The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-11
PAINTERS GET BACK PICTURES
AND FIND THAT MILLS DID a
WHOLESALE BUSINESS.


Several New York painters were happily
! SURPRISED Yesterday when on Information
given them by The Sun they were abe 10
obtain the pawntickets representing tho
! hedging OF paintings which they hao let
! j. T.. Fell Mills have to sell for Them ana
later to get the pictures themselves out
/ Of the pawnbrokers' hands
| They we're more surprised when the
I pawnbrokers displayed their paintings with
frames on them, az they had been led to
suppose that Mr. Mills had separated the
frames from the canvases.
Julius @. Haas, TO whom MILF had sur
rendered the tickets last Saturday In con-
eideration Of Mr. Haas advance OF Sl3
10 Mills to get his ovcrcoat out OF pawn,
gave the pawntickets to William j. White
more, with the understanding that Mr.
Whittemorc and the other New YORK
painters who had LIT Mills have some of
their works would he 80 well content az
recovering their pictures that they would
not care TO bother Mr.. Mills further.
Mr.. Whittcmore got the tickets very
early yesterday morning, but he had
scarcely got back TO his studio with them
before he was called upon by Detective
DAILY of Police Headquarters. The detective
force also had heard about tie pawn
tickets. Mr.. DAILY said that h. thought
he could now return to Mr. "hiteihore
the lost paintings.
You are a little late" said Mr.. White
more, who had consulted the detective
bureau ten days ago. Al the pawnshop
of Hopkins 4 Co. at 1854 Broadway, Mr.;
Whittemore identified four paintings called
for by the tickets. two Of them Of his own
painting, one by l.. NJ. Wiles and one 10y
George Ree,s.
Mr. Whittenore paid over the, counter
the SIS for which the paintings had been
pawned. but he had 10 sign receipt saying
that he received the pledged pictures from
Detective DAILY. =.
IL developed that Hopkins 4 Co., reading
in Tuh sun Of the curious ways Of Mr. Mills,
had telephoncd Ia Headquarters mat the
pictures We're in their custody.
One pawnticket Mr.. Whittemore obtained
called for five pictures Mills had Piled ged
at Harlein'~ pawnshop az i6s Amsterdam
avenue. Expecting to hnd among ines
some more of his associates work, Mr.
Whittemor. was astonished Ia see not any
paintings by New York artists. but can
vases by European painters. hve oi "hlcn
had been pledged for s?l. The Ticket "ae
returned 70 Mr. Haas
had at least two collections of pic urcs
at Mr. Haas's store which had found theli
way preciptately back 10 other o"htfs
or claimants so soon as Mr.. Haas discovered
that Mr. Mills did not have clear TIT" 20
them One of these collections conssiod
of twelve pictures by ]. Francis Murphy.
Frank De fIaven, Thorn. Blakelock. Mount
and others, which Mills had left with Mr,
Haas TO be sold AZ prices all the way rom
$50 to $500 the lot 20 ret him som" sl2'U:
These were seized and taken away by
Mr. John EinmanS, cotfe' merchant 81
Water street, in this city, who hvos III
Brooklyn He gave Mr. Haas little infor7na,
ton beyond saying that they were his ana
that he was through with Mills.
Tho other collection that was' on view Tor
purpose OF sale for brief period al The,
Haas store in Mills's name consisted OF
six Blakelocks owned by Mr. n {. Pol
hemus of 1920 Fulton street. Broo On.
Mr. Haas scnt word TO Mr. Potlemus mat
he had better take his pictures home, ana
Mr.. Polhemus took them.
Mr. Polhcmus said yesterday that MllH
had obtained from him two Blasejocks
on Feb. 20. rendering for them check On the
Madison ave nue. branch Of the Pr'duoe
Exchange Bank for $3.50. TlC check was
returned unsatisfed ard Mills gave sec
ond check, declaring that he would have
5000 in bank TO meet IL. On Monday the
secord check was dishonopd
M Polhemu- introduced Mills 70 some
friends. hut these obtained the return OF
such pictures a they loaned to Mills Mr.
Polhemus said. ,
Al least four checks signed in Mills's
name have been returned unpaid.