Man Repays Newspaper 54 Years After Theft

Some 54 years after stealing several newspaper racks, a US Navy veteran has sent a letter of apology and a check for $200 to the Ledger of Lakeland, Florida. Bernard Schermerhorn says he's followed the rules for most of his 73 years, but caved to peer pressure as a teenager and went along with a friend's scheme to steal several racks from the Ledger. In a Sept. 30 letter to the newspaper, Schermerhorn says they took a handful of change and then dumped the racks. Schermerhorn, who lives in Le Mesa, California, told the newspaper the check would more than cover the damage and theft of about $10. Publisher Kevin Drake says he's sending Schermerhorn a thank-you letter and will donate the money to a children's charity in Lakeland. (This bartender returned $200 15 years after she stole it.)