Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-28
DID He STEAL The pIcruRei

Mystery OF the Theft of the Duchess of De-
vonshire Painting May BE Solved.
A mystery of II years seems about to
be cleared mp by the confession of a
prisoner in a Belgian Jail. This man,
who wears the sackcloth mask of the
Prison de Louvain, is Adam Wirth,
lie Brigand Internationale." 1t is said
that he has confessed the theft Of the
famous stolen Duchess Of Devonshire,"
the painting which set all London agog,
and which mysteriously disappeared ON
the night of May "a, 1876
The picture is believed to be genuine
Gainsborough and was purchased from
a Mrs. Magennis in 1889 by picture re-
storer named Bentley. He gave ESQ for
il and was delighted with his bargain
when he sold 1t for 60 guineas to Mr..
Wynn Ellis. AS part of the latter's fa-
nous collection it was put mp at auction
at Christie's on May Q. 1876, and a great
struggle for its purchase ensued. The
then Earl Of Dudley ran the price up to
ei0,000, but could not shake off the per
sistent agent of the Messrs. Agnew, who
secured the picture for el0, 100, the high
eat price ever paid for a picture at Chris
ties.
The dealers at once placed it in their
galleries at 80 Bond street, and London
went wild over the picture. 1t monopo-
hzed the conversation of the day, and at
public receptions women dressed after
the fashion of the beautiful painted
duchess.
One night ON May "a, only 1s days
after il came into the Messrs. Agnew's
possession, IL was left as usual at II D. IN,
ON the walls Of the gallery. In the morn
ing 1t had been cut from the frame and
stolen. The Scotland Yard detectives
took the matter in hand, and the owners
offered e1, 900 reward for its recovery.
People who doubted the genuineness Of
the work limited that the Messrs. Agnew
had found these suspicious well grounded
and had burned the picture in disgust.
starting the story of the theft in order to
conceal their modification. But neither
rumors nor the reward brought out any
facts, until, as the years went on, the
81 900 tempted the thief TO negotiate for
the return Of the picture. But he was
too timid, and nothing came of the at
tempt.
Now he has confessed in Jail and says
that he stole the picture in the hope of
getting ransom for il without risk. He
failed and for years had the stslen
Duchess" like a white elephant, on his
hands. He wasof American birth, about
30 years old ut the time and robber by
profession, A boldly planned felenyput
him in possession Of $50, 900, with which
he lived like king among the very peo-
pie he had previously robbed. The pic
turo was q constant menace 10 his safe
", but he could not make up his mind
10 part with It. One scheme suggested
itself to him--of painting another pic
lure over the Gainsborough, having il
put up at a sale, buying II in and then.
II the process Of cleaning il, discovering |
he real picture. But for this he needed
and he was afraid 10 risk
I. At last he landed in the Belgian
Prison, and there being nothing 10 lose
low he has made partial confession,
which he promises 20 supplement with
he story OF what finally became Of the
icture. That Il Is not destroyed seems
robablo from his assurance that he win |
rove his statement.--NewY York Sun