The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-10
TELLS OF ART THEFTS
Thomas Takes His Revenge
Against COnfederates.
SURRENDERED TO SAVE WOMAN
Her Name, However, Was Revealed
by POlice-He Takes Unusual Means
of Expressing His DisapprobntiOn.
Says supposedly Reputable Men
Aided i'm PurIOininE Treasures.

aus wv livery Jay DTlhSS new
sensation in connection with the great
crime syndicate in which Antoine Thomas
is at present the leading character
Having learned that. despite the prom
Use made 10 him. Nine l.. To save whose
honor he returned TO France and volun-
tarily surrendered. had been irremediably
compromised in the stolen treasures scan
DIAL by the action Of the police, Thomas
became very angry.
There was now, he declared. no reason
why he should spare any OF his accom-
plices. and he proceeded TO give the mag
istrate the names Of four welI-known
Paris art dealers, against whom he made
the most serious charges.
One Of them he accused of being the
instigator Of the theft Of several works
Of art at Solignac; another Of Offering
him commissions Of s1.2cO and eSo0 If he
obtained possession of certain statues: a
third Of buying. although he knew they
were dishonesty procured. works Of art
stolen from the Gucret Museum. and an
other art dealer OF promising him c20o
II he stole the eucharistic dove OF La
guenne.
Startling Accusations.
The text Of Thomas letter 10 the mag
istrate is as follows. the names Of the
Persons he accuses being Of necessity sup
pressed:
Sir: I am absolutely determined to
help yol 10 the utmost in my abilities in
discovering the entire truth with refer
learned through my barrister OF the
police raid OF the house Of a woman
whom I passionately loved. and for whose
sake I had detevmined 10 say nothing.
Now, however. that the veil has been
raised concerning her. and her name has
been given, I see no reason 10 remain
silent.
4 propose to write YOU a circumstantial
letter. I'm which I will give YOU fun infor-
nation concerning the completely of per-
sons now at large, and AZ whose houses
no perquisitions have been made as Vet
by the police Yet these persons were
the instigators Of all the robberies I
have committed. At the late. hour at
which I write this letter I can only make
"a few revelations.
Il accuse -- Ca provincial antiQuary)
Of being the instigator of the robbery OF
the statue OF the Virgin of Sauvetat.
which was committed in 1904 I accuse
him Of having sold the statue 10 -- "a
Paris merchant for $500 This -- was
merely the man Of straw acting for --
(anOther well-knOwn Parisian)
Il accuse the first Of these Of being
the instigatOr Of the robbery committed
at SOlignac in 1905. and OF having sold
the reliquary and other articles to the
third person mentioned for a price which
do not know
Il accuse -- ca third Partisan col
lector) OF having proposed that / should
carry off a statue from a church in the
Department OF the Allier. Of having Of
ferred 10 pay me 200 for the theft OF
the portable altar in the Abbey of Con-
ques. and OF having offered 70 take me
to England with him to dispose of the
: stolen property. / accuse him of being
the instigator Of the robbery of the statue
of St Beaudine at ST. Nectaire. of having
promised me eS00 for the statue delivered
TO him in France. of which, however
he refused TO take possession for fear OF
a scandal.
Instigntor of Robbery.
7 accuse -- of having bought from
me all the articles stolen from the mu-
scum at Gueret, and of only having made
restitution of Il portion Of these articles
which were fifteen in number. I accuse
him OF having instigated the robbery OF
the eucharistic dove from the church OF
Laguenne. for which he promised to pay
me 600. He refused TO pay me when ht
found that the dove was modern and not
ancient Particulars OF this transaction
will be found among my papers. 1 Ike
wise accuse him of having asked me L
procure for him large reliquary FOL
which he had a purchaser.
Moreover. by way of proving my en-
| tire good faith. I am happy TO inform
you that the dove will be found in tn,
Seine in Paris. under the Bridge de.
Sains Peres.
Thanking you for the charming man
ner in which you have done me the honor
10 treat me. and trusting you will accep
| the assurance OF my profound respect
/ Antoine Thomas"
All the persons accused by Thomas ar,
honorably reputed either as antiquarie: