RANSOM FOR A PICTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 178, 18 July 1908, Page 2

RANSOM FOR A PICTURE.

. STOLEN RAIISTINU RIiUOVKRKD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The painting by the artist Leader, valued at about iOOO, which was mysteriously removed from the Wellington Art Gallery a few weeks ago, was restored during last night as.mysteriously as it disappeared. Later. Three months ago there mysteriously disappeared from the Academy of I'ine Arts a picture entitled "Surrey Hills," by W. B. Leader. Tile picture, wliiohr is valued at about ;U>01), is the property of the city, and the Mayor was approached by correspondence ill disguised handwriting to give a ransom for tho restoration of the painting. The letters were signed "A. G. Ransom," and nl first £l5O, was demanded. The Sailors' Rest was indicated as the place where replies might be Sent, and subsequently a certain column of the New Zealand Times was suggested as a medium lor negotiations. As the money was not forthcoming, the thief wrote threatening to cut the picture into pieces, the siM of postage stamps, and return it in that form. Another expedient adopted by the holder of the picture was to threaten tlie Mayor with personal violence unless i 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.