Returning purse is best reward
MILTON — It was a plain black purse a woman had left at the Countryside Inn bar, but a thick wad of $50 and $100 bills was tucked inside it.
About $5,000 dollars total.
It was enough to take a family vacation, enough to remodel a home, enough to buy several flat-panel televisions.
Anybody could use that kind of money in these tough times.
Shelley Frye is the regular bartender who wears skirt suits, bright lipstick, red nail polish and blonde highlights in her brown hair.
She found the purse.
Frye turned it over to Rich Erdman, the scruffy, shaggy-haired bar owner who wears a gold watch, gold bracelet and a Chicago Bulls jacket.
They hid the purse in a safe place.
Should they keep the money?
They could.
The woman who lost it had been at other bars that night. She had no idea where she left her purse. She even thought it might have dropped in the snow.
Should they return the money?
They could.
The woman who owns the purse is of retirement age. The cash could be her life savings. She might be frantically worried.
What should they do?
“You don’t steal from your friends, and you don’t steal from your neighbors,” Frye said.
The bar owner received a call about the missing purse the following morning.
He took it to the owner’s house.
“They were very thankful and very nice people,” Erdman said. “I’m real glad I gave it back.”
In the end, the bartender and bar owner never considered pocketing the loot.
The woman who lost the purse had been carrying the cash while shopping for antiques.
She tipped the waitress $150 for a finder’s fee.
“I know I did the right thing, and I can still sleep at night,” Frye said.
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Jan 19, 2009 at 10:47 p.m.
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The way they made the bartender out is horrible. She is the best bartender i have EVER seen. She is nothing like they made her sound like, too bad there is not more people like her in the world!
Jan 19, 2009 at 1:37 p.m.
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hannah and jaydog: Hello! Countryside Inn also serves food. Don't you think she may have stopped there for lunch or dinner while she was shopping for antiques?
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You're right spikesmom. I thought it was weird too to print what they were wearing. Probably to further drive home the point that they could've used the money and they were all the more honorable for returning it. The whole point is that they were honorable and did the right thing by returning the money. They could have printed the story without the wardrobe part.
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:50 a.m.
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The world needs more wonderful people like this ! Good job !
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:48 a.m.
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$5,000 cash in your purse? I applaud the person that returned it. Very honest choice. As far as carrying that much money on you, not a good idea.
Jan 19, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.
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Am I missing something? Why does it matter to the story how the bartender and bar owner look and what they wear?
Jan 18, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.
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Nice to read a story of good people that work in our community. Keep it up.
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:16 a.m.
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Some people still feel safest with their money on their person, however irrational this is.
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.
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Why would anyone go bar-hopping with $5,000 cash? That is just begging for trouble.
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
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Years ago my uncle found a bank bag with nine thousand dollars and nothing to identify the owner but a couple of bags of weed in the alley. He turned it into the police station and was informed if it wasnt claimed in 30 days because it was cash and no ID it would be his. Well the final day the city attourney claimed it (how ironic) and he wasnt charged for possession to my knowledge. My uncle was given a mind you 20 dollar reward. We all knew/thought because of the weed no one would come forth, How wrong we were lol. by the way the name on bank bag was not one in our town.
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
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Honesty is rewarding in itself and with the economy the way it is the woman is very lucky the right people were involved. Another happy ending!!!!!
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.
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Nice that they returned it though.
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:11 a.m.
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“You don’t steal from your friends, and you don’t steal from your neighbors,” Frye said. Hey, here's a thought- How about YOU DON"T STEAL. PERIOD. WTF?
Jan 18, 2009 at 9:09 a.m.
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Thank you Shelly for being a very honest person. Especially in these times it would have been very easy to pocket the money. I am a believer in what comes around goes around, and when people are less than honest it will get them at some point. It's good to know there are people like you out there.
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