The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-07

Over $1O0, 600 Worth of Paintings Taken from
the Ex.Wife Of Millionaire.

New YORK, Oct. 6.-The divorced wife of
William Campbell, the millionaire wall
paper manufacturer. is accused of snug
Cling into this country paintings valued at
$4,000. She IS now the wife of an Italian
named Di Cacaci, of Naples. Italy. Mrs.
Campbell called at the custom house to-day
in q very angry and somewhat excited
state of mind, and said she had come to
prefer charges against Inspector Traitture.
The latter, she said. had concoctcd
charge of smuggling against her In order
that he might take possession of paintings
of the value of $4,000. which belonged to
her. His motive. she charged. was revenge
because she did not reciprCcate his passion
for her. She declared that he had pursued
her to Saratoga and other places that he
might make love to her, Deputy Collector
Phelps took the papers, but did not give
Mrs. Campbell much satisfaction.
lt was nearly three months ago that the
custom house officers began to watch Mrs.
about that time she had entered great
many paintings as household goods and per-
sonal effects at the custom house. She took
the usual oath at the time that she had
used the goods abroad for year and that
they were not intended for sale. An affi-
davIt from the consignor on the other side.
to the effect that the goods had been used
for q year, the period required by law,
comDanled the pictures. and so they, with
one or two articles of household furniture.
were admitted free of duty. Colonel Trait
ture. treasury inspector, suspected that all
was not right. and he reported at the time
to Colonel Phelps. deputy collector. in
charge of the law division at the custom
house, aud to Collecor of the Port Hendricks.
They learned that, although the W oman had
said she had used the paintings for year
on the other side she had not been across
the ocean for two years. and had lived con-
tinually here. The Treasury inspector
managed within the past week to trace the
woman and to find out where she had her
pictures stored. Mrs. Campbell was traced
to an apartment-house on upper Broadway,
and the pictures wero found and sent TO
storage houses. In all eighty-two paint
ings were seized by the inspectors. There
were originally l06 paintings, but the other
twenty-four have disappeared, and the in
ference is that the woman managed to dis
pose of them, There are number by
Leonardo da Vinci. One of them Is the
famous picture. Christ Garry ing the Cross"
and is valued at S25, 900. There are two by
RubeDs and a number by other old masters.
Sixty mine are by Italian masters who lived
prior to the sixteenth century. ALI of these
pictures are valued highly.
The woman interested Is we'll known. A
few years ago she met the man who had
been her husband in Central PARK, and, in
the presence of a thousand persons, went at
him with a horse-whip. She has used
horse-whip on other occasions. 1t was
said at the custom hOuee this morning that
she would not be prosecuted nor arrested.
Uncle Sam unless she makes good her allie
cations that they were not used in her
house in Naples a year prior to their trans
portetion to this country.