Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12

AZ ~ II
AA many motives and contributory
causes are alleged to have
prompted their act. But in this commercial
day and age one seldom hears, as an excuse
for theft that an irresistible urge to possess
thing of beauty prompted the crime YET
this is the reason given by Count Pyenk lima,
now in custody of the Paris police for plum
dering the Zagreb Cathedral of the famous
diptych. which eventually found its way into
the Cleveland Museum, and other valuable
art antiques.
Royal blood flows in my veins and yet. be-
cause am an illegitmate child, have been
compelled to live the life of q peasant while
a boy, and never to know the beautiful things
to which was born Is it any wonder that l
crave them now?"
This was the lament of the Cathedral Tower
Count" who is now awaiting extradition TO
Jugoslavia because his beauty-loving soul so
crayed the famous diptych that he pilfered 1t
from the treasury of the Zagreb Cathedral.
However this love for beauty cooled sufficiently
to permit of the sale of the treasure to an art
dealer forging the first link in chain that
reached through half the European capitals and
finally stretched across the Atlantic to the
Cleveland Museum.
The diptych. a hinged ivory panel, Is deli
cately wrought in gold. and the ivory carving
depicts the life of Christ 1t is one Of the
most famous examples of the goldsmith's art
and was formerly used as an altar piece in the
old Eastern Church. For year 1t was In the
possession of the Cleveland Museum, which
bought it from a New York dealer, who, In turn,
obtained it from a European art dealer-an in
good faith.
Not long ago DIR. Leonidas Pitamich, Jugc-
slayian Minister in Washington. called upon
Frederic Allen Whiting, director Of the Cleve-
land Museum, and convinced him that the
diptych had been stolen from the Zagreb Ca
thedral treasury. Mr.. Whiting straightway
handed the ivory panel back to him. to be re-
turned to the dim cathedral vaults in the
Balkan country. So ends the diptych. so far
rs America is concerned, but out OF the little
country which claimed it and which is seeth-
ing over the perf1dy of the count has come
one of the most intriguing stories Of museum
thefts.
It seems a remarkable thing that a treasure
so closely guarded could have been whisked
right out from under the vigilant noses Of the
bishop and custodians and be gone for more
than a year before the theft was discovered;
yet that is just what the beauty-loving Count
Pyelik lima was able to accomplish.
THE Zagreb Cathedral possesses not only
= wide lands but treasury far famed for
its pieces of the goldsmithS art. The diptycf,
sought by and refused to many European mu-
seumS was the treasure Of treasures. This,
together with jeweled croziers. miters and bish-
ops rings was safely locked away-safely at
least to all intents and purposes. But the GUS
todians had not reckoned with the count.
He arrived upon the scene of action about
three years ago-in the name of art. His ro-
mantle history as well as his astute apprecia-
ton of fine work and his beguiling manners
won for him first the friendship Of the old
bellringer. Nothing wins the heart of a Euro
pean peasant as does the recital of one born
in their own circle of life but who Is entitled
to wealth and q noble name. So it was with
the court.
Up until he was quite Lad he believed him
self the of the peasant under whose roof
he lived. But upon his deathbed this man
confided to the boy that he was the illegiti-
mate son of noble sire living in one of the
Dalmatian castles. Then the lad was able 10
understand all of the differences in tastes and
innate love for beautiful things that had set
him apart from his neighborS. He Jared forth
to have himself recognized and claim his rights.
but without money or influence he was able
to accomplish nothing. An Italian countess,
knowing his story and believing him to be what
he claimed adopted the young man and be-
slowed upon him the title of count"
$50 do you wonder why have spent my life
seeking beautiful things of which I have been
deprived" he ended The old bellringer did
not wonder, and he straightway consented to
Let the unfortunate young count occupy the
tower room in the cathedral.
Not only was the bellringer won, but also all
those connected with the cathedral and treas
ury. The count played a wonderful confidence
game and his fineSSe was perfect. He appeared
to be man OF wealth and this impression he
backed up by his gift to the cathedral of q
very fine Statuette.
With the confidence of the cathedral chap
ter and the inside of the cathedral treasury
won. the rest was easy. Up in his little tower
room the count worked at an imitation Of the