Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-13
FAMOUS PICTURE THEFTs.
Wertheimer Robbery In London Re.
calls Several Similar Crimes.

Wertheimer Robbery In London Re.
calls Several Similar Grimes.
The recent burglary in London where
by Charles Wertheimer lost two almost
priceless gems of art recalls 10 London
Tit-Blts other famous picture thefts.
In May, 1876, n picture for which the
Messrs. Agnew lad paid the then rec
ord price of 10000 guineas was on view
IN Bond street, and crowds daily flock
ed thither TO view the masterpiece. On
The evening of May % the picture was
In its place. On the morning of the
next day when the attendant opened
the rooms an empty frame met his be-
wildered eyes.
The theft was wrapped in mystery,
and the whereabouts OF the picture re-
manned q matter of conjecture for more
than twenty years. The canvas, how
ever, was ultimately recovered in 1901,
through Information given by a certain
Pat Sheedy, which resulted In the
Gainsborough's return from America,
whittier it had been taken by the actu-
al thief. Adam Worth. 1t Is now In the
possession of J. Pierpont Morgan.
In the Royal academy OF 1873 was ex-
hibited picture by Sidney Cooper, en-
titled 1.-The Monarch of the Meadows"
which later on became the property OF
Mr. Allcroft for E2,500. In September,
1881, fire broke out in q room where
in the picture had been put during some
decorative alterations which were TAX
ing place in the house. When the con-
Migration was got under control it was
found that the picture had disappeared,
the canvas having been cut from the
frame
For some time nothing was heard of
the stolen picture, but eventually Mr..
Allcroft received n letter stating that
the writer had been one of the decora-
tors engaged at the time of the loss
and that he and two others had, on
promise of n large reward, stolen the
picture, which. as the original compact
had not been kept, he was willing to
return for 1900 Other letters were re-
ceived from time to time, but no final
settlement was arrived at until the end
of January, 1892, when the thieves
were captured by the police aud the
picture was found In their possession.
A picture robbery which created q
stir throughout the civilized world was
that OF the Murillo from the Cathedral
OF Seville. This, too, was cut from its
frame and, like the Galnsborough,
was taken across the Atlantic to New
York, where for some time it remain
cd in hiding. At last the thieves, in
need of money, sold 1t to William
Schaus, who, refusing the reward Of
$4,000 that had been offered for its re-
covery, returned it at once to the
Spanish authorities.
In October, 1904, the National gal.
lery suffered loss in the theft of a
portrait of Baron Dimsdale. This,
which was 10y the celebrated miniature
painter Plimer. was in broad daylight
unscrewed from the wall and carried
Off while the attendant was engaged in
showing the whereabouts of n particu-
lar picture to an inquiring visitor The
loss was almost Immediately discover.
ed, but the thief managed to get clear
Off and up to the present has never
been captured.
The following year the Antwerp mu-
scum was robbed of n portrait by
Franz Halls, valued at 10000, while a
few years back the Cincinnati institu-
49, @@N NaN ~. A-Ouio tlluStuAl MOIt
visited by picture stcalers, who made
OF with several figure subjects by Mey-
er Won Bremen, which were cut from
their frames.
Holbein's 1.-THE Field of the Cloth Of
Gold,' on view at Hampton Court pal
ace, bears witness TO this day of a
theft that may be termed patriotic.
After the downfall of Charles l., Crom-
well, to raise funds, purposed the sale
OF certain pictures, this among the
number. The bargain was already
made, but when the would be pur-
chaser came to inspect Holbeln's mas
terpiece he discovered that the head
or Henry VIII. had been cut from the
canvas.
he naturally cried Off, and the pic
ture was preserved to the nation. On
the restoration n nobleman, who con-
fessed to having committed the theft
for love of art and country, returned
the missing head, which now occupies
Its original position IN the canvas, the
circle made by the knife being still
plainly visible.