THE STOLEN PICTURE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12805, 28 May 1910, Page 4

THE STOLEN PICTURE.

[United Pkess Association.] Wellington, May 27. After two months' search, the police havo arrested a labouring man, aged about 30 .years, on a charge of stealing the Leader picture stolon from the Wellington- Art Gallery. A detective, acting upon information, made a smart capture by arresting the suspect about 8.30, in tho vicinity of Bollin street cemetery. In addition he secured the missing picture. Exactly how he succeeded the detectives aro not prepared to statc< at present. 'Thoy were aware, however, that the picture was. to bo conveyed by a messenger to a certain place, and, acting on this advice, they appeared on tho scene at the right moment, and secured the picture. All through the search the dc-tectives had a most discouraging task. They frequently succeeded in drawing the suspect to a certain point, but beyond that they could not got him to venture. There are somo grounds, it is understood, for connecting the two disappearances of tho picture ivith ono and the same individual. At the Magistrate's Court to-day Francis Edwin Tier was charged with stealing from the Wellington Art Gallory an oil painting by Leader, entitled "Southward from Surrey's Pleasant Hills." The accused, who is described as a labourer of about 30 years of age, was remanded till Wednesday next, Michael Tier, a brother of Francis Tier, has also been arrested in connection with the thof t of the Leader picture from the Art Gallery. He will bo charged' to-morrow with breaking, entering and theft.