Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22
DID IT FOR MRS. JACK
Mrs. Chadbourne Explains
Part in Smuggling.
DUTY AND PENALTY PAID
Government May Restore Seized Art
Treasures.
COURT HAS THAT POWER
Attorney Davis Denies That Any
Espionage Is Exercised and No
Plans for Prosecution.
COURT HAS THAT POWER

CHICAGO, August 22.-Mrs. Emily
Crane Chadbourne departed suddenly for
the east Thursday night. Before going
she made this statement relative to the
charge of smuggling art objects:
II did it for Mrs. Gardner all state
ments to the contrary Notwithstanding
There is no more for me to say about
this unfortunate affair.""
Gossip in the Federal building now
has it that the mysterious third woman
succeeded in smuggling in a consignment
of art objects of even greater value than
the one brought over by Mrs. Chad
bourne.
According to a girlhood friend of Mrs.
Chadbourne this is the way Of It:
Mrs. Chadbourne has always shown
love of mild adventure and love of
excitement, and l believe she became in
volved in this unfortunate trouble through
this spirit.
A Third Woman.
Probably the impulse seized her to
undertake the matter for Mrs. Gardner
and she did SO before giving it proper
thought. l also understand that a third
woman, one who is a mutual friend and
acted as Mrs. Gardner's agent persuad-
ed her to take the step she did. Since
Mrs. Chadbournes domestic trouble time
hangs heavy on her hands and she no
doubt thought that it would be great
lot of fun to slip the pictures and other
things through the custom house .
Mrs. Chadbourne is accompanied east
by her brOther-in-law, E. A. Russell, and
his wife.
No plans have been made. for the prose-
cution of either Mrs. ChadbOurne or MRS
Gardner. according to Acting District At
Il
clared that the duties as we'll as the $40,
eco penalty had already been paid by
Mrs. Chadbourne or an agent acting for
her in compliance with the demands Of
the law.
This office will order no warrants is
sued in this case said Mr.. Davis. IAN
talk of secret service espionage of the
women whose names have been men
toned in connection with 1t is unfOunded.
The goods are held and it remains for the
federal court to determine what DISPOSE
ton shall be made of them. The art treas
ures may be turned over to their owners
by the court If it sees fit. AS a matter
of fact, prosecution after penalties and
duties are settled is rarely undertaken.
Waiting for Law to Change.
Lots of art goods are stored by Ameri-
cans in Paris because the owners of them
do not care to stand the expense involved
in duties In importing them to this coun-
try. Whether their hopes are we'll found
ed or not, many of these owners expect the
law will be changed regarding the impor-
tation of articles of this class and are
waiting for that time to come. In the
meantime of course, the government s
agents are keeping an eye on these stored
goods to see that the existing law is not
violated"
1.-The Madonna" or Virgin and Child
a painting believed to be by Lippi, of the
Florentine school, is probably the most
valuable of the seized art treasures. There
were two Lippis, father and son. both of
the same school, and the painting now in
the hands of the government authorities
bears all the characteristics of those in
the European museums which bear the
signatures of the Italians. Lucrezia, a
num-, with whom the elder Lippi eloped
and whom he later married, posed as the
model for many of his Madonnas.
The five tapestries are in state of al
most perfect preservation. and resemble
some which hang on the walls of the Art
Institute The chief claims as to their
value are made on their color. f1neness of
texture and the preservation Of the map
Of the cloth.
The statuary in the mysterious pack
ing cases consists of a bust, declared by
Director French of the Art Institute, to
be one of the finest he has ever seen. and
a heavy piece of frescO. The origin of
the fresco is now puzzling the art ex-
perts.