Handyman finds secret gold stash in kitchen

[arminius]

Its amazing how many posters claim honesty on a public forum.


It's amazing how many people have fallen prey to the current cultures propaganda that all other people are thieves, dishonest, and live only for whatever money they can obtain, by whatever means...

[Silver]

Im 100% sure I would have taken all the gold IF the lady was dead and not told anyone. I know its wrong, sorry.

Valid, point - the lady was indeed dead and she obviously didn't want her family to have the gold, or she would have told them where it was or given instructions on the event of her death in her will or a letter.

I've given instructions to my children.

[Silver]

There was a man named John who lived in a small town in the lower plains of Texas. He was an extremely devoted Christian man and loved by many. He went to church every Sunday, read his Bible daily, and never denied giving help to all those within his reach. The faith he demonstrated in God was unsurpassed anywhere in Texas and should make us all positively envious!

One year, the rainy season came with much more rain than anyone could remember. The dams, dikes, and flood control channels were filled to capacity. The weather people predicted the worst storm of the season was on its way. The authorities called for the voluntary evacuation of John's town. Immediately the panic went out!

People started cleaning the stores out of food and water and heading for higher ground. John's heart went out to his neighbors and their current plight. He assured them all that God would protect them all if they trusted in Him. John stood outside his house as his neighbors were packing their cars, trucks, and RVs. His next door neighbor and best friend asked him why he was not packing up. John said, "Because God will take care of me!"

The heavy rain of the newest storm came as predicted. Quickly the streets began to flood as the water had nowhere else to go. John decided to walk across the street to get a better view of what was happening. All the previous rains had already compromised the asphalt John was walking on. John quickly sunk into a sink hole that formed under his feet. He tried without success to get himself out, but, he was stuck.

John said to himself, "This is not good. Not good at all!" He had sunk down to his knees and the water was rising. He decided not to panic. He lifted his hands towards heaven and began to pray. "Dear Lord", John said, "I am in a serious predicament here. I trust in you more than anything in this world and know you will get me out. All things in life happen for your glory."

His best friend saw him in the sink hole as he was preparing his exit out of town. The waters were rising fast! "John", his friend said, "Give me your hand and I will pull you out of there!" John said, "NO! All things happen for the glory of God. He will get me out. I believe His word."

His friend, fearful of the fast rising water, decided not to argue with him and made it towards higher ground. He did not have time to convince John otherwise since his family was in danger. John prayed a second time as the cold waters rose to his waist. "Dear Lord", John said, "I trust in you and know you will get me out of here. All things in life happen for your glory and I ask you to use me as your instrument and example for others."

A stranger in a boat then came rowing on by. "Give me your hand, buddy, and I will pull you into my boat." John said, "NO! God will work his glory here today." The stranger shook his head in disbelief and rowed away. John prayed a third time as the waters rose to his neck. "Dear Lord", John said, "I continue to trust in you and know you will get me out of this mess. All things in life happen for your glory and I call on my faith in you to get me out, in Jesus' name I ask this."

A rescue team in a helicopter then flew over head. A member of the County Search and Rescue Team hung down from a rope ladder. The man said, "Give me your hand, Sir, and I will pull you up out of there." John said, "NO! God will work his glory here today." The rescue crew chief yelled down and asked what was the hold up. "If he does not want to come up, we do not have time to waste. I can see a lady on a roof with three kids who need our help." So, off they flew.

The water soon went over John's head and he drowned. John's soul was quickly taken up by the angels and taken before the throne of Almighty God. God questioned John, "Are you not happy to be here, my child?" John replied that he was extremely happy to be in the full presence of God, but, he was troubled.

John said, "I do not understand, Lord. I prayed for help three times, I believed, did not doubt in you one little bit, yet, you let me drown and die. Was it weakness in my faith that led me to this, Lord?"

