Responsa for Bava Metzia 19:3
הכי נמי מסתברא דקתני סיפא אם משנתנה לו אמר אני זכיתי בה תחילה לא אמר כלום תחילה בסיפא למה לי פשיטא אע"ג דלא אמר תחילה תחילה קאמר אלא לאו הא קמ"ל רישא דאמר תחילה
— He ['Ulla] answered him: Our Mishnah speaks of [a case] where [the person who picked up the article] said: [I took possession of it] <i>first</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reason why the rider cannot claim the found object unless it has been handed over to him is that the other person claims to have picked it up straight away for himself. But if the other person had picked it up for the rider it would have belonged to the latter straight away, for we say that since, if he had wished, he could have taken possession of it for himself, he may also take possession of it for his neighbour. ');"><sup>3</sup></span>
Explore responsa for Bava Metzia 19:3. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.