THE LOST "LEADER."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 8

THE LOST "LEADER."

THIEF STILL AT LARGE. NO r»AXSOM~THIS TIME. Detectives have been busy since yesteiday afternoon, but have not yet stiuck the tniil of the. thief who vanishod with "Southwaid from Surrey's Pleasant Hills." When the picture was lifted from its frame in 1908, the purlotner left various souvenirs, such as a lantern and jemmy, and some writing, from the hand of the burglar or an accessory to the crime, passed into the possession of the police. This time the plunderer worked more neatly. Ho did not deposit anything tangible as a memento of his visit. It is a common belief that "A. O. Ransom," who was the cential figure in the events of 1908, has had a hand in the second disappearance of the "Leader," but the only evidence to connect the former thief with the present occurrence was that the same picture was taken on each occasion, and in each instance the intruder knew something about the architecture of the Academy. However, this knowledge could have been readily gained by any casual visitor. After the '"Leader" waa restored nearly two years ago. the defences at the back of the building were strengthened, but the front waft left with a cloaked-up gap for any enterprising housebreaKer to enter. 'I he window at the west side of the porch was boarded half-way up. The internal wall skirted tho top of the lower panes, and canvas, painted to harmonise with the wall and closely resemble it, was stretched across the upper half of the window.' All the thief had to do was to clamber up on to a convenient sill, push a hand through a gap in a pane of the glass, unlock the window and open it. 'Ihe canvas lining was easily pushed outward, and then the marauder stepped in. He eased his descent to the floor by means of a picture frame (which he damaged) and a braes rod which runs around the walls 1 . When he, had roHed up his booty, he softly draw the bolts ot iv door at the main entrance, and the night engulfed him. It is stated that the hole in the window was visible prior to Sunday. A REWARD? Mr. H. S. Wardell, president of the N-ew Zealand Academy, remarked today that it had been suggested to him that a reward should be offered for evidence which would help to obtain a conviction. The proposal would be discussed at a meeting of the Academy's Council at 5 o'clock to-day. He declared there would be no offer of ransom this time. No lure of money would be held out to the burglar to induce him to replace the stolen treasure, estimated to be worth £500. • The h'nger-prints, noticeable in the dust on the window, are too indistinct to be serviceable.