Klarinet Archive - Posting 001404.txt from 2000/10

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Subject: Stolen Bass Clarinet
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 19:42:10 -0500

In a message dated 00-10-29 16:13:33 EST, Dee Hays writes:

<< One thing that should be born in mind, this person purchased the
instrument in good faith from the police department. So it is understandable
if he is upset even though he may be in the wrong.>>

Sort of like Bill Clinton asking what the definition of "is" is?

<<He has every right to be just as steamed up as the person from whom it was
originally stolen>>

Except that David Hattner makes his living with his clarinets, not just a
quick buck artist who bought a hot clarinet from a police auction.

<<This is not the way to go about it. David Hattner should of course continue
to work on getting his horn back but he needs to work through the police
department that made such a mistake.>>

Sorry, Dee, but obviously you have never had anything of great personal value
stolen and have had to work with the local police department to recover it.

<<And another thought. Was it really proper to contact the bidders and
seller without first having contacted the police about this horn and cleared
up the legal issues?>>

See the above. Most local police departments have absolutely no concept of
"legal issues."

<<Wouldn't you be a little steamed if you were the seller?>>

Not after being informed that the merchandise I obtained had been documented
as being stolen 2 years earlier and that I had bought it from a police
department who was totally wrong in selling the merchandise. Some of us like
to sleep at night and look ourselves in the mirror in the morning.

<<Look at ALL aspects of the situation. How would you feel in the shoes of
the bidders?>>

I wouldn't buy stolen merchandise

<< seller?>>

I wouldn't sell stolen merchandise

<<and original owner?>>

I'd probably do exactly what David did!

Don Gross
La Canada, California...who had a fully restored 1967 Volkswagen "window van"
stolen from the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History parking lot in
broad daylight in 1987 and had to deal with LAPD's "finest" for more than 6
months until I finally found the vehicle in a local chop shop after getting a
tip from a member of the local VW bus owners association. I would guess that
vintage low C Selmer bass clarinets are in the same category for someone who
doesn't own one.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org