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Waiter Thrown Out Of 9th Story Window After Customers Shocked Over Price Of Sandwiches
100 year ago, a $3.45 bill for food found a young man fighting for his life
These days, complaints over the price of food and groceries have reached a boiling point. However, such issues are nothing new, and not everyone can control themselves when presented with the bills for what they are eating. Case in point occurred in 1925 when a New York City waiter was thrown out of a ninth-story window by customers who became enraged over the price of some sandwiches he served them. Somehow, he survived the bizarre assault.
New York City has long had some of the finest restaurants in the world, but not everyone is able to accept the sticker shock when presented with the bill. In August, 1925, three men (identified as Harry Case, Jack Phillips and Dr. Joseph Paulin — a vaudeville hypnotist and his two assistants) were staying at the Hotel Flanders and decided to have sandwiches brought to their room.
The food was delivered by 25-year-old waiter Solomon Trencher from a nearby restaurant. The price of the food came in at a whopping $3.45, and when the guests got the check, they grew so incensed over the final tally that a heated argument ensued. Before it was over, their server was hurled out of their ninth-story window.
Trencher’s body smashed through the marquee of a neighboring theater below. The incident took place just as theater goers were getting some air during an intermission break. The commotion caused several women to faint dead away on the sidewalk.
The waiter’s body was so embedded in the metal and glass of the marquee that it took some work to extract him for medical attention. After being taken to Bellevue, it was determined that he had a fractured skull, broken legs, broken ribs and other severe internal injuries, making his initial outlook very precarious.
The three men who were so upset by the price of their sandwiches were arrested on charges of felonious assault.
Somehow, Trencher survived his dramatic plunge. His attackers were convicted of the assault, and as they were awaiting sentencing, they were served by a lawsuit from the waiter, demanding $250,000 for the trauma. It’s unknown what the outcome of the legal action was, but even if he got a fraction of the reimbursement he requested for pain and suffering, it would have been able to buy a lot of sandwiches.
