Some good news for a change

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Unk's Wild Wild West : One Thread

Contra Costa Times

Published Wednesday, December 20, 2000

Diogenes' honest man found

Livermore resident turns in envelope containing $935 to police; rightful owner is amazed and thankful for his 'fantastic' gesture

By Scott Marshall

TIMES STAFF WRITER

LIVERMORE -- Tim Hidalgo happened to look down while he was shopping for shoes Monday and saw an envelope. It contained $935 -- nine $100 bills, one $20, a $10 and a $5 -- and no name of a rightful owner.

After showing his mother the money, Hidalgo took it to the Livermore Police Department.

"I've been screwed over before with money in my life," said Hidalgo, 25, a lifelong Livermore resident who works at a food-service company and lives at home to take care of his mother. "I couldn't live with myself if I kept it."

The rightful owners were overjoyed, if not stunned.

"It's unbelievable," said Ron LeBoutillier, a businessman visiting from Vancouver, whose girlfriend, Pamela Wyatt, had saved the money during the past two years. "We didn't lose a wallet," he said. "There was no reason on earth for this gentleman to turn it in."

Hidalgo found the money on the floor in the shoe department of the J.C. Penney store in the Stoneridge mall in Pleasanton.

"Nobody would have known, but I would have," said Hidalgo, who makes $18.85 per hour loading pallets and spends his spare time working on a classic 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle.

Livermore police counted the cash, documented the amount and concluded that, since it had been found in Pleasanton, then Pleasanton police should write an official report and attempt to find the owner. Hidalgo took the money to Pleasanton, whose officers called J.C. Penney.

A security employee told police that LeBoutillier, who was staying at a Holiday Inn in Walnut Creek, had reported the money missing. LeBoutillier got the message and picked up the cash Tuesday morning at the Pleasanton Police Department.

LeBoutillier hasn't stopped marveling over Hidalgo's gesture since. Visiting for just two days for meetings with the Safeway Corp., LeBoutillier said he planned to give Hidalgo "a handsome reward."

"Here's somebody with a conscience," LeBoutillier said of Hidalgo. "It's just fantastic."

Scott Marshall covers crime and courts. Reach him at 925-847-2164 or smarshall2@cctimes.com.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), December 20, 2000

Answers

hmmm, a handsome reward?

yummmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 20, 2000.


Yes, Sumer, the handsome reward is Matt Damon, pretty-boy DiCaprio or, for elders, Warren Beatty. (One night at Sybaris with the hunk of your choice)

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), December 20, 2000.

My younger kids saw a man drop some cash in a post office. They grabbed it and told me they were going to try to catch him before he got into his car. They came back very pleased with themselves. I didn't make a big deal out of it, because I think it ought to be the normal response. The man was waiting for them outside. He asked me if he could give them some of the money as a reward, and I asked him not to do that. Honesty should be a knee-jerk, instinctive reaction, and I didn't want issues of reward mixed up in their savage little minds. He understood, I hope. I think honesty is related to empathy and compassion for the person with the loss. I could be wrong. :)

-- helen (b@r.f), December 20, 2000.

The Good News Network

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

-- (in@the.news), December 20, 2000.


Six years ago on December 24th, I had stopped at a Home Depot for some ‘last minute’ panic shopping before the store closed for Christmas Eve. As I got out of my vehicle I noticed a large purse lying on the ground. My first reaction was that a person exiting the car next to mine had dropped the purse and would notice it was gone once inside the store. I waited for a few minutes and a couple approached the car to leave. When I asked if they had dropped a purse the answer was no. I was reluctant to leave the purse with Home Depot so I went inside and left my phone number with the manager in case they received a call from the owner.

