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Story
July 2, 1902
Arizona Republican
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
What is this article about?
In Washington, Representative Mercer of Nebraska loses a bet to a subordinate when their new department chief unwittingly signs a forged resignation letter slipped into official correspondence.
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OCR Quality
98%
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Full Text
SIGNED HIS OWN RESIGNATION.
Representative Mercer of Nebraska, when making the rounds of the departments the other day, chatted with a subordinate who has recently experienced a change of official superiors.
"How do you like your new chief?" asked Mr. Mercer.
"He's all right," was the reply. "He does not give us the least bit of trouble. He signs everything we send him."
"O, no," said Mercer. "That can't be. You couldn't impose upon him. He's too shrewd."
"Well," replied the subordinate, "I'll bet you a box of cigars that he will sign his own resignation."
On the official's desk was a pile of letters ready to be signed. Another letter was written, purporting to be a resignation to take effect immediately, and it was slipped into the mass of correspondence. A messenger carried all the letters down to the chief, and Mr. Mercer and the subordinate waited. In 20 minutes the correspondence was brought back by the messenger.
Mr. Mercer lost the box of cigars. The chief had signed his own resignation.—Washington Post.
Representative Mercer of Nebraska, when making the rounds of the departments the other day, chatted with a subordinate who has recently experienced a change of official superiors.
"How do you like your new chief?" asked Mr. Mercer.
"He's all right," was the reply. "He does not give us the least bit of trouble. He signs everything we send him."
"O, no," said Mercer. "That can't be. You couldn't impose upon him. He's too shrewd."
"Well," replied the subordinate, "I'll bet you a box of cigars that he will sign his own resignation."
On the official's desk was a pile of letters ready to be signed. Another letter was written, purporting to be a resignation to take effect immediately, and it was slipped into the mass of correspondence. A messenger carried all the letters down to the chief, and Mr. Mercer and the subordinate waited. In 20 minutes the correspondence was brought back by the messenger.
Mr. Mercer lost the box of cigars. The chief had signed his own resignation.—Washington Post.
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Resignation Prank
Government Department
Bet Cigars
Signed Resignation
What entities or persons were involved?
Representative Mercer
Subordinate
Chief
Where did it happen?
Washington
Story Details
Key Persons
Representative Mercer
Subordinate
Chief
Location
Washington
Story Details
Representative Mercer of Nebraska bets a subordinate a box of cigars that their new department chief is too shrewd to sign his own resignation. The subordinate forges a resignation letter and slips it into a pile of correspondence sent to the chief, who signs it without noticing, causing Mercer to lose the bet.