New-York tribune., 1908-05-17
CLAUSEN GETS BAIL !
TO BRING SUIT, HE SAYS.
art Counterfeiting Common. De-
clares Childe Hassam.

William Clausen, the art dealer who was ar
rested on Friday in connection with the suit brought
by William T. Evans, Of Montcair. n. j.. chairman
| of the art committee of the Lotos Club and well
known collector to recover damages for two paint
| ings by Homer d. Martin. purchased from Clausen
and alleged TO be forgeries released
from Ludlow street Jail yesterday morning fur
nishing the $4,000 bail fixed by Justice Davis. of
| the Supreme Court. Mr.. Clausen and Jerome Els
| ner. his counsel exceedingly bitter over the
arrest. and both said that reparation would be de-
manded from Mr.. Evans. Mr.. Clausens bail was
/ furnished by local bonding company.
Mr. Eisner said that he would move tomorrow
to have the $500 bond deposited by Mr.. Evans when
the order of asked for increased at least
tenfod. He also intends bring suit for heavy
damages the present case is disposed of.
! Childe Hassam made the charge yesterday that
counterteting of the works of we'll known Amer
| lean and English artists everyday busi-
ness. Old masters, he said, turned out by
the for the galleries of the newly rich. who
| fall easy victims to the willy dealer who offers a
Corot a Reynolds for anywhere from 5000 to
s20UN
One artist said that a dealer called him re-
Gently and showed him canvas signed with his
name which he had never painted. The work was
SO ceverly done. too. that for moment 1t almost
deceived the painter himself
Mr.. Causen went at to the country to join
his family. II shall have trouble in straighten-
ing this matter out. he said. The pictures in
as is customary with old canvases but that is ALL
Asked TO explain the daubs of paint on the backs
of the two canvases and the staining Of the frames,
which alleged in the afidavits which accom-
panied the complaint. Mr.. Clausen sad when
my customers want painting retouched usually
have some artis, do it for them. Generally GUS
toner wants the appearance OF age retained. That
explains the daubs of paint the backs OF cam
and the staining of the frames.
There is absolutely truth in the many things
I-rIr ,taI fro, Mr.
cotere.'' said Mr., Esner. Evans claims to De
and extensive collector Of pictures painted ny
American artists and is qualified by experience 10
Judge Of their genuneness and value he cialhs'
nevertheless that the pictures in controversy were
painted within two months of the time ne pur-
chased them In 1902 but were purchased by him as
coming from the brush of an artist who mao oeeh
dead for wears These pictures have been eXn1pteu
bv this expert collector since he became the
owner have been viewed by critics throughout the
country and. as Mr.. Evans they nave peeh
regarded as genuine until within the last ie"
months
"Of course. Mr.. Clausen Uas not present a' 'iio
time any Of the pictures in his possession OF WHICH
he may have sold, were painted by the ar 0
he relies entirely upon his expert kno"leose o.
raptines and upon his special knowledge OF Amer
ican artists. He is in a position to prove oeSonu
disrute that the picture Near Newport was pun
chased hv him from Mr.. Chittenden, the picluie
old Mil Near ST. Cloud was purchased from
Mr. Hamilton and the Inness picture was Pui
chased directly from Mrs. Innsss the woo" Oh 'ie
artist. - ~.,
Mfr Evans very friendly with MI cieuseh
<or sono. wears and the first intmation that Mr.
E,.,s uas dissatisfied came in q. call from his
present attorneys demanding the return OF the
purchase price of the pictures
Mr. Evans said yesterday that he was sure thaI
from forty fifty spurious paintings had oeeh
na lined off in the last five years on unsuspectlne
collectors a the work of Homer D. Martin, Alex
ander H Wyant, George 1nness and Ralpn "A.
Rlakelock These forged paintings. he said mad
cost collectors upward Of $4,000. Mr. Evans SAID
he thought the limitations the work of not
ono br+ several artists and he hinted that some
further suits might expected in the near future