The Washington times., 1921-03-25
HUNGRY THIEF
HAD FORTUNE.
Traded Stolen Madonna, Worth
$4,000, for Bare Neces-
sites of Life.

NEW YORK, March 26.-The
Madonna and Child with st. Fran
els" painted by the Italian fifteenth
century master, Francisco Raibolini,
and stolen from the National Art
Gallery Of Bologna, has been recov-
cred in m obscure New York cafe
and is now safe and sound in q fire-
proof and burglar proof vault in this
city.
WILL SEND 1T BACK"
There It will await completion of
arrangements. already begun through
the Italian Embassy in Washington
and the Ministry Of the Fine Arts In
Rome. for its return to the room In
the Bolognese Gallery set apart for
many of the famous old masters.
Capt. Piero Tozzi, war medalist and
famous painter. who was the fortu-
nate discoverer OF the stolen Francia
treasure, said yesterday he hoped be-
fore the paintings restoration TO It.
ally that IL might be possible to ar
range for its exhibition here for q
short time in one of the city's art
galleries.
With the assent OF the italian Am
bassador. Capt. Tozsi made public ad-
ditional details Of the recovery, sup
plementing those narrated yesterday.
The priceless little panel found BY
me here by the merest chance" said
he. ''is only eleven by nine~ inches
In dimensions, and 1t is painted upon
wood one inch thick. Its theft from
the Bolognese Gallery was discover
ed on September Z. 1919. The thief.
who had extracted the little gem
from its frame, had inserted in its
place colored photograph Of the
masterpiece SO deftly that at q cas-
ual glance the substitution might
pass unchallenged Since tho theft
the italian police have searched the
world vainlv.
GAVE TREASURE FOR BREAD.
"From the story CLEANED with my
redemption OF the painting / believe
the thief. whoever he may have been,
feared to try to sell his loot, even in
America. in any reputable art circles
because ii Francia's work IL 90 uni
vetsally well known that an effort
TO realize anything like its true value
would have led to almost certain do
lection At the time Of the theft
italian newspapers placed the value
Of the picture ut 10000 lires. or
about $4,000 In American money
Captain Tozzi went on to tell his
hood carried bis treasure with his
scanty wardrobe in . bag. Evident
ly. as the narrative proves, hungry.
half-clothed, homeless ana in despair,
he had traded the stolen masterpiece
for the crude necessities OF life. The
Captain 10 not only . painter but he
does much collecting and II always
on the lookout for art rarities-
friend Of Captain Toxxrs few
days ago told him OF what ne re-
garded as an extraordinarilye exquisite
little gem which he had seen in an
Italian trattoria- or eating houss. IN
that section of the upper East Side
colloduially known As Little Italy.
trattoria, drew Its proprietor into con-
versation and gradually approached
the subject OF the picture.
All, yea there was a nice little pso-
ture and II II SiEnore would follow
his host up stairs he could see II.
THE MASTERPIECES REVEALED.
On the upper floor bureau drawer
was unlocked. From It the host took
small package wrapped in . New
York newspaper bearing the date
December S. 1918. Captain Tozxi
opened the wrappinga
~Questa II Quardo. Signor- (Hers
II the picture). said the man But
tho soldier artist was gasirG SPELL
bound at the small panel he held ex-
posed In his hand At the hrst glance
he was almost SURE Many times had
no studied the little gem a. II hung
in place In the Bolognese gallery.
he scrutinized its texture
and its Inscription. At last he was
satisfied that he had blundered upon
the $4,000 treasure the police of the
world had failed to trace.
Captain Tossi took at its face value
tho glib tale told by the cafe proprie-
tor. To help q poor and homeless
man for . year past mine host said,
he had been advancing small sums
Of money for food. shoes and lodging
and the picture had been turned over
to him In exchange for HE bounty.
Yy A.