Ian Sherrill

Cole Wagner
Timothy Goncharov
11/5/14
Draft #1
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers: this saying implies that people are entitled to keep any
belongings they may find laying around. Our goal in this study was to examine the idea that
people are generally good natured and, if presented with the opportunity, will return belongings
to their owner (specifically a $20 bill in this case).
According to Korte, People are often placed in situations where behavior that can assist other
people is restrained by certain variables. (as cited in Goldstein, Minkin, Baer, 1978, p.465).
Some states have laws that limit an individuals rights to keep something they find. The
fundamental problem in this area is the age-old debate over how to define possession and who
is entitled to ultimate possession (Joeseph Simeone, St. Louis University Law Journal). The law
does not sanction the childish rhymefinders keepers, losers weepersbecause property
remains with the owner until he voluntarily disposes of his title to the property (Joeseph
Simeone, St. Louis University Law Journal). In Missouri the laws concerning this matter are
clearly defined: Property may be separated from the owner by being abandoned, or lost, or
mislaid. In the first instance, it goes back into a state of nature; or as is most commonly
expressed, it returns to the common mass and belongs to the first finder, occupier, or taker. In the
second instance, to be lost, it must have been unintentionally or involuntarily parted with, in
which case it is also an object which may be found, and the finder is entitled to the possession
against every one but the true owner. But, if it is intentionally put down, it is not lost in a legal
sense, though the owner may not remember where he left it, and cannot find it; for the loss of
goods in legal and common intendment, depends upon something more than the knowledge or

Ian Sherrill
Cole Wagner
Timothy Goncharov
11/5/14
Draft #1
ignorance, the memory or want of memory, of the owner at any given moment (Joeseph
Simeone, St. Louis University Law Journal).
Even though race, gender, and past offenses may influence if the person returns lost valuables,
we posit that people are generally good natured and will return valuables if given the
opportunity.