The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1895-03-28
PROPERTY OFFICE.
An Institution of Great Benefit to
Thoughtiess Persons

-
q Place wh,thcr Arc brought tho Fiot-
sam and Jetsam OF London and Its
suburbs - Queer Articles Found in
Cabs. Cars and Omnibusos.
The majority OF articles left by their own
srs in public carriages consists OF such
things as umbrellas, sticks, hand bags,
wraps, cigar cases and opera and field
giasses. II Il easy 10 understand, says tho
London Times, how such small itoms OF
personal impcdimenta as those may DO 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 10 the creator proportion OF
Them or 10 any OF the four-wheeled cabs.
bat II Ia astonishing 10 find what number
Of really valuable properties have been left
h cabs dsriug the last fow yoars Tho fol-
lowiug IN a hst OF some OF tho principal
ones, with the values on which the rewards
70 the drivers were based: A bag OF jew
elry, valued at 81 800, and another Mt
~ 900; n case containing 81 600 IN Bank OF
England notes; n diamond necklet, value
NJ, 900; diamond tiara worth ESQ; several
packets OF bonds valueda at fSOOO, IL ,5OOand
Ri,00O respectively; silver plato weigh
Ing 1,0N ounces, valued ut R2iO;
numerous other items OF the Same
nature, but rather less valuable. or
course all the articles aud properties just
named were claimed by tho owners, tho
drtvers Of the cabs In which they woro
found receiving pccuDlary rewards; but
although II can not bo said that the sums
paid them wore inadequate, they certainly
can not DO considered excessive. Thus, for
tho diamond tiara, valued ut ESQ, the re.
ward was R85 In cases, however, where
bank notes or Gags OF gold are deposited
tho sums awarded are properly based upon
Q considerably higher scale.
The most valuable deposit was made somo
few years ago, whom n thoughtless clerk,
belonging TO n bank situated not hundred
yards from Scotland Yard, left notes and
securitics amounting 10 several thousand
pounds In a cab that he discharged ut the
door OF tho bank. Within two minutes OF
being paid his fare the driver had deposited
them In the Lost Property ONCE. 1t IL a
nice point in ethics whether, IA the cob man
knew to whom tho property belonged, he
was justified In taking II to the Lost Prop.
esty Department Selfinterest, however,
and literal Interpretation of the statute on
she subject outweighed any conscientious
scruples tho cab-drivcr may have had on
that score, and the result TO him, at all
events, was satisfactory, as he received
reward sufficiently large to enable him 10
start az a ANAL cab proprietor with n couple
Of horses and a ''hansom" cab.
| 1t may soem n strange assertion 10 make,
but II Is nevertheless true, that the owners
Of some Of the articles found In cabs hnvc
been by no means anxious to claim them.
Indeed, some OF their misfortunce In life
have been directly traccablo TO a momonta-
~ forgetfolness on their part when leav
ing ono Of those useful vehicles. Slowed
away In the pigeon holes OF tho Metropoli'
| tan Police Department are TO DO found doc
| uments and letters which, beng taken 10
the Lost Property Once, gave timely
warning TO tho police OF some intended
fraud or outrage, cleared up doubtful
clew, or possibly led TO tho arrest OF n
swindler who had long been preying upon
The credulity OF the public II rumor Is TO be
believed, even some police officers them
selves have not the pleasantest recollcctions
Of some unfortunate lapses Of memory
which werc tho means OF bringing TO ligb'
| papers Qeft by them In cabs) that were
never intended for tho eyes OF their official
super,ors. The Lost Property Oficc, too
has boon tho socno Of many an unfortunate
recontor. II would b. difiicult 10 do justice
10 the feelings Of the young undergraduate
who, while relating one morning 10 an OH
Ger OF tho Lost Property Department Ids
various wanderings tho night before In Q
hanson cab In which no had left his Cigar
case, discovered ut his elbow an affection
alto parent, OF whom he had taken faro
well on route 10 oxford the previous day,
oent on a somewhat similar inquiry after 0
fuyorite umbrella. More than one matrt
monial lar, too, has been traceable to the
unexpected meeting at Scotland Yard oil
husband and wife, intent ON tho recovery
OF property lost on journeys In which their
mutual interests wero by no means con
corned. For such misfortunes as these
however, the department is not respon
slble.
Few people can have any idea OF the I'M
ucnso amount OF trouble the Lost Property
.pfficc takes 10 retrieve for tho inhabitant;
and visitors OF the metropolis losses thai
heir own carelessness has brought upor
hem. II Is certainly not tho fault Of thi,
iseful department that no owners can b.
found for nearly half tho articles deposited
with IT, Every publicity is given by adver
tlsing them Ia the daily papers, and notices
Of properties found are sent 10 occupiers o
houses, managers OF hotels and theaters, II
all cases In which the driver gives the mum
Der OF the house, hotei, etc, whence he wa
hired Weekly advices are now sent TO tn
Lost Luggage Department OF the ltnilwa.
Clearing House In Drummond street, Eustol
J square. OF articles found in cabs when the.
: have taken up or set down their flares" a
railway stations. These adviccs are vcr.
useful aids to the recovery Of lost property
1 as claims are frequently made on the rail
' way companies for articles which are sui
) seQueptly found TO have been left in cabs