Litchfield enquirer., 1878-12-19
WHOLE NO. 2742

search for them was so much wasted time. Arriving at length at No.--my companion reluctantly went with me intoth cellar, where we found the proprietress, fat and dirty fe- male with very unprepossessing features. The cake shop did not bear the evidence of very | thriving trade, nor.ef a very large stock on hand. In fact, in the light of my increasing experience as 8 detective, 1t seemed to me that the place was a ''bind" for something else. The apartment in which we found our selves was about 15 feet square, and the ceil- ing not more than feet high. On one side was long table, or box, that served the pur- pose of a counter. This was all the evidence of business there was about the place. In rear room were two double beds that monopo- liZed nearly all the space, and which looked like litter of old quilts of many colOred patches. There were two or three disagreea- ble looking people in this room, who wore the same general aspect of vice that was stamped upon everything about the premises. The un- savorY air of the place increased the reluctance of the official to execute his warrant and search for the pictures. Nevertheless he yielded, and commenced by looking under the beds, while informed the ci-deUGnt Mrs. Long of the ob- ject of our unceremonious visit to her delecta- ble abode. She denied most emphatically that any pictures were there, or had ever been
 
 What should.she care about such things? She was a poor but honest woman, who had no ''call" for them. 1 told her that she kriew better, and that had seen some pictures there only few days ago. This assertion, which felt >pardoned in making, seemed to discom- pose her, and she then, with an apparent ef- fort, endeavored to recall the fact of their presence. Pictures, pictures" she exclaim- ed, "Oh, you must mean the pictures the har- | hor "Why, the harness man two blocks above. They belonged to him." The scent was evi dently warming. The officer came from a fruitless search in the back room, and we set out for the ''harness man." Sure enough, on the second block toward Broadway, there was a neat looking harness makers shop, and an apparently industrious man at work. This shop was not in the cellar. but on the first floor, and there was a living room in the rear, as in the other place, but far more attaractive in appearance. The door was open, and nO- ticed that several nails had been driven into the wall obviously for hanging pictures. As suming that the pictures we were in search of had been hanging from those nails, asked him on entering what bad become Of them. He replied that he had soh them two or three weeks before to ''man in the picture line" Further inquiry elcited the fact that this man was an artist or painter, who lived over res 
 part of Lispenard street he could not tell. Of course, tour through Lspenard street was the next thing in order. My companion in- sisted however that the next thing was drink. l agreed that he should take that on the way, and we set out for the abOve-named street. We went into several places that were called restaurants before we came to the right one, and having ascertained from the proprie tor that an old man who had room m the attic was picture painter, l went up stairs alone to have an interview with him. On the highest floor, in small room, lighted by a dormer window, found a shabily attired, gray haired old man, clearly foreigner at work at his easel, on small canvass picture. A num- Der of paintings some half finished. stood against the wall. One could see by glance at these pictures that whatever knowledge this lonesome devotee of art might have Ofthe sub- ject, it was unaccompanied by genius. ac- costed him pleasantly, and told him had cal led to look at some pictures he had recently purchased. Il sold them all last week, he said ''To whom ?" I asked. Il don't know his name" was the reply. But where does he live ?" '1 don't know that either" asserted he. What did he do with the pictures:' said 1. Il don't know, he replied. Where was the man when he bought .the pictures - here ?'' II brought him." ''Whcre did you meet him?" 'Oh, dine with him every day down stairs'' Do you not, then, know his name?" No; never asked him his name." confess 1 was puzzled. could hardly deter mined whether the old painter was telling the truth or not. Saying would call again, l re- turned to the restaurant, and taking the pro prietor aside, questioned him concerning the old artist. He gave him a good character. This made the matter worse. Then l asked if he knew the man referred to by the artist as dining with him every day. Yes" he re piled; ''he is a picture dealer in Broadway, corner of--street, up stairs" He had for gotten the name of the man. Thjti CT l accor- dingly repaired. A sign oner the door leading up stairs announced the fact that Eisler < Co. were dealers in engravings and artists materi- als. Entering door at the head of the first flight of stairs, 1 inquired for NIT. Eisler. (Which MT. Eisler" was the reply. Either of them would do As Mir Esler approached, stated that had called to see about some pictures that he recently bought from an ar tist in Lispenard street. He had not bought any pictures, but his brother had, and he was not in at present. l determined to await with becoming patience the absent Eisler, and devoted an hour and half to this pleasing oc- cupatiOn. 1 was rewarded by the return of the absent brother. with whom the other en- tered at once in earnest conversation. Wheth- CT was again to be thrown off the scent CT
  like preparation for such purpose. The whispered interview, however, finally came to an end, and the new conner approached me with the unmistakable air of a cross-questiOn~ er 1 saved him the trouble by at once stating to him that some pictures belonging to me had been stolen that had understood that he had recently purchased several paintings which 1 had reason to believe, formed g portion of the stolen property. At all events, if they were still in his possession, would like to look at them He acknowledged that he had made some recent purchases at prices which aston ished him, and that the pictures were al his house, No--Spring street, Whew! here was another long trip. directed the officer to procure hack, and, accompanied, alsO,by Mr. Eisler, set off for Spring street. Arriving there. we ascended to the second foor where the two brothers occupied bachelors quarters. Here, among a number of really excellent works of art, there hung seven of my pictures which 1 claimed, and which Mir. Eisler at once gracefully delivered to me. carried them down stairs, and, in order to place them in the carriage, was obliged to disturb my otii- cial companion, who, while 1 was up stairs, had curled himself up inside for nap, induc- ed by the repeated necessity for quenching his thirst. As a matter of sourse, proposed to convey the pictures immediately to safe place for temporary storage, but the official
 
 lose his chance for making capital out of the successful search, and insisted upon taking his capture to Head quarters, where would prob ably be able to procure permit to retain my own property in my possession. So we had io go all the way back to the Tombs and frou thence to the upper part of the city, where placed them in safe hands. But the search was not yet over. There were still two valua- ble paintings missing, and another interesting interview through the bars with the elegant young thief became necessary Setting cut the following morning for the Tombs. ap- preached Keys cell After good deal of cir cumlocuiion, and repeated attempts to ex- tract a promise from me to befriend him in the approaching trial, he told me that his wicked friend Long had said something to him about meeting woman in a second hand fur niture store in the Third avenue. This wo- man was an acquaintance of the wife of the proprietor of the store. and he said she had