Picture Recovered.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 89, 15 December 1913, Page 5

Picture Recovered.

D<\ VINCI'S MONA LISA

A FAMOUS PICTURE.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Pbesb Association.]

Da Vinci's Mona Lisa has been recovered at Florence and the thief arrested. The Minister of Public Instruction announces that the Mona Lisa is now in the National Museum at Florence. •

The thief, Vincenzo Perugia, was a house-painter in Paris, working at the Louvre. He stole the Mona Lisa, concealing it under his blouse. He stole the Mona Lisa, concealing it under his blouse. He kept it at his domicile'until lie read an announcement that Geri, a dealer in Florence, was organising a loan exhibition. Perugia wrote offering the Mona Lisa for £20,000-.

I Geri informed Poggi, director of the [tjnzzi Gallery, and induced Perugia to come to Italy. The picture was brought in a false bottom in a wooden trunk. Geri and Poggi inspected the picture at a hotel, Poggi securing its removal to the gallery on a pretext of comparing it with others of Da Vinci's masterpieces. The number 1 and the seal of the Louvre were. still conspicuous on the back of the panel. The Marquis di San Guiliani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, informed the French Ambassador, in congratulatory terms, of the recovery of the picture.

ONLY SLICHTLY DAMAGED.

(Received 9.10 a.m.)

Rome, December 14

; Crowds, including many notabilities, are flocking to Uffizzi Gallery. The only damage to the picture is a slight abrasion on the cheek and a tiny scratch on the lett shoulder. Perugia denies he had an accomplice. He states that he desired to ensure a comfortable old age to ins parents.

SOME OF THE EVIDENCE.

Paris, December 4

The police discovered that Perugia was sentenced to a day's imprisonment for theft and a week for the carrying of firearms. Bertillon states that the man's thumb print is identical . with ' that found lon the* glass in the frame of the picture. - .!,-*'. A former companion stated that.before leaving Paris and .shortly ( after. t'he tlieft, Perugia expressed the hope that'lie would return with a fortune. Afterwards he' sent' 'postcai'ds"""from" London, where ho had undoubtedly been seeking a buyer. The Echo de Paris says that the police'of' Milan believe Perugia acted at the instigation of a band of international robbers.

The man has, shown signs of mental derangement. - : ■ ■. : , ~ ,