The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111689   Message #2355186
Posted By: katlaughing
02-Jun-08 - 11:04 AM
Thread Name: BS: Finders Keepers Losers Weepers??
Subject: RE: BS: Finders Keepers Losers Weepers??
You might want to print this and give it to him, Mary:

Chapter 21: LOST GOODS AND STRAY BEASTS

§1051. Duty of finder of money or goods worth $3 or more
Whoever finds lost money or goods of the value of $3 or more shall, if the owner is unknown, within 7 days give notice thereof in writing to the clerk of the town where the money or goods are found and post a notification thereof in some public place in said town. If the value is $10 or more, the finder, in addition to the notice to the town clerk and the notification to be posted, shall, within one month after finding, publish a notice thereof in some newspaper published in the town, if any, otherwise in some newspaper published in the county.

§1053. Appraisal if value $10 or more
Every finder of lost goods or stray beasts of the value of $10 or more shall, within 2 months after finding and before using them to their disadvantage, procure a warrant from the town clerk or a notary public, directed to 2 persons appointed by said clerk or notary, not interested except as inhabitants of the town, returnable at said clerk's office within 7 days from its date, to appraise said goods under oath. [1995, c. 227, §2 (amd).]
PL 1995, Ch. 227, §2 (AMD).

§1054. Restitution to appearing owner; money or goods
If the owner of such lost money or goods appears within 6 months, and if the owner of such stray beasts appears within 2 months after said notice to the town clerk and gives reasonable evidence of ownership to the finder, the owner shall have restitution of them or the value of the money or goods, paying all necessary charges and reasonable compensation to the finder for keeping, to be adjudged by the district court, if the owner and finder cannot agree. [1995, c. 227, §3 (amd).]
PL 1995, Ch. 227, §3 (AMD).

§1056. Finder's rights when no owner appears
If no owner appears within 6 months, such money or lost goods shall belong to the finder by paying 1/2 their value after deducting all necessary charges to the treasurer of said town; but if he neglects to pay it on demand, it may be recovered in an action brought by said treasurer in the name of the town.

§1058. Failure to give notice; penalty
If the finder of lost money or goods of the value of $3 or more or if the person taking up such stray beast neglects to give notice to the town clerk and to cause them to be advertised as provided, he forfeits to the owner the full value thereof unless he delivers or accounts therefor to the owner, in which case he shall forfeit not more than $20, 1/2 to the town and 1/2 to the prosecutor.

Also, THIS