God shook His mighty head and said to John, "My child, when you turned to my Son and became a Christian, I put my eternal mark on you. I love you dearly and would never leave you no matter what trials or hardships you encountered. BUT YOU FOOL! Three times you prayed for my help and three times I sent someone to help you. Each time you foolishly refused the help I sent!"

The moral of this story being that we can always trust in God when we commit our lives to Him. However, we must always be open minded to the ways He chooses to help us. Most of the time the way He helps us may require some work on our part.

[Usury]

If the legal owner of the gold is a natural person, yes; if a bank or other corporation, no.

When I saw the title of the poll/post I couldn't help but think to myself "I'll bet Not Sure will have some reason to not turn in the gold"...

very sad indeed.... :bear_cry:

[Usury]

Valid, point - the lady was indeed dead and she obviously didn't want her family to have the gold, or she would have told them where it was or given instructions on the event of her death in her will or a letter.

I've given instructions to my children.

That's just ridiculous....what if she bought it that morning and keeled over from a heart attack before having a chance to put it in a her permanent spot and leaving instructions? What if she did tell her kids but in her senility moved it and forgot where she put it and so they could never find it?

By your logic, everyone that lost their wallet didn't really want the stuff inside anyway, huh?

[Usury]

There was a man named John who lived in a small town in the lower plains of Texas. He was an extremely devoted Christian man and loved by many. He went to church every Sunday, read his Bible daily, and never denied giving help to all those within his reach. The faith he demonstrated in God was unsurpassed anywhere in Texas and should make us all positively envious!

One year, the rainy season came with much more rain than anyone could remember. The dams, dikes, and flood control channels were filled to capacity. The weather people predicted the worst storm of the season was on its way. The authorities called for the voluntary evacuation of John's town. Immediately the panic went out!

People started cleaning the stores out of food and water and heading for higher ground. John's heart went out to his neighbors and their current plight. He assured them all that God would protect them all if they trusted in Him. John stood outside his house as his neighbors were packing their cars, trucks, and RVs. His next door neighbor and best friend asked him why he was not packing up. John said, "Because God will take care of me!"

The heavy rain of the newest storm came as predicted. Quickly the streets began to flood as the water had nowhere else to go. John decided to walk across the street to get a better view of what was happening. All the previous rains had already compromised the asphalt John was walking on. John quickly sunk into a sink hole that formed under his feet. He tried without success to get himself out, but, he was stuck.

John said to himself, "This is not good. Not good at all!" He had sunk down to his knees and the water was rising. He decided not to panic. He lifted his hands towards heaven and began to pray. "Dear Lord", John said, "I am in a serious predicament here. I trust in you more than anything in this world and know you will get me out. All things in life happen for your glory."

His best friend saw him in the sink hole as he was preparing his exit out of town. The waters were rising fast! "John", his friend said, "Give me your hand and I will pull you out of there!" John said, "NO! All things happen for the glory of God. He will get me out. I believe His word."

His friend, fearful of the fast rising water, decided not to argue with him and made it towards higher ground. He did not have time to convince John otherwise since his family was in danger. John prayed a second time as the cold waters rose to his waist. "Dear Lord", John said, "I trust in you and know you will get me out of here. All things in life happen for your glory and I ask you to use me as your instrument and example for others."

A stranger in a boat then came rowing on by. "Give me your hand, buddy, and I will pull you into my boat." John said, "NO! God will work his glory here today." The stranger shook his head in disbelief and rowed away. John prayed a third time as the waters rose to his neck. "Dear Lord", John said, "I continue to trust in you and know you will get me out of this mess. All things in life happen for your glory and I call on my faith in you to get me out, in Jesus' name I ask this."

A rescue team in a helicopter then flew over head. A member of the County Search and Rescue Team hung down from a rope ladder. The man said, "Give me your hand, Sir, and I will pull you up out of there." John said, "NO! God will work his glory here today." The rescue crew chief yelled down and asked what was the hold up. "If he does not want to come up, we do not have time to waste. I can see a lady on a roof with three kids who need our help." So, off they flew.

