Casino waiter gets $8000 tip
New Orleans has over the years earned itself the unwelcome reputation of being a high-crime city where youd do well to watch your wallet.
So when top eye doctor, Thomas McCauley, discovered his wallet gone, along with all his winnings, he was sure hed been robbed.
Visiting the city for a convention, Dr McCauley had had a lucky night at the craps table and walked away with $8000. He separated his winnings into two wallets, so that if one was stolen, he would still have his ID.
However, after dinner, he discovered that the uncomfortable wad in his back pocket had gone and rushed back to the casino. He had little expectation of seeing the money again and was shocked when waiter Al Castro handed back the wallet with all the money untouched.
Dr McCauley was so impressed by Castros honesty, he wanted to reward him and make his story known, both to the public and to his casino bosses.
Although Castro, who juggles his casino job with a full-time degree at the nearby university, initially refused any reward, he later met with McCauley who insisted on giving him back the whole $8000 in gratitude for his honesty.
McCauley dubbed the trustworthy waiter the saint of New Orleans. When asked why he hadnt kept the cash, Castro replied that he believes in karma, which in this case, seems to be the best policy.