Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Choshen Mishpat/270

Paragraph 1- There are no rules of theft on an item found by a deaf-mute, fool or minor, other than a regulation implemented to keep the peace. Thus, if someone went and stole from them, the item cannot be removed by judges. This is only true with respect to a found item where no other person is transferring to them. Wages of a minor or something similar, however, can be removed by judges.

Paragraph 2- The found item of one’s son and daughter who rely on the father’s table for support, even if they are adults, the found item of one’s maiden daughter, even if she does not rely on her father’s table for support, the found item of one’s gentile slave or maidservant and the found item of one’s wife, belong to him. The same is true of they turned a profit with merchandise or work. If he dies, however, the work of one son would not be inherited by other relatives. The found item of one’s son who does not rely on his father’s table for support, even if he is a minor, the found item of one’s Jewish slave or maidservant and the found item of one’s wife who is quasi-divorced, however, would not belong to him. If one gave a gift to a minor who relies on his father’s table for support, it would belong to the father. That is not the case with an adult son, however. The found item of an orphan who relies on the table of others, belongs to the orphan himself.

Paragraph 3- The found item of an employee would belong to the employee, even if the employer told him “work with me today.” It goes without saying that this is true where the employer said, “dig with me today.” If the employer hired him to find items, however, such as where the river dried and up and he hired him to collect fish that are found in the swamp, the items would belong to the employer, even if the employee found a wallet full of dinar. There are those who say the same is true where the employer hired him without specification and direct him to gather found items.