The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-03
Tuesday. October 3, 1893.
DID ,iE STEAL THE PICTURE?
Mystery Of the Theft Of the DuchesA Of Dc
vonslAire Painting May BE solved.

von.lire Painting May he solved.
A mystery of II years seems about to
be cleared ur by the confession of a
prisoner in Il Belgian Jail. This man,
who wears the sackcloth mask OF the
Prison de Louvain, is Adam With.
'Le Brigand Internationale." 1t Is said
that he has confessed the theft OF the
famous stolen Duchess of Devonshire.
the painting which set all London ago9,
md which mysteriously disappeared OIL
the night of May "a, 1876.
The picture is believed to be a genuine
Gainsborough and was purchased from
Mrs. Magennis in 1889 by "a picture re-
storer named Bentley. He gave $50 for
It and was delighted with his bargain
when he sold it for go guineas to Mr..
Wynn Ellis. As part of the latter's ia
nous collection it vas put up at auction
1t Christie's On May 6. 1876, and a great
struggle for Its purchase ensued. The
then Earl of Dudley ran the price up to
c1O, 900. but could not shake of the per-
sistent agent Of the Messrs. Agnew, who
secured the picture for $40, 100, the high
est price ever paid for a picture at Chris
ties.
The dealers at once placed it in theii
galleries at 50 Bond street. and London
went wild over the picture. 1t monopo
lied the conversation of the day, and al
public receptions women dressed after
the fashion of the beautiful painted
duchess.
One night on May "a, only IS days
after it came into the Messrs. Agnew $
possession, it was left as usual at II p. III.
on tine walls Of the gallery. In the morn,
ing it had been cut from the frame and
stolen. The Scotland Yard detectives
took the matter in hand, and the owner;
offered 81. 900 reward for its recovery.
People who doubted the geuuineness OF
the work limited that the Messrs. AgneW
had found these suspicion0 well grounded
and had burned the picture in disgust
starting the story of the theft in order tc
conceal their modification. But neither
xumors nor the reward brought out any
facts, until, as the years went on, the
&, 200 tempted the thief to negotiate fol
the return of the picture. But he wa:
too timid. and nothing came OF the at
tempt.
Now he has confessed in Jail and say.
that he stole the picture in the hope o.
getting ransom for it without risk. H.
failed and for years had the stolei
Duchess" like a white elephant, on hi
hands. He was Of American birth, abou'
30 years old at the time and a robber b.
profession. A boldly planned felony pu
him in possession Of e60, 900, with which
he lived like a king among the very PEG
pie he had previously robbed. The pic
ture was a constant menace to his safe
ry, but he could not make up his mine
70 part with it. One scheme suggeste,
itself to him-of painting another pic
ture over the Gainsborough, having
put up at a sale, buying it in and then
IN the process of cleaning it, discovering
the real picture. But for this he neede'
accomplices, and he was afraid to risl
it. At last he landed in the Belgian
prison. and there being nothing to los
now he has made a partial confession
which he promises to supplement wit
the story Of what finally became of tn
picture. That it is not destroyed seem
probable from his assurance that he vii
move his statement.-New York Sun.