New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-01
HOW HUMBERTS sWINDLED.
NO TOPIC OF SUCH ABSORBING INTER
EST IN PARIS SINCE DREYFUS TRIAL
PAINTINGS OF NINE. HUMBERT ONLY VALU-
ABLE ASsET-THEIR SALE AT AUC-
TON ON JUNE 20

TON ON JUNE 20
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Associaron)
Special TO The New-York Tribune BY French Cableo
Paris. May 51-Each day brings new and
startling revelations connected with the gigan-
tic swtndling operations conducted with such Ma
poleonic genius and audacity by the now much
sought after Nine Frederic Hum bert Not since
the Dreyfus trial has any one topic so monopo-
Lied public attention Of the forty-six morning
newspapers that appear to-day, no less than
thirty-one devote their leading articles TO the
Humbert affair, which has already brought
about the designations of eminent magistrates
and notaries, has given rise to half dozen libel
suits. and has become a potent factor in French
politics.
Ernest Judet, in the leading article in to-days
Petit Journal" declares the evidence adduced
by NJ Bontoux. who was the manager Of the
famous Catholic Bank Union Generate, which
collapsed, causing such terrible financial havoc
IN Paris in 1882 when Gustave Humbert, the
fatLer-n-Iaw Of Nine Frederic Humbert, was
Minister of Justice Keeper of the Seals and
State Councillor. will establish connection be
tween the S24 100000 extorted by Nine Hum
bert and the SG0OO0000 snatched away in 1882
from thrifty citizens by the failure Of the Union
Generate.
The daily papers TEEN with narrowing &C
counts Of workmeI. who had invested their en-
tire savings in Nine. Humberts life annuity
company and who are now stranded. Deposi-
tions in regard to the phantom millions are be-
ing taken in the tribunals of Paris, Lyons,
Havre and Toulouse. The whole country is in
an ebuIition over the alleged facts. which point
TO a drastic upheaval in the French judiciary.
Meanwhile, it is ascertained that ali the nu-
rnerous residences in Paris and n the country
and all the real estate standing in the name OF
the Humberts are fully mOrtgaged- The only
solid assets for the creditors are found in the
gallery Of pictures in Nine. Humberts house in
the Avenue de la Grande Arrnee. These pict-
ures have been examined by experts who. after
eliminating certain copies that had replaced the
originals, find that there are 100 pictures, form
ing one Of the finest collections Of modern mas
ters in Paris.
This morning had an opportunity of looking
a these pictures in company with two well
known experts. Georges Petit and Roland
Knoedler The Humbert collection will be sold
at auction at the Georges Petit gallery on June
20. making one Of the most interesting and Ger
tainly most sensational art sales in the recoi-
lection Of Partisan amateurs
Prominent among the Humbert pictures IS
Les Laveuses." painted by Dauhigny in 1913
and considered one Of that masters finest WORKS.
Another remarkable picture i The Return OF
the Cleaners" by Jules Breton. and I read on
the back of this picture ii jules Bretons hand
writing. over mis- signature. aid dated June L.
1900 an inscription Of which the following is
the translation. 1t IS a great honor and great
JOY for me 10 see this picture OF which ! am so
fond become part Of Nine. Humhert's beautiful
collection Jules Breton
Experts say the picture or the archangel at
tributed TO Raphael and for which Nine Hum
bert paid 100000 at the Aguado sale, IS OF
doubtful authenticity. On the other hand. the
famous portrait Of Gustave Humbert. in his
. Trr=s4 fes
Is pafnted by Roybet although Frederic Hum
bert. himself e painter. signed II TO add 70 his
own artistic reputation There is another pct
ure where the landscape IS done BY Decamps
and the figures by Meissonier. Among the
eight Meissouiers IN the Hunbert collection IS
Neissonier's portrait of himself which = mas
terpiece-
The Importance # the Humbert collection may
h. srprecfated by the fact that it contains thir-
teen pictures by Roybet. seven 10y Jules Dupre,
FIVE nv Isa hev five by Corot four by Fronentn,
four by Jacques three by Bonnlngton. TWO by
MflIet and ten by Alfred Stevens. including his
famous woman in the bath holding a rose and
reading a novel There are TWO excellent pct
11res ny C,ustave Noreau. and TWO superb PauI
f3au6rvs besides works by Jougkind- Tassaert.
Dernier. Diaz Claude Monet Madrazo. Della
croix 8oudin and Rosa Bonheur
In reply 10 my questions, Georges Petit sad.
Nearly all these Dfctures were bought ny Nine
I4uubert through me some years ago. but lately
I had no dealings with her She was by no
means an attractive woman. but she was a most
faseinat ng and logical conversation 81, and her
Judgment Of pictures was SO admirable. that l
have no hesitation in saying that had she IN
vested 1OOOO0O0 francs in pictures twelve years
ago she would have been able TO have sold
them to-day for s0000O0o francs. and thereby
have made princely fortune with perfect hon
estv. She was indeed d remarkable woman
How much have YOU lost by your dealings
with her." I asked.
Not single franc" was the reply, Tor SIN
gularlv enough. she had such genuine passion
for ,ic+,,re. that there was never any difficulty
IN getting cash payments for ali that she pur-
chased through ne" 9 / =