WASHINGTON, Mo. (AP) – An eastern Missouri man says he simply did the right thing when he found nearly $4,000 inside a chair at an auction – and gave it back.

Ted Beede attended a living estate auction on Dec. 13 in search of items for his consignment shop in, about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis.

He lifted a cushion and found, as he called it, “all the dead presidents.”

Beede scooped up the bills and pulled aside the auctioneer. The money was given to the Franklin County public administrator, who is taking care of the property owner’s estate.

Beede eventually paid $5 for the chair. When he went to get his receipt, he was given a $200 reward for his honesty.