Man Sends $10 To Cover Theft Of Toy In 1940s
10/10/2008 03:43
ABILENE, Kan. -- More
than 50 years after stealing a 35-cent toy from
a small-town store, a man penned an apologetic
letter to the Abilene mayor and enclosed $10 in
hopes of clearing his
conscience.The letter that city officials handed over to the Abilene City Commission this week carried a Colorado postmark and was signed "Bob."
"I have a problem that I need assistance with," the letter began. "In either 1943 or 1944 I traveled thru Abelene, Kansas and went into a 5 & 10 cent store. While there I picked up a 35 cent toy car. I am not proud that I walked out of the store without paying for the toy and I have lived with this for well over 50 years."
The writer said he enclosed two $5 bills to pay for his dishonesty and hoped the money could go to descendants of the store's owners or to a needy family.
"I wish to be forgiven for this action," the writer stated. "It is unlikely that the owners are still the same after all these years, however I would like to pay for my dishonesty. In the event that some of the owners are in the same family of owners I would like for the money to go to them. If not I would like for the $10.00 to go to a needy family that have children who could use a toy."
He wrote that he was not identifying himself to avoid embarrassing any relatives he might have around Abilene.
City Manager Allen Dinkel said it's "a cool story," and donated the money to the Toys for Tots program.
"It makes you feel good about people again. People do have a conscience," Dinkel said.
SINC SAYS:
That little guy that sits on your shoulder called a conscience, does some wonderful things on this old globe.