Cash Drop Mystery: Leonard Maull's Legacy and Wealth

Does Money Bring Happiness?

Case Study: The Lewes Marina Cash Drop

1. Precautionary Measures Taken

The authorities had posted a police agent at the marina to prevent trouble.

Lewes police said they were aware of the planned event and had sent an officer to the area to make sure there was no fighting. (lines 7-8)

2. Date of the Cash Rain

The cash-rain took place on August 17, 2013, because the man who gave the money wanted it to happen exactly one year after his death.

This bizarre act of kindness came courtesy of a Lewes resident, Leonard Maull, who had died the year before. His lawyer made sure the plan he had written into his will was carried out accordingly: exactly on the first anniversary of his death, the money should be dropped from a helicopter flying over the marina... (lines 9-11)

3. Maull's Chosen Location

He might have chosen that particular place because he liked it. He certainly visited it every day.

The marina, which he apparently used to visit at least once a day. (line 11)

4. Public Reaction to Cash in Water

People even got into the sea to find cash.

TRUE: He saw people swimming to grab notes that had landed in the water. (lines 5-6)

5. Documentation of the Event

Some witnesses recorded this incredible event.

FALSE: Unfortunately, no one got any pictures of the event because they were too busy finding free money... (lines 12-13)

Vocabulary Notes

• gift (line 12)
• flight, fly
• The plane suddenly ran out of fuel. (This sentence seems unrelated to the main text context.)
• crowd (line 3)

Inferences and Observations

What did he sprint for with about 50 other people?

He may have hidden some of the money.

It is useless to wait for the bus. (This sentence seems unrelated to the main text context.)

People believe that Leonard Maull was crazy.

The Role of Money in Life Quality

Money is something important in life, as it allows us to have a good life quality and enjoy many possibilities, which people with less resources can’t afford. Poverty conditions dramatically affect people’s life, as it often implies bad health conditions, deficiencies in education, etc. In addition, it is usually the cause of many other problems, such as violence or prostitution.

However, wealthiness doesn’t guarantee happiness. Rich people are sometimes more miserable than poor ones, as they don’t have some other important values, such as family or friendship. Besides, when we get obsessed with getting money, we might neglect other aspects in our life which are, at least, as important as richness.

In conclusion, we can say that wealthiness doesn’t bring happiness, as there are other relevant things in life, but it is important to have our basic necessities covered.