New-York tribune., 1913-11-02
AGED EYES DETECT CRIME
Old Verger First to Note Bogus
PinturiCChio.
COPY A REMARKABLE ONE
Even Cracks in Canvas Were
Reproduced-Stolen Paint
ing in London.
From The Tribune Correspondent.

/ luS III AOuuoA'
From The Tribune Correspondent
Milan. oct 22.-It was the eagerness OF
two Englishmen touring in Italy that led
to the quick discovery of the theft OF
| Finturicchio's famous painting of the
! Madonna and Child" from the parish
| church of Santa Maria Maggiore. at
| Spello. If il had not been for their de-
sire TO examine closely every detail OF
the wonderful work the theft might not
| have been discovered for weeks or
months, and the thieves might even
have got well away with their S5O.OOo
booty, instead OF the picture being
restored to its rlghtful place within little
more than a week after the robbery
The two Engishmen entered the little
church on October II for the express pur-
pose of seeing the picture. They were
being shown around BY the old verger.
who has been In the service OF the church
for more than thirty years, and were
standing IN front Of the picture when
they complained OF the poor light, when
did not enable them TO see the picture
we'll The verger, in his great pride In
, the painting. got q small hand mirror
and standing near one of the windows.
manipulated the glass SO that the light
! was concentrated OH the picture.
A minute later he dropped the mirror, TO
the surprise Of the visitors. and ran on
I for a lamp. with which he proceeded 10
examine the picture inch by inch. Ihe
yerger declared his belief that there had
been a theft. but, unwilling to believe the
/ evidence Of his own eyes, though he had
been familiar with Tie painting for thirty
years. he sought two experts in the VII
! lage, followed by the Enghshmen. The
artists. after a thorough examination
pronounced the picture fake. The
Mayor was sent for. and he sent teie-
gram to the inspector Of Umbrian monu-
/ ments at Perugia. When the Inspector
arrived and examined the picture he also
pronounced II a fake.
Imitation Wonderfully Made.
II was a wonderful imitation that had
replaced the famous original the pant
ing had been copied. even to the cracks
I'm the surface, and the official seal OF the
state had also been reproduced TO per-
fection II Il had not been for the eX-
perienced eyes of the verger the theft
might have gone undetected for any
length OF time.
The INSPECTOR at once Instituted in
ouirIes as to how the theft had been
committed and the substitution made and
who was the thief. He soon became salts
fed that the robbery could not have hap
pehed without the connivance OF the
curate. and ne was arrested. Under the
third degree the priest was unable to con-
ceal the truth. He confessed, In fact,
that the picture had been taken from Its
frame the day before and was at the
time in the possession Of Marquis Bar
nato, a well known art dealer. to whom
the priest had agreed TO lend the painting
for few days
| Despite the fact that al artist had
been engaged for several months In max
Ing a copy of the picture and taking pho
tographs Of every section Of IL, the priest
declared his belief In the good faith of
the marquis and refused to disclose the
name Of the artist
The inspector went at once to Florence,
and a small army Of police went through
all the baggage at the station in Florence
the next morning; but no picture was
found. Meantime the inspector went to
the home Of the Marquis Barnabo.
Tell the marquis" he said to the SER
want. that friend wants TO sec him.
No name is necessary"
| minute later the marquis was heard
saying to the servant: why will he not
give his name? Is he a tall, dark man?"
Marquis Under Arrest.
| Without waiting for more the inspector
burst into the room and charged the mar
quls with the theft Of the picture. OF
course. the marquis denied the charge,
but he was taken TO the police station,
while the inspector remained at the no.
tel few minutes later the tall, dark
man came to call on the marquis.
! Under a severe cross-examination he ad
mitted that the picture had been stolen
! on the day before the discovery, and said
that 1t had been hidden in yellow leath-
er travelling bag made TO fit the panel.
The bag was sent to London on the day
, Of the discovery of the theft, and when
| the mans wife was sent for she produced
copy of the registration ticket, showing
to whom the bag was sent.
The London accomplice was an Italian
sculptor who had been living In England
for some time. and the bag was to be
| claimed at Charing Cross Station. The
inspector went to London with several
Italian policemen and with the aid OF
Scotland Yard detectives the bag was
| found at Charing Cross.
There was a lot of dirty linen In the
top and there was a false bottom. be-
meath which the picture was concealed.
The picture was identified by the d..
rector Of the Milan Pynactotheque, VINO