Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-23
LOST PROPERTY OFFICE
An Institution of Great Benefit to
 ThouGhtless Persons.

A Place Whither Arc Trough. the F1o&- sam and .Tetsam of London and It.
 Suburbs = Queer Articles Found In
 Cabs, Cars and Omnibuses.
 
 The majority of articles left by their own CTS in public carriages consists of such things as umbrellas, sticks, hand bags wraps, cigar cases and opera and field glasses. It is easy to understand, says the London Times, how such small items of personal impedimenta as these may be left behind, especially after dark, for although some of the better class of hansoms now carry inside lamps this luxury has not yet been extended to the greater proportion of then or to any of the four-wheeled cabs. But it is astonishing to find what a number of really valuable properties have been left in cabs during the last few years. The fol lowing Is list of some of the principal ones, with the values on which the rewards to tho drivers were based: A bag of jew elry, valued at 91, ,5O0, and another at E1 900; 8 case containing G1 ,OOO Tn Bank of England notes; diamond necklet, value 91 900; a diamond tiara worth 9S5O; several packets of bonds valued at G3, GOO, G1, 800 and s1OOO respectively; silver plate weigh ing 1,O34 ounces, valued at e24O; parcel of bank notes for e83O, and numerous other items of the same nature, but rather less valuable. Of course all the articles and properties just named were claimed by the owners, the drivers of the cabs in which they were found receiving pecuniary rewards; but, although 1t can not be said that the sums paid them were inadequate they certainly can not be considered excessive. Thus, for the diamond tiara, valued at 985O, the re- ward was e35. In cases, however, where bank notes or bags of gold are deposited the sums awarded are properly based upon considerably higher scale.
 The most valuable deposit was made some few years ago, when a thoughtless clerk. belonging to a bank situated not a hundred yards from Scotland Yard, left notes and securities amounting to several thousand pounds in cab that he discharged at the door of the bank. Within two minutes of being paid his fare the driver had deposited them in the Lost Property Office. It Is 8 nice point in ethics whether, as the cab-man knew to whom the property belonged, he was justified in taking 1t to the Lost Prop erty Department. Self-interest, however, | and literal interpretation of the statute on the subject outweighed any conscientious i scruples the eab-driver may have had on l that score, and the result to him, at all l events, was satisfactory, as he received a reward sufficiently large to enable him to start as small cab proprietor with Q couple l of horses and a 'hansom" cab.
 1 ltmay seem strange assertion to make, but it is nevertheless true, that the owners l of some of the articles found in cabs have been by no means anxious to claim them. l Indeed, some of their misfortunes in life l have been directly traceable to a momenta- ry forgetfulness on their part when leav- | ing one of those useful vehicles. Slowed away ill the pigeon-holes of the Metropoli- l tan Police Department are to be found doc uments and letters which, being taken to l the Lost Property Office, gave a timely warning to the police of some intended fraud or outrage, cleared up doubtful clew, or possibly led to the arrest of a swindler who had long been preying upon the credulity of the public. If rumor is to be believed, even some police officers them. selves have not the pleasantest recollections | of some unfortunate lapses of memory which were the means of bringing to light papers Qeft by them in cabs) that were never intended for the eyes of their official superlors. The Lost Property Office, too has been the scene of many an unfortunate reconter. It would be difficult to do justice to the feelings of the young undergraduate who, while relating one morning to an oH cer of the Lost Property Department hi: various wanderings the night before in 6 hanson cab in which he had left his cigar case, discovered at his elbow an affection ate parent, of whom he had taken fare we'll en route to Oxford the previous day bent on somewhat similar inquiry after { favorite umbrella. More than one matri monial jar, too, nas been traceable to the unexpected meeting at Scotland Yard o1 husband and wife, intent on the recovery of property lost on journeys in which theil mutual interests were by no means con cerned. For such misfortunes as these however, the department is not respon sible.
 Few people can have any idea of the i'm mense amount of trouble the Lost Property Office takes to retrieve for the inhabitant: and visitors of the metropolis losses tha their own carelessness has brought upor them. It is certainly not the fault of this useful department that no owners can bt found for nearly half the articles deposited with it. Every publicity is given by adver Using them in the daily papers, and notice: of properties found are sent to occupiers O. houses, managers of hotels and theaters, il all cases in which the driver gives the mum ber of the house, hotel, etc., whence he wa! hired. Weekly advices are now sent to thu Lost Luggage Department of the Railway Clearing House in Drummond street, Eusto1 square, of articles found in cabs when the, have taken up or set down their flares" 8 railway stations. These advices are yer, useful aids to the recovery of lost property as claims are frequently made on the rail way companies for articles which are sub sequently found tQ have been left in cabs.
 The Holo in the Wall.
 A gentleman who has recently returned from quite a long trip through "the land O. the Aztecs" has been giving some interest ing details of his experiences to his friends Among other things he said that when h' was in the City of Mexico he was show1 through some ancient buildings-convent' and 1ails-that were erected by the Span