The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-12

! Gainsborough In existence. ana some of
them were quits hard 70 distinguish from
! the original. II is undoubtedly for this rea-
! son that the Agnews are preserving silence
/ and Stimulating inactivity.
! The statute OF Limitations would now pre-
| vent lhs posecution of the thief. His evil
| dence. however. would be OF vital impor-
lance to the Agnews in helping them 10
regain their property. They have. there
fore. caused the old search for him 20 be
renewed with increased vigor. 1t Is now
being pursued quietly but indefatigably
in the United Kingdom, on the European
! continent and in the United States.
The Gainsborough duchess belonged to
Ehe collection of Mr.. Wynn EHis one Of
the finest in England The sale u this
collection Of Christie's auction rooms IN
London was historical event n the Eng
lish art world.
The Gainsborough was offered for sale on
May g. 1876. A great battle of amateurs
, ensued. The Earl of Dudley ran the price
up 10 $4,000. but seeing that the Agnews
were determined 10 possess the picture, he
retired from the fight when they offered
$50 800.
The Agnews placed It on exhibition in
their galleries al 80 Bond street. London
went into ecstacies over 1t. The so-called
picture hat. modelled on the hat of the
lovely duchess, then came into tremendous
popularity. 1t has been more or less fash
ionable ever since and there are those who
believe that in spite of occasional vulgar
extravagances there is no form of hat
which better becomes handsome woman.
While the fashionable and popular inter-
est was at its height. the picture vanished.
On the night OF May "a, eighteen days
after IT came into the Agnews' possession,
ii was left as usual in dts place on the
wal. A Waterman slept on the premises
and was not disturbed. During that night,
however, thieves entered the gallery, cut
the picture from its frame and carried it
away.
The Scotland Yard detectives failed TO
obtain the least scent of the thieves. From
time to time Mr.. Agnew received mystic
rious letters offering TO return the picture,
at first for $1,000 and then for $1.5O0. In
several cases the writer inclosed pieces of
tit canvas to show that he really had the
picture.
Apparently the thief was merely writing
these letters in a spirit of bravado and. If
he possessed the picture. had no intention
of returning it. Perhaps he intended to
keep it TO decorate his home, when he
should retire from long life of successful
burglary TO an old age of affluent ease.
At one time IT was suspected that the
thief was Adam Worth, an American bur
glar of note. who served a term of I'm
prisonment in Brussels, Belgium, and was
convicted on the evidence OF Max Shinburn,
now in Dannemora prison. New York. It
was impossible, however, to trace the deed
clearly 10 him.
1t was generally believed in England
that the theft was the work OF some daring
American burglar and that the picture had
been carried 10 America The efforts of
Inspector Byrnes, the most astute detec-
tive in the world. were enlisted, but he was
utterly baff1ed by the case
While we may presume that the picture
itself Will soon be restored TO the world,
the manner of its disappearance will still
be unrevea.ed.
Gainsborough was one Of the greatest OF /
English painters. ranking as an equal with
to 17SS His Duchess of Devonshire" was
the finest picture he ever painted.
He expended an immense AMOUNT Of Ia
Dor on the portrait. For long time the |
work did not satisfy him. Once, saying i
only Her GraceEs too hard for me-" he |
drew his brush across the mouth, which /
everybody thought exquisitely lovely.
The duchess was the most brilliant wom- /
an of her day in England. Her husband /
was prime minister. His family. the Cav 4
endishes. have been for two centuries the 1
hereditary leaders Of Wing society In Eng
land.
Gainsborough's picture reveals a woman /
who is not only physically superb, but Is
delightfully."- lovely and tender in express /
sion.+ Historysdoes5not+i ndacats thst the 4
duchess was quite so perfect in character
That, however. detracts In no way from
the artists work.