The water soon went over John's head and he drowned. John's soul was quickly taken up by the angels and taken before the throne of Almighty God. God questioned John, "Are you not happy to be here, my child?" John replied that he was extremely happy to be in the full presence of God, but, he was troubled.

John said, "I do not understand, Lord. I prayed for help three times, I believed, did not doubt in you one little bit, yet, you let me drown and die. Was it weakness in my faith that led me to this, Lord?"

God shook His mighty head and said to John, "My child, when you turned to my Son and became a Christian, I put my eternal mark on you. I love you dearly and would never leave you no matter what trials or hardships you encountered. BUT YOU FOOL! Three times you prayed for my help and three times I sent someone to help you. Each time you foolishly refused the help I sent!"

The moral of this story being that we can always trust in God when we commit our lives to Him. However, we must always be open minded to the ways He chooses to help us. Most of the time the way He helps us may require some work on our part.

So the gold was the handyman's gift from God??? :rofl:

[Usury]

I remember someone on another board found an old moonshiner's cache. Hundreds of thousands in gold and silver. He managed to stay out of legal trouble but he wishes he hadn't even told his lawyer and coin dealer after the fees he ended up with.

Yikes...that sounds rough (if it was on his own land), but I was actually thinking that besides being, dishonest, immoral and bad karma, taking the gold would in fact be illegal. Anyone doing this better sleep with one eye open...definitely not for me.

[Silver]

That's just ridiculous....what if she bought it that morning and keeled over from a heart attack before having a chance to put it in a her permanent spot and leaving instructions? What if she did tell her kids but in her senility moved it and forgot where she put it and so they could never find it?

By your logic, everyone that lost their wallet didn't really want the stuff inside anyway, huh?

What if it was there for years and she never told anybody - what would that mean?
What if she didn't care what happened to it after she died? Lots of people are that way.

A lost wallet is not even close to hiding gold and not trusting anyone enough to tell them where it was hidden.

[Silver]

So the gold was the handyman's gift from God??? :rofl:

God works in mysterious ways :angel:

[Gcubed]

The handyman happened upon a stash on someone elses property. It was not his to take. I would consider it theft to remove it. JMHO.

[TiKi]

The gold belongs to the heirs if there are no heirs than it belongs to the property owner.The gentleman that found it deserves a hefty finder's fee.

[andial]

I would have just left the Gold there, repatched the wall or floor, installed the cabinets back over the Gold and not said a word.

[stAGgering]

I would research legality of situation, previous public records of discoveries, owner/family history and current

owner/family financial condition, and kept until rational decision was made. I would not tell any authority figure/position

in order defend privacy of bullion ownership and avoid poisonous taxes. Finally, I would keep 10% as finders fee if return

was chosen. Thus refuse any offer, given after the return was made.

I have found and returned very expensive items, kind(small) rewards given.

I have lost my wallet once while

motorcycling at extreme speed past many vehicles. One man say my wallet fly away, stopped and picked it up, called

and refused 1/3 of money, and even a six pack of beer.

The fact the family did NOT know of the savings? Do not assume the old lady was the individual who had placed the

coinage there. Again, research the family/owner. One finds may be a gift to share with others who may need. Rather

than give unto those who do not know what is theirs. Gramma never told. If they were rich... funk 'em.

[Gcubed]

It is interesting to me how some people would rationalize the taking of property that belongs to others.

[minimus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-vBd-r_Pww

[Lawrence]

I think I'll use this thread to determine who I invite to my next summer BBQ. Don't want someone stumbling across my stack and taking a finder's fee for telling me about it, or deciding I'm not worthy of the money.

[Silver]

I think I'll use this thread to determine who I invite to my next summer BBQ. Don't want someone stumbling across my stack and taking a finder's fee for telling me about it, or deciding I'm not worthy of the money.

