ng
wrongdoers protection and means of escape from punishment for their evil
deeds. This does not mean that we should not defend the guilty. We
should defend them, but should not encourage them to do wrong by
offering them a means of escape from just punishment. We share in
another's sin also by neglecting to prevent his bad action when it is
our duty to do so. For example, if a police officer paid for guarding
your property should see a thief stealing it and not prevent him, he
would be as guilty as the thief. Your neighbor indeed might warn you
that the thief was stealing your goods, but he would not be bound in
justice to do so, as the officer is, but only in charity, because it is
not his duty to guard your property. Parents who know that their
children steal and do not prevent them or compel them to bring back what
they stole, but rather encourage them by being indifferent, are guilty
of dishonesty as well as the children, and share in their sins of theft.
But suppose you did not know the thing was stolen when you received it,
but learned afterward that it was, must you then return it to the proper
owner? Yes; just as soon as you know to whom it belongs you begin to sin
by keeping it. But suppose you bought it not knowing that it was stolen,
would you still have to restore it? Yes, when the owner asks for it,
because it belongs to him till he sells it or gives it away. If you have
bought from a thief you have been cheated and must suffer the loss. Your
mistake will make you more careful on the next occasion. Suppose you
find a thing, what must you do? Try to find its owner, and if you find
him give him what is his, and that without any reward for restoring it,
unless he pleases to give you something, or unless you have been put to
an expense by keeping it. If you cannot find the owner after sincerely
seeking for him, then you may keep the thing found. But suppose you kept
the article so long before looking for the owner that it became
impossible for you to restore it to him, either because he had died or
removed to parts unknown during your delay--what then? Then you must
give the article or its value to his children or others who have a right
to his goods; and if no one who has such a right can be found, you must
give it to the poor, for you have it unjustly--since you did not look
for the owner when it was possible to find him--and therefore cannot
keep it.

376 Q. Are we bound to restore ill-gotten goods?
A. We