"Honesty its own Reward."

Hastings Standard, Issue 169, 12 November 1896, Page 4

"Honesty its own Reward."

... .» . A poorly-clad woman appeared at the Marlborough-stnet Police Court, London, yesterday, and informed Mr Hannay that she had picked up twenty-live £3 notes in Hanoversquare, and had taken them to the police. The owner had been found, but he refused to reward her, and the police authorities at Scotland Yard had given her nothing. Besides, the owner ■=aid there; were two notes missing, and when she protested that she had given ail up, and thought she should bo rewarded, he threatened to knock her down. Mr Hannay (to Inspector Clarke) : I should like to know how it is this poor woman, having honestly delivered to the police the notes she found, should go unrewarded ?- j Inspector Clarke said that there was no provision "made by the police to reward persons who gave up money found in the street, but to persons who delivered up money found in cabs and other public vehicles something was given.

Mr Hannay: It is very hard on this woman that the owner does not reward her. (To the woman) : It would have been much better if you had kept the notes. (A voice from the rear of the court : " Hear, hear.") Mr Hannay (continuing) : It only encourages people to stick to what they find. (Hear, hear.) A magistrate is .supposed to have a cure for every evil, but lam afraid there is nothing I can do. You have parted with the notes to the man. Applicant: Man, sir! He is a contemptable fellow. Mr Hannay : In the shape of a man. The applicant : He even threatened to prosecute me because he says there are notes missing. Mr Hannay : Wait till he attempts to do so. The poor woman, evidently much disappointed, now left the court. A London paper, commenting on the case, says :—lt used to be said that "honesty is the best policy," but the poorly-dressed woman who the other day found notes to the value of £125 in Hanover Hquare will doubtless find it hard to think so. To her credit, be it said, she handed the notes to the police, who have been successful in finding the owner. This fellow, he cannot be called a man, complained to the woman that two of the notes were missing, and when she suggested the propriety of some .slight reward, threatened to knock her down and give her in charge for the theft. The magistrate at Marylebone Police Court regretted he could do nothing for the woman, and remarked that it would have been better if she had kept the notes. Although this would have been contrary to the law of the land we cannot help endorsing this opinion, for the owner surely never deserved the restitution of his property.