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Museum renews reward offer for stolen artwork
By Judy Rakowsky, Globe Staff, 08/16/97

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum again pledged to pay a $5 million
reward for the safe return of the 13 famed works of art stolen seven
years ago. The museum issued the statement after a news report that
Myles J. Connor Jr., a convicted art thief, said the museum would
''pay dearly'' if it does not post bail for a jailed antiques dealer
who claims to have information on the whereabouts of the artwork.
''When 13 works of art were stolen in March of 1990 ... the world lost
access to remarkable works of art, works that were left by the
prominent art collector Isabella Gardner for the enjoyment and
education of the public forever,'' the statement said. Museum
spokeswoman Joan Norris declined to comment on Connor's remarks, which
were reported in the Boston Herald. She urged anyone with information
to contact the FBI or to call the museum security director at
617-278-5114. Two men disguised as police officers on March 18, 1990,
stole artworks valued at $200 million, including Vermeer's ''The
Concert,'' and Rembrandt's only known seascape, ''The Storm on the Sea
of Galilee.'' The museum, which has fielded hundreds of tips along
with the FBI, is still hopeful that one of them will lead to recovery
of the stolen art. Investigators have also been tight-lipped about
Connor's remarks, and those of William P.Youngsworth III, the jailed
antiques dealer. Youngsworth, facing state felony charges, has offered
to tell what he knows about the heist and the artwork - in exchange
for immunity and a share of the reward. ''We're willing to listen to
anyone, but we would prefer it be unconditional,'' said FBI
     spokesman Peter S. Ginieres. To prove his information is bona
fide, Youngsworth allegedly disclosed what he said were previously
unknown details about the burglary. They include how the burglars
fumbled with security bolts and slashed a painting with a pen knife in
frustration. He also told the Herald that the thieves left a museum
window open as a secondary point of entrance. Sources close to the
investigation have said those details are not exclusive. After
Youngsworth was arraigned Wednesday for possession of firearms without
a license and possession of marijuana, an FBI agent met with him and
his lawyer. Since then, Youngsworth has remained in jail on $5,000
cash bail. Authorities searched Youngsworth's property on July 8, when
he already faced charges of possession of a stolen van and ammunition.
This story ran on page B06 of the Boston Globe on 08/16/97. (c)
Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.

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