If you really believe the proclamations of people claiming piousness on the internet, you might be naive. Finding treasure and keeping it or believing property that was acquired by killing the former inhabitants, even if paid for further down the line, is without taint, then, it is only a matter of time before everything is cleansed of sin. Even the gold in the dead lady's stash has a high probability of having stolen gold within it. The gold stolen from the New World was melted down, it is untraceable - but it is part of the gold supply. So is the gold stolen from the American people in 1933, it was melted down too - and is part of the current gold in circulation.

The only ones that really know what they would do in similar circumstances are the ones that have experienced it - and wallet returning doesn't count.

All the people with metal detectors are looking for treasure - and if no one else knows about it, I bet they keep it.

[Gcubed]

If you really believe the proclamations of people claiming piousness on the internet, you might be naive. Finding treasure and keeping it or believing property that was acquired by killing the former inhabitants, even if paid for further down the line, is without taint, then, it is only a matter of time before everything is cleansed of sin. Even the gold in the dead lady's stash has a high probability of having stolen gold within it. The gold stolen from the New World was melted down, it is untraceable - but it is part of the gold supply. So is the gold stolen from the American people in 1933, it was melted down too - and is part of the current gold in circulation.

The only ones that really know what they would do in similar circumstances are the ones that have experienced it - and wallet returning doesn't count.

All the people with metal detectors are looking for treasure - and if no one else knows about it, I bet they keep it.

It is interesting to me how some people would rationalize the taking of property that belongs to others. The stash was on PRIVATE property.

[Lawrence]

If you really believe the proclamations of people claiming piousness on the internet, you might be naive. Finding treasure and keeping it or believing property that was acquired by killing the former inhabitants, even if paid for further down the line, is without taint, then, it is only a matter of time before everything is cleansed of sin. Even the gold in the dead lady's stash has a high probability of having stolen gold within it. The gold stolen from the New World was melted down, it is untraceable - but it is part of the gold supply. So is the gold stolen from the American people in 1933, it was melted down too - and is part of the current gold in circulation.

The only ones that really know what they would do in similar circumstances are the ones that have experienced it - and wallet returning doesn't count.

All the people with metal detectors are looking for treasure - and if no one else knows about it, I bet they keep it.

By this logic you could justify killing me for my metal. You're off the BBQ list.

[Silver]

By this logic you could justify killing me for my metal. You're off the BBQ list.

Dang it! I love me some BBQ:]

[Ishkabibble]

Were you on your last dime, your family destitute, the ideals you hold so true might be compromised. Were you wealthy enough that this was but a token, returning it would be easier.

I think we have a lot of idealists on this forum, but I wonder if they could walk the talk. Those who have said they would take the gold are being honest. I appreciate that. Those who repeat the moral obligation to return the gold may be correct about their values, but do they live them? Surrounded by wealth and no repercussions for taking it, many an honest man will turn.

I have been in this position a few times. I can honestly say that it would depend on the circumstance. Once, I was barely able to feed my children and keep a roof over our heads. Times were very tough and I found $1400. At the time, $1400 was more than a month's wages. I saw it as a blessing and spent it wisely. Countless other times, I had enough to get by. Not excess, but enough. In every one of those times, I searched extensively for the individual that lost the item and returned it. I once drove clear across the city to return a wallet to a lady and no I did not accept her finder's fee.

I aspire to be noble, but will admit that circumstance does influence my actions. In the absence of misery, I am honest and true. I am not the same individual when destitute. I suspect that those with strong ideals would find themselves making similar compromises if life dealt them some really rough blows.

Barring the worst of personal circumstance, I would return the gold. But I have answered no because in the depths of despair, that conviction could be challenged.

[Gcubed]

The stash was found by EMPLOYED workers on PRIVATE property. Was anyone starving? :bird:

[Ishkabibble]

The stash was found by EMPLOYED workers on PRIVATE property. Was anyone starving? :bird:

We have no answer to that. There have been times in my past when I was working and destitute, such as when I found the $1400. I know several tradesmen who are barely able to keep their workers paid, drawing little to no income for themselves and even then having to lay some off. The article does not state the financial situation this man is in. But the question asked what I personally would do. The answer isn't a simple choice. Life complicates it for me, much as I suspect it would for the man in question as well.

