THE LOST "LEADER."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 7

THE LOST "LEADER."

RECOVERED ONCE MORE. AN ARREST NEAR THE CEMETERY THE PICTURE UNINJUREDThe second disappearance of the "Leader" picture, from tho Art Gallery less than two mouths ago caused the usual seven days' wonder, and the matter was then allowed to drop. The police wore occasionally interrogated us to whether there were any fresh developments, but the answers . were never very satisfactory, and tho theft had become, to be looked upon as oue of the matters that were "being kept steadily in view." Tho police, however, hare not lost sight of the quest, and they have been steadily on the trail. Detectives Lewis and Andrews have had several clues at different times, and have followed them up to a point where they looked most promising, only to have to drop them and commence all over again. It will bo' remembered that the picture, "Southward from Surrey's Pleasant Hills," disappeared from the Art Gallery for the second time hetween March 27 and March 30. Last night at about 8.30, Detectives Lewis and Andrews arrested a labourer, about thirty years of age, on a .charge of stealing the picture. Tho arrest was effected in the vicinity ■of the Bolton Streot Cemetery, but the detectives are reticent about the matter at present, and are withholding the name of the <ian, as its appcaranco in print would probably discount certain further inquiries which they have to make early, this morning. However, they secured the picture itself, and for tho second time "Surrey's Hills" is safely in the police station. The famous painting is carefully wrapped up in brown paper, and is, according to Detective Lewis, apparently none the worse for its second experience. It is stated that the picture was being taken to a certain place by a messenger, or to be handed over to a messenger, when the detectives secured it. How they managed to bo on die spot at the psychological moment is. not officially stated, but patrons of art will bo wbll satisfied for the present to know that the treasure has been restored. It is understood that the methods adopted in tho present case are not dissimilar to those affected on the occasion whun the picture lirst disappeared. Letters have been received by tho Art Society in reference to the return of the picture on certain conditions, ind these wore handed over to the police. Wo have known of this fact for some time past, but at the special request nf the authorities interested in the matter, and so as not to interfero in iny way with the efforts of the police, we forboro from chronicling tho fact. THE TWO DISAPPEARANCES. The first timo the "Leader" was stolen was between 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 1908, and 2.30 p.m. the next day. The loss was discovered on that occasion by Mr. T. W. Leslie, when a dark lantern, "jemmy," and other appurtenances of tho burglar's trade were discovered in the ante-room to the gallery, indicating that tho thief., had ueou pressed for time. Anyhow, he got cloar away with his treasure. The mattor was placed, in the hands of the police, biit they had to confess to being quite a a loss iu tho mattor of providing a. solution to tho mystery. It was eveu suggested that the canvas had been removed for a "joke," or as a means of arousing interest in. art, but as it had been so seriously taken up tho person who removed the picture was frightened to restore it. On July 6 of tho same year the picture was replaced in its frame, tho canvas having been restored to Mr. ■'£. S. Wardell, president of tho Academy of Fino Arts, by the Hon. T. W. Hislop, then Mayor of the city. Mr. Hislop's statement on that occasion was a .remarkablo one. Ho said that about May 2 or 3 he received a letter from a man who signed himself "G. H. Ransom," stating that ho know whore the picture was deposited, and that ho would restore it on receipt of £100. Mr. Hislop was to advertise his answer in a certain way. The letter was placed in tho hands of tho police, and it was decided to advertise as the address, to' which he (Mr. Hislop) would forward his answer, as the Sailors' Rest. An officer was deputed to watch the Rest, and in due course a man turned up for tho letter, and was seized and taken to the polico station. The man's explanation . waa that ho had been given a "bob" to call for the letter. On being released the man was followed, but the culprit, whoever he was, was too clever —ho had gbno. . ■ Mr. Hislop next got another letter deprecating the attempt mado to entrap tho man, and raising tho price of tho picture auothor £50, and stating that rather than give it up for n loss amount: (than £150) tho canvas would bo torn up. It also suggested advertising a new address l whero tho letters could bo received "confidentially." Mr. Hislop replied by asking his unknown correspondent to advertise a "confidential" address. Nothing, however, came of it for two or three weeks, when a man called at Mr. Hislop's office with two lotters, stating that a chum of his had given them to him to deliver, bat when they adjourned to the streot to find tho chum ho was onco more missing. A series of letters then passed,and finally Mr. Hislop offered £50 (by letter) for tho picture The party concerned was dissatisfied with the prica, but ultimately agreed if the negotiations were conducted in a particular way. "The deal," said Mr. Hislop, "was nrranged through a third party, whoso name I do not caro to mention, and the picture was loft in a certain place, from where wo got it." On tho occasion of the second diaappoarahce of tho picture in March last, Mr. Williams, the Art Society's custodian, arrived at the gallery to open up in the ordinary way he found tho western doors of the porch, usually kept bolted from within and seldom used, open, and on looking round the gallery discovored tho empty frame of the "Leader." Further search revealed tho fact that tho thief must havo mado his entrance from one of the front windows. A wooden dndo had been built inside reaching half-way up tho sash, arid the top section .had been blackened and covered inside by stretched canvas, which was painted the same tint as the inuer walls of the gallery. The window was locked, but tho thief, who must .have mado a careful study of the promises, broke a hols in tho lower section of the window, inserted his hand to open it, and theU slashed the canvas with a knife to make an entrance for himself. The picture was lifted out on its stretcher, and removed from the building. The exit was mado quite an easy mattor by opening tho long unused doors on the opposite side of the front porch to the usual entrance. Tlio man arrested on tho charge of stealing the piciuro will appear at the -M-Mjistrate's Court this morning.