THE 'LEADER' PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 5

THE 'LEADER' PICTURE

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS,

ANOTHER ARREST.

HOW THE PAINTING WAS TRACED.

The piecing together of evidence in anticipation oi' tne hearing of the charge of theft of tho "Leader" picture, which has been recovered by Detectives Lewis and Andrews, was got well under way by the police yesterday, and several new developments occurred during tho afternoon. Another man was arrested on a charge of being concerned in the theft of tho picture.

The second arrest was brought about by pure accident. It is stated that Michael Tier, an elder brother of the man arrested on Thursday night, was at the police station in reference to arranging bail for tho accused, when one of the half-dozen boys who are alleged to have carried letters between the holders of the picture and the president of the Art Society, is said to have recognised Michael Tier, who, he alleged, was the man who had given him a letter to leave at the address arranged between the parties who were negotiating. The boy, it is alleged, was still unshaken when ho was asked to identify the man from amongst a number of others.

Police Plans. Aftor their experience in the firrf theft of the picture, the police felt confident that overtures would ba made with a view to getting another rewardfor the return of the painting, and they laid their plans accordingly..The holder of the picture entered into negotiation]) with a certain man some time ago, with the idea of getting him to act as a go-between, but the man approached refused to accept the delicate post. A.waiting game had to bo played for some time, but after the above scheme failed, the parties in possession of tho picture approached Mr. H. S. Wardell, president of tho Academy of Fine Arts, by letter, and asked' him if lie would act in the matter. Mr. Wardell consented, and it was agreed between him and the police that he should receiva the letters and hand them over to the police. This Mr. Wardell did without opening' the letters, and a place for leaving the correspondence from the respective sides having been decided upon in the heart of the town, tho police embarked on the negotiations which they carried out per letter in tho name of the ArtSocietv.

The task was a delicate one, and' one false step could ruin everything, but the police played • their cards cleverly, and at length, after insinuating that Mie officials of the Art Gallery were not over eager to ransom the picture, the holder of tho treasure began to come round.

For the past ten day and nights Detectives Lewis and Andrews, .who were working patiently, spent most of their time secreted near Mr. Warden's house, in the hope that the picture would be returned, the time being, in their opinion, ripe. The holder of the canvas had promised to restore it uninjured, having been assured that he would be treated fairly and squarely, and that £50 would be given in exchange for the painting. The Climax. The climax, as already reported, ciaio on Thursday night,'when an old man, bearing a roll of paper containing the..-.'.,, picture and a bos, presumably to hold the £50, arrived at Mr. Warden's house. Mr. ■ Wardell was absent from home, but the man was given a small parcel in return for the packet. The detectives interrogated the old man, and having satisfied themselves that he was simply a messenger, followed him back to where he met a man who appeared to ibe waiting for him. Thia man, Francis Edwin .Tier, was arrested.

Accused Before the Court. At the S.M. Court yesterday morning he was formally charged that, between March 27 and 30, at Wellington, he did steal an oil painting by B. W. Leader, entitled "Southward from Surrey's Pleasant Hills," valued, at £500, the property of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. ; Accused, who is said to be about 30 years of age, looks about 24, and is a medium-sized, thick-set person, described as .a labourer. When the charge had been read, Ohief-Deteetive Broberg applied for a remand to Wednesday next. Accused asked for bail. Tho Chief-Detective suggested that if bail was.granted it should be fixed in a substantial sum. The charge at present stood as one of theft, but it would bo altered to one of breaking andentering. Bail was allowed in tho sum of £100 and two sureties of £50 each. Fresh Charges. Both Francis Edwin Tier and Michael Tier will appear at the S.M., Court this morning. The former will be charged separately with breaking and entering the Art Gallery and stealing the picture on April 11, or April 12. 1908, and doiu<* a similar thing between March 27 and March 30, 1910. Michael Tier will bo charged, in conjunction with his brother, with breaking and entering the Art Gallery, between March 27 and March 30, and stealing tho' picture. Michael Tier is a labourer like his younger brother, and is a man about 40 years, of age.