New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-13
ARCHAEOLOGY AND CRIME.
THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA sWINDLED-
SENTENCE OF AN ARTIST IN BERLIN
Munich. November 20.


The members of the Royal family of
Bavaria are greatly incensed at gross i'm
position practised upon the Empress of Austria
during her recent cruise In the Mediterranean.
Her Majesty sailed from Corfu In her yacht
Miramare on November 3, and arrived in the
harbor Of Alexandria two days later. She spent
the night on board and on the following morning,
accompanied by members of her suite, started for
the shore. AS the Empress stepped from the boat,
two Armenians who had been walking along the
docks for some time approached her and asked
permission to show statue of Iris, found, as they
sad during the recent excavations at Abukir
As they addressed her in French and were able
to answer all questions regarding the excavations
with which the Empress familiar. she ex-
pressed great delight at the unexpected possibility
of adding valuable work of art to her famous
collections.
Satisfied with a rapid examination of the statue,
the Empress consented to purchase 1t for 10000
francs She sent an attendant to the yacht at
once for the money, and the Armenians, with
prefuse expressions Of thanks, departed soon after
with their booty
In the course Of the day, however, Her Majesty
became suspicious of her purchase aud the actions
of the vendors and sent the statue to the Austrian
Consul General for examination French ar
Abukir was summoned by the ConsnlGencral to
decide upon the value and genuincness of the
alleged work of art. To the great regret of Her
Majesty, the Frenchman pronounced it cheap
imitation of the real Iris, which could be pur-
chased at any of the Alexandrian shops for $50
francs. Policemen were Immediately sent upon
search for the daring impostors, but, according
10 the latest reports have not been successful in
finding them. The Empress departed from Alex
andra on November 8, leaving the art treasure"
behind her.
The trial and subsequent imprisonment OF froles-
sor Joseph Koppay, the famous Hungarian artis'.
now living in Berlin, have caused great sensation
in the artistic circles of Germany. Inc uial TOOK
n,oce in IIeberliugen Baden Owing to the pres
ence of an immense number OF people interested Ill
the outcome of the suit the courthouse was
found too small, and the proceedings WERE "oiu
in the town Turn-hae.
As has been bis custom for several years,
Professor Koppay spent last summer near the
RadenSee In the course of his wanderings In
f,,e neiphborhood he visited the ancient clolster
church in Birnau, now secularized and owned by
Prince William Of Baden AS the building con-
tains many interesting mementos of former days.
il is a favorite resort of sghteeers. On the day
Of Koppaye visit the regular sexton was absent
but his assistant conducted the professor about the
church Among the treasures were three figures
Of angels carved in wood which appealed espe-
cially to Koppays artistic eye and he deter
mined if possible, to secure them. But tie
guide in answer TO his request, said that he could
not let them leave the house. Koppay, however,
informed the man that he was related to the
Grand Ducal family, and wished them on that
account The assertion was sufficient, and the
poor sexton gave the figures to the professor, and
at his d,sire provided him with bag in which
to carry them. When going away Koppay gave
the man ten marks a fee.
Koppay returned to the church on the follow
ing day, but the regular sexton refused to allow
him 10 enter the building. declaring that suit had
already been brought for the recovery of the
treasures. On the same evening the artist was
arrested and confined for one night in prison.
At the trial Koppays counsel declared that 1t
was folly to accuse his famous and wealthy client
of theft: that he had taken the figures because
he believed the sexton had the right TO dispose of
them His plea, however, in vain, and the
artist WIS condemned to restore the figures val
ued at 500 marks, and to pass one week in prison.