution was that -. ■accused went info the cafe with anothet woman and a child at 10.30 p.m. They were served with refreshments, accused being given a docket for la 3d. After sitting at the table for some time they left the tabic and went over to the soda fountain, where they ordered soft drinks, for which each was given another docket for 6d. When they were leaving they presented _ at _ the counter the docket for 6d and paid that fimi. Accused was stopped at the door by an employee, and was questioned by a constable. She strenuously denied that she had received a. ticket for Is M. Under pressure she opened her handbag, and in it a docket for Is 3d was found’ crumpled up Accused said it must have been placed there by the little girl, and her companion offer, to pay the sum in dispute. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, wag ox milted for trial at the General Sessions.