[MSN] {Spam?} One of three parties claiming ownership of paintings stolen from a Shrewsbury home in 1976 and recovered in Rhode Island last year died on March 4.

[MSN]

Woman staking a claim to stolen paintings dies
Artwork taken from Shrewsbury home in 1976
By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau at telegram.com

WORCESTER— One of three parties claiming ownership of paintings stolen from a Shrewsbury home in 1976 and recovered in Rhode Island last year died on March 4.

Judith Yoffie, who was left the three paintings by Mae Persky in her will, was one of three parties involved in a complaint in interpleader filed in federal civil court in Rhode Island.

The complaint essentially asks a judge to determine the rightful owner of the paintings — “The Shore of Lake Geneva” by French painter Gustav Courbet, “Lady as Shepherdess” by William Hamilton, and “In the Sun” by American impressionist Childe Hassam — which are valued at roughly $1 million in total, based on recent auction prices for paintings by the three artists.


After the July 1976 robbery at Mrs. Persky’s home at 520 Grafton St., Shrewsbury — conducted by three armed and well-organized robbers — the family’s insurance company paid $45,000 on the policy for the three paintings.

Canton-based One Beacon Insurance Group, the “successor-in-interest” to the Persky’s insurance company in 1976, Commercial Union Assurance Cos.; Patrick and Gail Conley of Bristol, R.I.; and Judith Yoffie were all named in the complaint in interpleader.

George S. Abrams, lawyer for the Yoffie family, declined to comment on the case yesterday. When asked what happens to Mrs. Yoffie’s status in the case he said, “We will be dealing with that legal issue.”

According to her obituary, Mrs. Yoffie, 86, of Worcester, has three sons. Her husband, William A. Yoffie, died April 16, 2007.

Mrs. Yoffie was very active in Temple Emanuel and owned and operated the Worcester Knitting Co. with her husband before retiring in 1986.

Mrs. Persky’s husband was Abraham Persky — former president of the Worcester Knitting Co. She died in 1979. She was 86 at the time of the robbery, according to news reports published at the time.

The federal court filing said Mrs. Persky left the paintings to William Yoffie and his wife, Judith. Mr. Yoffie was the president of the Worcester Knitting Co. and was also trustee of the Abraham S. Persky Charitable Trust.

Mr. Yoffie left his interest in the paintings to his wife when he died.

How the paintings ended up after the robbery going to antiques dealer William Conley remains unclear. Attempts to reach William Conley have been unsuccessful. William Conley used the three paintings to secure a $22,000 loan from his brother — prominent Rhode Island developer and lawyer Patrick T. Conley — about six or seven years ago, Patrick T. Conley said.

“I don’t believe he knew they were stolen,” Patrick Conley said yesterday about his brother, whom he has not heard from recently.

Patrick Conley decided to have the paintings authenticated last year. The paintings had been on the walls of his Bristol, R.I., home since his brother never came back to retrieve them.

An art dealer in Rhode Island and a colleague of his discovered the paintings were stolen, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted. The Art Loss Register also helped identify the paintings as stolen.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Rhode Island filed the complaint in interpleader. A spokesman also said the FBI has the paintings now, and no criminal charges have been filed. The spokesman said he could not speculate if criminal charges would be filed.

Patrick Conley said yesterday he hadn’t heard that Mrs. Yoffie died and expressed sympathy for the family’s loss. He said yesterday he “was hoping the eventual outcome was to get the paintings back to the original heirs” or have them go to the Abraham S. Persky Charitable Trust.

Mr. and Mrs. Persky did not have children, according to their obituaries.

Patrick Conley said he is not looking to keep the paintings, but wants to get back the money he loaned to his brother.

“I would like to get the money back we advanced to secure the paintings, at the least,” he said. “I don’t need anything that is stolen,” he said.

Authorities were notified once it was discovered the paintings were stolen and when people return items of great value a reward is normally given, Patrick Conley said.

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