Chicago Cubs Deposit $301,000 Into Newspaper Carrier's Bank - Mistake

[matcom]

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MIDDLETOWN -- Mark Guthrie, the former newspaper carrier for The Courant, shared more than a name with Mark Guthrie, the former relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. They shared a corporate parent.

Last fall, someone at the Tribune Co.'s corporate headquarters put $301,000 into Mark Guthrie's account. Only it was the wrong Mark Guthrie.

Nearly a year later, $26,000 is still in the deliveryman's account and the Cubs want it back. They've had a lawsuit pending against Guthrie since February, but in legal papers filed last month, the ball club offered to drop the suit if he simply pays up.

"We have no desire to embarrass Mr. Guthrie or bring undue attention to his actions - we just want the money back," said Cubs lawyer Paul Guggina, whose Hartford law firm, Tyler Cooper & Alcorn, also represents The Courant.

Guthrie, who lives in Chester, says it's not so simple.

"I need them to open the books to me and show me I don't have any tax liabilities," he said. "It's mind-boggling. They never should have made the mistake to begin with."

It took more than five weeks for the Cubs to catch the mistake. The last of three payments, totaling $301,102.50, was made to Guthrie's bank account on Oct. 30. More than a month later, on Dec. 8, 2003, a representative for Guthrie, the pitcher, contacted the Cubs to inquire about his missing pay. The Cubs realized their mistake and immediately called the other Guthrie, who was still delivering newspapers for The Courant in Old Saybrook.

http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-guthrie0910.artsep10,1,4611813.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

[XNASA]

1. He deserves the money more than Kyle Farnsworth.

I say let the carrier keep the cash.