[Gcubed]

We have no answer to that. There have been times in my past when I was working and destitute, such as when I found the $1400. I know several tradesmen who are barely able to keep their workers paid, drawing little to no income for themselves and even then having to lay some off. The article does not state the financial situation this man is in. But the question asked what I personally would do. The answer isn't a simple choice. Life complicates it for me, much as I suspect it would for the man in question as well.

That tells me that it may be unwise to hire someone that needs work. Wow, just wow.

[Ishkabibble]

That tells me that it may be unwise to hire someone that needs work. Wow, just wow.

Every man has a breaking point. Mine was watching my children starve. You are blessed to have not learned yours yet. I pray you never do.

[Gcubed]

Every man has a breaking point. Mine was watching my children starve. You are blessed to have not learned yours yet. I pray you never do.

Fair enough. I don't however, believe that the worker mentioned was experiencing dire life circumstances. I have based my comments based on that assumption. How were you in a position to find $1400 and yet your children were starving? Something is missing there.

[Ishkabibble]

Fair enough. I don't however, believe that the worker mentioned was experiencing dire life circumstances. I have based my comments based on that assumption. How were you in a position to find $1400 and yet your children were starving? Something is missing there.

I'd had problems keeping up with rent, food, and family expenses for some time. I was newly married and unfamiliar with the expenses of adulthood. What initially seemed like a good wage wasn't even enough to pay basic bills. I found the $1400 about two years after that very rough start. It was, in fact, a turning point in our lives. Instead of worrying about my family and precarious today, I was able to create our future.

I think we're pretty much in agreement here. My simple point is that there's the right thing to do, and there's what you must do to survive. Having seen myself in a position where the first option was removed, I have to concede that the second option is sometimes the only option.

[Gcubed]

I'd had problems keeping up with rent, food, and family expenses for some time. I was newly married and unfamiliar with the expenses of adulthood. What initially seemed like a good wage wasn't even close. I found the $1400 about two years after that very rough start. It was, in fact, a turning point in our lives. Instead of worrying about my family and precarious today, I was able to create our future.

I think we're pretty much in agreement here. My simple point is that there's the right thing to do, and there's what you must do to survive. Having seen myself in a position where the first option was removed, I have to concede that the second option is sometimes the only option.

I live in a small city with 25% unemployment. That sir is a high rate. Anyone here even near starving can and will get fed with just a bit of effort. Our food bank even puts food in the trash. That said, I can't buy the "starving" argument in order to condone taking that which isn't yours. I may be wrong.

[smooth]

I lost my wallet on the train last year. Cards, CCW permit, $100 in cash, passport card, everything. Four days later the lost & found in the city called me. A conductor had found the wallet and turned it in. Every last dollar was in there. Things like that keep me honest.

I lost my wallet, I believe outside the local handymart one day while buying a six pack. it was about an hour after I got back that I noticed it was missing. I drove the three blocks to the store and talked to the kids behind the counter, but no luck. Went home to call the CC comp. No sooner made it home and a cop pulled in the drive with my wallet. about $100 cash was gone but CC's were still there. Dont know who took the loot:bear_unsure:

[Silver]

The wallet argument is not relevant to the finding of treasure unknown to any living person.

My girlfriend and I had a customer leave their wallet at our booth at the Farmer's Market last year - we opened the wallet to see who it was, we knew him and immediately found him. He said he had $500 in cash the wallet - we didn't even look to see how much money he had. He was very grateful. This is normal and I would not be able to do otherwise.

Finding a stash of gold that no living person knew about - that would be different and I can't say how I would deal because I've never faced it. Finding treasure on public property is no different than finding it on private property - if you find it on public property, the public has a lawful right to it also.