The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-12
Famous Old Portrait, the Loveliest
in the World, Stolen Twenty
Two Years Ago.
FOUND IN A CELLAR
Covered With Dust and Cobwebs-Story OF a Re-
n7arkabe Theft Perpetrated by a.Still
More Remarkable Thief.

New York, Oct. 1.-the Journal says;
Gainsborough's immortal portrait Of the
Duchess of Devonshire. the disappearance
OF which twenty-five years ago is the
most mysterious event in the modern an
been discovered at last IN a cener in
Sondsn-
The police of Two continents sought and
hunted the thieves in vain for two years.
Not only the Scotland Yard officers. in
London, but inspector Byrnes. the most
asUute detective in the world. and his
ablest assistants, were bafied by this
Crime. It was long believed that the
picture had been taken 10 America.
adam Worth, a notorious American burg
aar, sentenced 10 Imprisonment in Brus-
sells. was suspected Of the crime, but it
could not be fastened on him.
This ure-Gainsborougt's master
Diece-is the most perfect type of lowell
less ever created by an English artist.
In 1876 It was sold at auction, with the
collection of Mr.. Wynn Ellis. Messrs.
sAgnew paid $4,000 for it. II was on exhi-
5itiOn for eighteen days ana created an i'm
Dlense sensation in London. Ii brought the
picture hat into fashion.
The thief entered the gallery in the
night, cut the picture from its frame and
carried il away. No trace of the thief
could ever be found. He sent repeated let
Sers TO the owners apparently in bravado.
Every effort iwas made to find him, but
:. vain.
Now a vestryman of Chelsea, London,
has zssnd the great picture dirty and dis
figured in the bottom of an old cellar.
Can It be that the mystery that has en-
veloped a famous stolen painting for years
IS about TO be cleared up?
Thomas Gainsborough's portrait Of
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. was the
most perfect type of English loneliness
ever created by an artists brush.
Twenty-Five years ago It was stolen and
Its whereabouts has remained a mystery
since then. The mystery was heightened
by the fact that the owner was willing to
ray large price for the return of the
picture without seeking to punish the thief
and that the latter was probably aware
OF this.
Now 1t seems that the mystery may be
Cleared up. But the end is not yet
vestryman of Chelsea, a district of
London, is reported TO have discovered the
Etolen picture. The vestry is the local gov
Erning body, and vestryman belongs TO
the order of humanity characterized by
Dickens in Bundle"
This \estryman, in the course Of his
duties. which lead him to inquire into bad
Smells and other nuisances,- had Occasion
10 investigate big lodging house in Smith
street Chelsea.
The house was dirty. tumble-down, con-
tanning odds and ends of old furniture,
and inhabited only by one old woman. She
was dark and mysterious in her ways.
Although she was so poor that she was not
able to obtain sufficient food. she ate from
splendid silver plate Evidently she was
Iisinclined to sell II. 1t has since been
5earned that she was formerly housekeeper
Tor a notorious American burglar. who is
now serving a long term of imprisonment
tor daring train robbery on the European
continent.
The vestryman had to pay another Of
fetal visit 10 the house. The old woman
had then left it. This time he went down
into the cellar, a large place. filed with
old furniture. Cropping in the dark, he
knocked his foot against what appeared to
he a light wooden frame
He struck match and found the object
10 be picture, in a sad state of dirt and
Disagreement
Close scrutiny revealed the vague out
lines of woman's figure. She wore a
great black HAT. and a red flower was dis
cernible at her bosm.
Considering the suspicious associations
Of the previous occupant OF the house and
7he evident age of the picture. the YES
sryman at once concluded that il might be
a stolen work of some value. a little in
vestigation brought 10 his knowledge the
stors ns1 ne ste3en Gainshorough.
ne eoFnnnuricaeea with SIR George Lewis.
the lawyer of Messrs. Agnew. the great
dealers. from whom the work had origin
ally been stolen. As a result yuong Mr.
Agnew visited the cellar in Smith street
under the guidance of the vestryman. He
was much Impressed by the resemblance
OF the picture TO the lost Gaiasborough
brought his father back to Smith street.
The father IS said % have exhibited great
emotion on seeing the canvas, and 10 have
exclaimed:
That is the picture for which I paid
s1oloo.
The Agnews then requested the vestry-
man 20 purchase the picture from the pres
snt occupant of the house FOR as little as
possible and without calling attention 70
Its value. They promised 70 recompense
him. The vestryman acquired the picture
In the manner suggested. but then he re-
fused 10 part with IL for less than $1,000.
the reward the Agnews had originally Of
fered for the recovery Of the picture This.
for some reason. the Agnews refused 10
pay.
Il is now reported that the vestrvnsn
IS unwilling to part with the masterpiece
At any price.
Before coming 10 a disagreement with the
vestryman. the Messrs. Agnew presented
him with a magnificent steel engraving Of
the lost Gainsborough as 4 token .. rs
services 10 art in returning So great a
treasure 10 ;he world.
The case is now involved IN some COM
plexity The vestryman apparently thinks
that the Gainsborough vii form a valu-
able ornament 70 his home. TIE Aynews
are unwilling 10 discuss the matter pub
Ncly.
The possessor Of stolen property, 10 mat
ter how innocently acquired. has no rizht
20 II. but. in order 10 recover = TIE real
owner must prove his t;i. THIS r re
case q picture .ost cor twa1-s--;wo wears