New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-06
"OLD" PAINTINGS CAUSE
YOUNG COUNTS ARREST
Struggled Them In, Customs Men
Say. Though No Duty Would
Have Been Required.
WANTED $4,000 FOR TWO
Del Sarto's Holy Family and
Velasquez's Vision Of st. HUI
bert" Copies, Worth $625,
Framed, Experts Say.

Carlo di Pellosio. who described himself
as an italian count and member of an
old family Of Genoa, was arrested yes
terdsy az the Custom House. on an indict-
rent charging him with unlawful importa-
ton into this country Of two paintings said
90 be old masters ri Pellogio asserts that
one OF the paintings is 1.-The Holy Fam
ilv." bv Del Sarto. and that the other.
wnicn represents The Vision Of 81. HUI
bert" has been attributed by Italian en-
perts 10 VelasQuez
customs appraisers. after a consultation
with two we'll known local experts, de-
cided that both paintings, although over
twenty wears old. were copies OF the two
famous masters They valued the Del
sarto" at $50 and the other painting at
il25. frames included.
Both pictures were on exhibition IN this
city and the price asked for each of them
was $500 No offer was made. and the
paintings were sent to Chicago and exhib-
tied there At the request OF Collector
Loeb they were seized in that city and
shipped back here 10 the seizure room. No.
er Washington street.
Investigation disclosed that the old mas
tors were brought into this country with
the aid Of julius Ferdinand Bruno Frank
enbers. first officer Of the steamship Prin-
,ess Irene The complaint on which di
pellosio was arrested. drawn according to
the Indictment returned against him, and
FrankenberE. was made hy Roger u. Clark.
Assistant United States ATTORNEY. Of Tren-
ton Y. J. II charged that Count di
peuo-io T-rapleohe-- Eeb
AIRY "a. 1871 at Hoboken. frsudulently. un-
lawfully and knowingly assist in bringing
into the United States two paintings. with
frames. contrary 10 law; that is TO say. the
said defendants at the time Of importing the
said merchandise did not. nor did either oe
them. make entry thereof in writing 10 the
collector of the Port Of New York" which
constituted 4 violation Of the statutes pro-
yi1ed for such cases.
Whether originals or not. both paintings
could have been entered into this country
without payment Of duty. as the new tariff
law provides for the free entry Of objects
~ art over twenty years old. The oues-
ton why they we're brought in surrepti-
tiouslv was discussed hy officials Yesterday.
One cuesser Al the motive said that the
declaration of the paintings would have
led u their appraisal by experts. and the
fact that the pictures were copies and not
originals would have become known and
sroiled the possibility OF realizing high
prices on them.
Count" Pellosio was rufled over what
he chose 10 term a lack % consideration
or the part of American officials He came
back from a business trip 10 Los Angeles
and went TO the Custom House 70 explain
Surveyor Of the Port. There Marshal Hen
kel arrested him.
Arraisned before United States Commits
sioner Shields. Pellosio waived eXamna-
ton. and his friend. Lincoln 6 Valentine.
who said he was Nevada mine owner
hut lived most Of the time IN Paris. fur.
nshed cash bail Of $500 for Pellogio's
appearance in court next week at Trenton.
y j.
Tho Young Italian who does not speak
English fuently relied on his friend to 10
the explaining u know IL is all a mis-
take" said Mr. Valentine. who. like the
cunt does not look older than twenty
Eve wears Count di Pellocio is well
known IN Genoa and his family is very in
fuentisl Re has ,arge collection Of
PAINTINGS and decided 10 bring some If
them to this country for exhibition pur-
poses
1T vas when the steamship Princess
Irene vas laid M in the harhor Of Genoa.
IN December last" he continued. that Mr..
Frankenberg who had met the count on
previous voyage. called On him in response
10 an old invitation The count mentioned
casually that he intended TO take over with
him the two old paintings and Mr.. Frank
erberg asked him whether he realized how
many details and techncaitics he would
have 90 arrange to get the pictures 10
America.
NY friend said that he knew about duty
and the need OF keeping such valuable oh
ieCts i'm safe place on the steamship, and
that he was willing to stand any necessary
e>rense Mr. Frankenberg then proposed
that the pictures should be sent TO him on
board The vessel. saying he would deliver
them safely 10 my friends apartment N
New York. This is all Count di Pellogio
knows about ths affair"
Frsnkenberg said Pellogio told him
about the danger Of pictures Of such value
being spoiled by salt water, and that he
then promised to place them IN perfect
safety. and they came over in one or the
steeraCe calloys