A THIEF AND HIS METHODS

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 170, 20 July 1908, Page 5

A THIEF AND HIS METHODS

A SUCCESSFUL BLACKMAILER

What looks very much like compounding a felony is thus referred to by our Wellington correspondent: ■ — City gossip this (Saturday) morning centres mainly round the restored or "ransomed" Leader, now safe and sound again on the walls of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. You rememjber, of course, how the picture, which was bought by Mrs Rhodes for £500 at the Ghristchurch Exhibition and presented to the city, mysteriously disappeared one tine morning. You may also remember how at the time the present writer scouted the idea of its being taken away to America or Europe, and predicted it would be "found 5 some day as suddenly and as mysteriously as it disappeared. This is precisely what has happened, with the additional fact, however^ arid1 hero comes the rub; that the Mayor has been foolish enough to pay £50 ransom either to the thief himself or to someone acting on his behalf. It now transpires that cftite a number of letters were sent to his Worship, who. on. the reception of the first epistle, promptly and properly placed the mai>-~ ter in the hands: of the police. One would have imagined that the local detectives would have been able, being informed of each move as it took place, to have found and arrested the tnier, but apparently they have mismanaged the affair, for co far no arrest, has been made, although, according to the Mayor, the thief or the person acting for him, Had several narrow .escapes." But'the thief is not arrested, the £50—of the ratepayers_ money—has been paid as ransom, and vhe picture was yesterday morning "restored" to tlie Gallery without, so we are. asked to believe; anyone knowing exactly how" it got there. Ihere was, it is understood, some very A^ ar^ „ gating at a meeting of the Ait Crallery Council, yesterday afters' 0?;' ajd .this morning the treasurer oi the Society denounces in no unsparing terms thfe actiorif of those responsible for negotiating with the thieves- (or their representatives) and blackma.lL" 1 do, not think that Ifc w?r- r H 1 be '• aHowed to. drop. Mr Wilso-n talks of. calling a special meeting.^ members, of the AcaSy de^ th? , action of the president (Mr Wardell ,; an ex-Stipensiary Magistrate, by the way, in not taking the officers and members of • the' Academy mto his confidence. It is not improbable, -also, that more will be heard, of the matter at the next f?f tlng f <l the City Council £ jaiiure of; tlieijpolice to detect the thie£ wffe ; Bub3^;°t much caustically satf»cal comment in town. Meanhe 135 got .his desofS ? method Si which one would S could succeed only inVseKS PrCT to be possible in ihe capital of State lik e ; New Zealand!;