Would you??

[Alpo]

Another board. Guy says there was a knock at the door. Woman had never seen before. She mentioned someone he had known years back. The second guy had died, and among his possessions they had found this box. It had the first guy's name and address on it, and instructions that after the second guy died the box was to be taken to the first guy.

 

And if the first guy was dead, the box was to be destroyed unopened.

 

That last part just got my attention. Curiosity. Especially since the guy explains that when he opened the box there were two 1911s in it. That would tend to make the box slightly heavy.

 

And I realize that "Grandpa" left these instructions, but I don't know if I would do it. Yes I would take it to Tom's house, because Grandpa left instructions to give it to Tom after he died. But if it was important enough that he left these instructions to give it to Tom - it seems like it would be too important to destroy just because Tom was dead.

 

I'm pretty certain that I would look in the box. Hell, I might look in the box before I take it to Tom, and if it was a pair of 1911s I might not take it to Tom.

 

That's a terrible thing to admit, but it's a possibility.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

I'm pretty certain that I would look in the box. Hell, I might look in the box before I take it to Tom, and if it was a pair of 1911s I might not take it to Tom.

 

That's a terrible thing to admit, but it's a possibility.

I'd probably do the same.

[Cypress Sun]

I don't think that I would look in the box, would follow the person's last requests and present it to Tom whose name was on the box. I would definitely ask the Tom what is in the box. Who knows, maybe he wouldn't want what is in the box. Maybe I'd get to keep one or both. Regardless, it's not my property and as long as Tom is still alive.

 

Now, if both people were deceased, I'd open the box and there ain't no way I'm throwing away a 1911...let alone two of them. 

[Rip Snorter]

Honor involved twice, the individual whose wishes you are honoring, and your own in meeting a commitment.  You is or you ain't.

[Subdeacon Joe]

22 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

Honor involved twice, the individual whose wishes you are honoring, and your own in meeting a commitment.  You is or you ain't.

 

BINGO!  

Even given the conditions stated in the OP, that the box of which I had no prior knowledge of was found in the belongings of the descendant, and maybe legally not bound by the instructions on the box, I would feel a moral obligation to carry them out.   My only concern might be the method of destruction of the box and contents. A somewhat heavy for its size box...is there something in it that incinerating it or shredding it might endanger others?

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Open the Box!!  Open the Box!!  Open The BOX!!

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Alpo you have no breeding.  If there were two 1911's in the box you should only take one.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Pandora opened the box, look what she started.

[Pat Riot]

What’s inside would be none of my business unless Tom wanted to tell me. 
 

If Tom were deceased I would burn the box. That is probably when I would find out there were guns in there. I would dispose of them legally. 
 

Even if I knew there were 1911s in there I wouldn’t assume they weren’t guns used in a crime just because of the players involved. But, I wouldn’t know there were 1911’s in there until after I burned the box. 

 

[Muleshoe Bill SASS #67022]

Take the guns out, burn the box

[Blackwater 53393]

I’d probably follow the directions.  Once it was determined that “Tom” , the intended recipient was no longer living, I’d burn the box and as soon as the integrity of the box was compromised, I would retrieve the guns and clean them thoroughly, replace the grips as needed, and return to my regularly scheduled program!

 

 I would have honored the original request and, with the destruction of the box, I figure I would be released from the obligation.

 

From that point, I would merely be cleaning up and disposing of the remains.

[Dusty Devil Dale]

10 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

Honor involved twice, the individual whose wishes you are honoring, and your own in meeting a commitment.  You is or you ain't.

If it doesn't belong to me, then it does belong to somebody else.  There is no unowned property or money out there.

Hard to enjoy a 1911 that isn't really mine.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

AND what if its a handgrenade with the pin attached underneath the top lid?

 

Or maybe a confession of sorts that is better left unknown to others besides Tom.

 

Follow the instruction and your commitment...... period.

 

Remember, the snake said... 'take me in o'pretty woman'.   Then it bit her.

 

..........Widder

 

[Sam Sackett]

But if you knew there were 1911’s in the box, it becomes a legal issue. Tom is not a family member, so is it legal to give him the weapons without a sellers signature?  On the other hand, you are a family member and there are no legalities if their ownership is transferred to you……..

 

Hmmmmmm..   conundrum……….

 

Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I knew a Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps who died, leaving a box about a foot to a side with instructions that was to be taken to the beach and set afire. About sixty Marines showed up, a fire was built, and the box set on top.

 

It took a few minutes before we were treated to best fireworks show you ever saw.  It only lasted and two minutes but Lordy, was it ever spectacular.

 

It was before everyone had a cell phone of digital cameras but there was a 16mm movie going around for awhile.

 

His nickname was Sergeant Major Boomer.  He was living up to his name

[watab kid]

something this mysterious - yes , id open it then have a talk with tom if he was alive and maybe turn it over based on that discussion , but - destry it ??? i dont think so !!!!!!!!!!!!!