THE UNSEEN HAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13650, 18 July 1908, Page 5

THE UNSEEN HAND.

A PICTURE RESTORED

Per Press Association.

AVELLTNGTON, July 17.

Three months ago . there mysteriously disappeared from ihe Academy of Pine Arts a picture, entitled " Surrey Hills," by B. Leader. The picture, which js valued at about £6OO, is the property of the city, and the Mayor was approached by (onespondejiee in disguised handwriting to pay a ransom! for the restoration of the painting. The letters were signed

"A. G. Rainsom," and at lirst £l5O was demanded. 'l'lie sailors' i.iit Mas indicated as the place where replies might ha • srnt, and subsequently a certern column in the "New Zealand Times" /was suggested as a medium tor negotiations. As i the money was not forthcoming the thief wrote threatening to cut the picture into pieces the of postage stamps and return-it in that form. Another expedient adopted by the .holder of the picture was to.threaten the Mayor with personal violence unless the £l5O demanded, was paid. Eventually-the demand.''was-reduced to £SO and this sum the Mayor .paid out of his own pocket with the result: that, the picture-was restored to-day as silently and mysteriously -as it was taken away.