When I got back to my car it hit me how devastating it would be to lose a purse on Christmas Eve and it was then that I decided to look inside the purse to see if I could find a way to contact the owner. The only ID that might have given me a clue was a Drivers License. I called information to get a phone number and was given a number that matched the ‘last’ name to the listed address. When I called, a woman answered and said that the purse belonged to her Daughter who had married and moved out of her house. She said that she would get in touch with her Daughter and have her call me. That evening around 7pm, the Daughter called me in tears to explain that she and her Husband had been franticly searching all day for the purse as she had no idea where it had been lost. I was just getting ready to leave for my Son’s house and agreed to meet her at a restaurant on the way.

When I met these people they were both in tears and so very grateful to me for getting the purse back to them. They tried to give me money but I explained that somehow this was the best Christmas present that I would get that year. I’ll never forget how great it felt to help these people on that special day of the year. My reward will last a lifetime.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 20, 2000.



Barry. Barry. I did not think it possible, but you warmed my heart.

-- SydBarrett (dark@side.moon), December 20, 2000.

So, you DO have a heart after all…just kiddin’ Syd. Thanks for the kind words.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 20, 2000.

Barry,

Somehow, I knew you were this kind of person.

Donna

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), December 20, 2000.


Barry,

While thoroughly admire your actions in regard to this woman's purse, this creditable, generous and kindly side of your disposition certainly doesn't manifest itself in most of your postings on this forum. Wassup? Why are we so much less to be respected than the woman who lost her purse?

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 20, 2000.


I guess Barry is much more sympathetic with those who lose their purses, compared to those who have lost their marbles.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), December 20, 2000.


Well Brian, I would be happy to return your purse as well.

Flint, that was cutting edge humor sir...thanks for the grin!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 20, 2000.


Donna dear, there is a big kiss on the way to OKC for you!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 20, 2000.

>> I would be happy to return your purse <<

If you have my purse, you have a lot of explaining to do, Barry.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@Ims.com), December 21, 2000.


Touché Brian….Happy Holidays.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 21, 2000.

Barry,

If Brian had a purse, wouldn't he himself have some explaining to do?

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), December 21, 2000.



Donna,

Please, let’s not get him started. I can visualize it now….23 paragraphs of liberal tripe and in the end blaming the Republicans for making him carry a purse. The whole deal is just plain funny, don’t you think? Sooner’s will rule!!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 21, 2000.


>> If Brian had a purse, wouldn't he himself have some explaining to do? <<

If the Twelve Apostles could have purses (KJV, Mark 6:7-8), why can't I?

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 21, 2000.


Arrrgh! I meant Matthew 10! Really!

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses [...]

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 21, 2000.


Brian, QUIT with the excuses.

DO YOU own a purse or NOT? hee hee. :-) happy holidays

Barry and Brian, you two had me lmao this am. Donna, you too!!! thanks.

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 22, 2000.


>If Brian had a purse<

The question begs...would there be strings attached?...lol

-- Peg (pegmcleod@mediaone.net), December 22, 2000.


>> DO YOU own a purse or NOT? <<

I forget if Oregon is a "community property" state. If it is, then I own half of at least 4 purses.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 22, 2000.


>> would there be strings attached? <<

Zippers work better.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 22, 2000.


***I forget if Oregon is a "community property" state. If it is, then I own half of at least 4 purses.***

Too funny Brian. Wish I'd said that!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), December 22, 2000.


LMAO from the sidelines.....

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), December 22, 2000.


Settles that....Brian only owns 1/2 a purse w/no strings.

And will only get 1/4 in the event of a divorce.

Passing Brian a backpack.....here dude. Much better, adjusts straps.

Um, ya might wanna take those pantyhose out I dont think you'll need those.

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 22, 2000.


'sumer -- I think he dropped his bra. YOU give it back to him.

-- helen (b@r.f), December 22, 2000.

Picks up bra, closely examines it, and puts it back shamefacedly.

I will NOT wear it, it has NO padding. Damn.

Helen: I cant believe you snitched me out.....Come on, lets go on over to the cyber bar and have a drinky winky. I 4-give ya:-)

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 22, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