Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-12-13
Vi0oenzo Perugia, Native of
Italy, Who Perpetrated Theft,
Trapped When He Offers Il
10 Florence AntiQuary
PLEADS PATRIOTISM TO
JUSTIFY HIS CRIME
Man Who Caused World Wide
Sensation by Abstracting
Portrait From the Louvre,
Paris Offers Unique Defense,

uv MOANING JOURNAL SPECIAL LrAsro wias1
Florence, Italy Dee i2- Mona
Lisa, Leonardo DaVincis great
painting which was stolen from th,
Louvre, in Paris. mere than two
Years ago has been found. II is noV
iu the hands OF the Italian author.-
ties ana viii be- returned to France.
Mona Lisa. or "l.a Joconde." "a.
f It Is more popularity known. the most
celebrated portrait of "a woman ever
painted has been the object Of cX.
haustive search In AN quarters Qf the
globe. The mystery of its abstraction
from the Louvre. MS Intrinsic value
and The stranke fascination ut IN.
smile cf the woman It portrayed
Lisa Del Giocondo, the wife of a
wealthy Florentine-have combined
to keep alive interest In it's recover.
The picture was recovered under
curious circumstances An ltalluu
wrote to Signor Geri, am anuQuary ~
Florence, some weeks ago saying
II am In possession of the missing
Mona Lisa; being patriotic ita'-
iar desire that il shall remain M
Florence. the center Of Italian art"
He signed the letter Leonard.
and the antiquary at first paid small
attention TO H. thinking he had to do
with "a madman Later however. H.
communicated with Dr Poggi. de
rector of the Florcntinc museums.
Who suggested that he continue the
correspondence with the mau This
Vas done ANA an appointment WAS
arranged whereby Geri was to view
the picture at Milan The date SET
was November Z. but Unforeseen cir
cumstances prevented the mecting.
young man, fairly well dressed.
visited Geri yesterday He said he
was Leonard and was staying az
the Hotel Tripoli He asked Geri 20
go with him to see the picture. The
dealer notified DR. Poggi. who has
tened to the hotel and on being
shown the painting recognized it as
the genuine Mona Lisa" Or. Poggi
asked to be allowed to take the pic
ture with him so that he might com-
pare il with other works He made
an appointment to meet Leonard"
this afternoon at the hotel to agree
upon the price
The director took with him several
officers, who placed the man under
arrest
on helng intcrrogated, the prisoner
said his real name is Vincenzo Peru
gia, that he was born in the province
of Como, is by profession deeora
tor and is unmarried For six years
he lived in France ana for three years
he was employed al the Louvre.
Peruga posed as a patriot II was
ashamed" he said, that for more
than a century no Italian had thought
of avenging te spoiation committed
by Frenchmen under Napoleon. whom
they carried Off from the Italian mu.
seums and galleries, pictures, statues
and treasures Of all kinds by wagon
loads, ancient manuscripts by thous
ands and gold by sacks"
lie had often observed he said. in
the Louvre many works Of art stolen /
from italy, and conceived the idea
Of returning to its true home Leo I
nardo Da Vincis masterpiece He
entered the Louvre early in the morn .
ing, detached the picture and re-
moved the painting from the frame
lie concealed HE frame under the
back stairs. where it was afterwards 4
.ound He hid the picture beneath
iis workman's blouse and succeeded
n leaving the place without attract
ng suspicion
At the time Of the theft, Perugia
vas not employed in the Louvre. but .
ne knew all the exits and entrances
md how To- avoid attention He kept
he painting concealed, he said, muII
his patriotism led him to offer it 10
he Italian people 4,
The painting has also been idenu
led by Dr. Corrado Ricci, director
enora Of the department OF fine
rts, who was dispatched hurriedly 20
'lorence from Rome by the minister
+ public instruction, Luigi Credaro.
,fter careful examination, Dr. ,
,icei telephoned to the minister, who
as incredulous Ricci said
Il will stake my head.
- AiiA9 tAiS ilbl NifhhlU lfHlltNf I
o not care for your head. but II this +
ews, after It is published, is found
OF TO be true, you Will be dismissed" (" [
Dr. Ricci answered II viii take
all responsibility and am ready to S
SIX dismissal N
News Of the discovery Of the Mona $
isa' spread IN the chamber of dep C
ties, in session at Rome where ex. /
emist members were engaged in Il
sticutfs In an endeavor to prevent a q
)te on the election OF a nationalist Ii
equity for Rome. The disorder s
,ased Immediately The Deputies
lrrounded the minister Of public in n
ruetion, who exhibited telegram 81
ON Dr. Ricci, confirming the state h