Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

that the finder was the owner, and the
property was given to him. 1t was
further held that no proprietors of
coaches, railroad cars, or shops have
the right to demand property which
should be found on their premises.
This, however, did not govern EN-
ployes, who might be instructed ia
such cases by proprietors of public
conyeyances or hotels. 1t was even
decided that policemen Or municipal
officers had no authority to demand
or receive property found by others,
unless the right is conferred by special
statute.
In some states the law compels the
finder Of sums Of IS Or more 10 adver-
tise the fact and deduct the cost of
such advertising from the amount
found. But In New York City an
agency has been established for the
purpose of discovering the owners of
lost property. This bureau is al the
police headquarters. and is highly
useful institution for losers of valu-
ables. During the year, according to
the officers of this department, there
is brought in on an average 81, 600, 000
worth of property which has been
found about the streets of New York,
or recovered from pawnbrokers by the
police. OF this amount 100000 is re-
turned to the owners, aud of the re
naming 500, about 800. 900 is I'm
called for and goes to toe finders
There is still balance of about $40 900,
| which at the end Of every year is sold
at public auction. The proceeds of
this sale are turned over to the pension
bureau, and are regularly relied upon
by that bureau.
The department of finds was institu-
ted several years ago, and has been
instrumental IN restoring many mill
lions of dollars worth of bonds, money,
valuable papers, and miscellaneous
property to the owners Through the
efforts of the bureau great deal of
stolen property which finds it's waY to
this agency through the channels Of
the police department has been re
stored after months of inquiry for the
owners. The diligent search which is
constantly being made among the
pawn>shops and the resorts of thieves
by the direction Of this bureau has
been the means Of apprehending sew
eral noted bank>robbers and profess
sional thieves. There have been many
valuable diamonds and large sums of
money recovered and restored to
prominet men and women who have
from time to time been the victims of
ingenious robberies.
One of the most noted cases which
has come within the province of the
department of finds is that of a pack.
age of United States bonds amounting
to several thousands of dollars in
value. These bonds were found in
possession of notorious bank robber,
but no trace of the owner could be
discovered. The bonds remained for
months in the safe of the department
and were widely advertised, but no
claimant appeared. Finally an effort
was made by the bureau to trace the
ownership at Washington. This eff
fort proved successful, and the bonds
were returned to the owner, who lived
in the south. But no word of thanks,
nor even recognition Of the Iabors of
the department., was ever received.
A great deal of trouble and expense
is annually saved the citizens of New
York by the efficient work Of this de-
partment. Itrecoyers large amount
of money and valuables which q pri-
vate individual could never secure,
not having at his diposal the informa
ton and experience which the bureau
has acquired. The service rendered
to justice by the apprehension of a
large number of criminals every year
is also large.