danielle
07-27-2002, 06:55 PM
Do the right thing: prisoners return lost wallet
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- For two state prisoners, returning a wallet and its $800 in cash to its owner was a simple matter of knowing right from wrong.
Robert Anderson and Johnny Burkhalter, inmates at the Bibb County Correctional Facility, were on work release in nearby Tuscaloosa on June 17 when Anderson saw the wallet on the ground.
"I picked it up and saw all that money in there," said Burkhalter, who had been incarcerated since 1977 for attempted murder. "I said, 'We got to turn this in.' So we went to the office."
Anderson, who's been locked up since 1990 for dealing drugs and -- of all things -- receiving stolen property, said he agreed to turn the wallet in because, "My mama raised me to be honest."
"I know the right thing to do," he said. "I just made mistakes."
Their good turn didn't go unnoticed. The two received "Men of Distinction" plaques and $50 apiece from facility officials.
"It's not every day you see that kind of integrity," Facility Director Bob McCartney said.
The wallet belonged to nurse Charlene Stallworth, who planned to pay her house loan, phone bill and light bill with the $800.
"I still get excited thinking about it because they didn't have to do it," said Stallworth, who prayed for them upon their request and took them to lunch. "It renewed my faith in people."
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- For two state prisoners, returning a wallet and its $800 in cash to its owner was a simple matter of knowing right from wrong.
Robert Anderson and Johnny Burkhalter, inmates at the Bibb County Correctional Facility, were on work release in nearby Tuscaloosa on June 17 when Anderson saw the wallet on the ground.
"I picked it up and saw all that money in there," said Burkhalter, who had been incarcerated since 1977 for attempted murder. "I said, 'We got to turn this in.' So we went to the office."
Anderson, who's been locked up since 1990 for dealing drugs and -- of all things -- receiving stolen property, said he agreed to turn the wallet in because, "My mama raised me to be honest."
"I know the right thing to do," he said. "I just made mistakes."
Their good turn didn't go unnoticed. The two received "Men of Distinction" plaques and $50 apiece from facility officials.
"It's not every day you see that kind of integrity," Facility Director Bob McCartney said.
The wallet belonged to nurse Charlene Stallworth, who planned to pay her house loan, phone bill and light bill with the $800.
"I still get excited thinking about it because they didn't have to do it," said Stallworth, who prayed for them upon their request and took them to lunch. "It renewed my faith in people."