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Letter to Editor
March 2, 1841
The Daily Herald
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Letter informs editors about legal duties of finders of lost property in New Haven, requiring notification, registration, or advertisement based on value, but notes the law is rarely followed and calls for amendment to promote honesty.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Messrs. Editors,—There seems to be an impression that the finder of lost goods is entitled to keep them, without in any way trying to inform the owner. The law (founded in the highest reason) requires the finder of the value of fifty cents, to inform the owner immediately if known, and if unknown, within fourteen days to cause a description thereof and the place where found and kept, to be registered by the Town Clerk, and if the value exceeds five dollars to be advertised, and a forfeiture for neglect.
It is due to the losers and finders, the honest and dishonest in the community, that some such public course should be taken. A lady's reticule with contents, or a cape, are lost on the sidewalk of a principal street in New Haven, at mid-day, and the finder causes no register at the Town Clerk's office, or advertisement to be made; and the owner takes all measures in vain to recover it. I speak advisedly; this salutary law is almost a dead letter in this city, and the practice ought to be amended.
It is due to the losers and finders, the honest and dishonest in the community, that some such public course should be taken. A lady's reticule with contents, or a cape, are lost on the sidewalk of a principal street in New Haven, at mid-day, and the finder causes no register at the Town Clerk's office, or advertisement to be made; and the owner takes all measures in vain to recover it. I speak advisedly; this salutary law is almost a dead letter in this city, and the practice ought to be amended.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Persuasive
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Morality
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Lost Goods
Finder Obligations
Notification Law
New Haven
Town Clerk Registration
Advertisement Requirement
Community Honesty
What entities or persons were involved?
Messrs. Editors
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Messrs. Editors
Main Argument
the law requires finders of lost goods valued at fifty cents or more to inform the known owner immediately or, if unknown, register a description with the town clerk within fourteen days and advertise if over five dollars, with forfeiture for neglect; however, this law is largely ignored in new haven, and the practice ought to be amended.
Notable Details
Specific Thresholds: Fifty Cents For Notification, Five Dollars For Advertisement
Example: Lady's Reticule With Contents Or Cape Lost On New Haven Sidewalk At Mid Day, Not Registered Or Advertised
Law Described As Founded In Highest Reason And Salutary But Almost A Dead Letter