THIEVES MAGIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1924, Page 1

THIEVES MAGIC.

A i:\II.WAV .MYSTERY. LONDON, Aiienst 17

All llie elements of tin ingenious conjuring trick are presented in tin amazing art tlielt now being investigated by .Scotland Yard and the Continental police. A vtilnnlilo oil painting, attributed to Corot, the Krencli landscape painter, lias heeli made to disappear, sis il hv manic, while on its way from Switzerland to the London salerooms. There is every indication, writes a “ Daily Chronicle ” representative, that the rubbery Was I lie Work id il skilled gang, hnt how they' executed it is ti mystery. Tiie painting, the property of a Swiss art collector, ami worth about L'oOO was despa tolled from Switzerland in a wooden parking; case. ’I lie packin'.; ease arrived at its destitution, the office of a London art dealer, apparently iniact. Hut when it was opened the frame was empty. It was then discovered iliat there was a discrepancy between the weights of the packing case at the time of dispatch and at the time of arrival, which clearly showed that the picture was stolen in transit. I’mt when or lmw it was abstracted cannot he ascertained. The packing case left Switzerland by mail in a sealed van. and precautions were taken to prevent it being tampered with nt any staple of the journey. There was nothing on the pnekmp case In indicate what was in it. It was purposely left unmarked, so that one should guess that its contents were of value. The ease was uumhored. so that it was not necessary even to label it with the name and address of the firm to which it was being sent. It spite of all these precautions the thieves seem t.. have known what it contained for it was opened and muled down again so skilfully that they must have been prepared for the task. Dealers in England have boon put on their guard lest an attempt be made to dispose of the painting. Tt <s easily reeopnisalile.