Curator faces prison for looting centuries-old Indian artifacts
By MEG JONES of the Journal Sentinel staff
If not for a chance meeting at a State St. coffee bar in Madison last fall, former Wisconsin Historical Society museum anthropology curator David Wooley might have gotten away with stealing artifacts.
Quotable
He had a good eye for choice items. He should have; he was curator of the collection.
- George Vogt, historical society director, on David Wooley
Wooley was entrusted with the safekeeping of the museum's 5,000-piece American Indian artifact collection. He was also in a perfect position to loot the collection. In a Dane County courtroom Friday, Wooley, 53, is scheduled to be sentenced for purloining Indian artifacts valued at more than $100,000, including a rare war club, beaded buckskin bag, cradle board cover, quiver and silver earrings. Most of the artifacts are 150 to 200 years old and were donated to or purchased by the historical society as long as a century ago. "He had a good eye for choice items," said George Vogt, director of the historical society. "He should have; he was curator of the collection." Wooley pleaded guilty to 14 counts of felony theft and three counts of failing to file a state tax return. In a plea agreement, 10 other theft counts were dismissed but will be considered by a judge at sentencing. He faces up to 100 years in prison. "Mr. Wooley is Native American," said his attorney, Chris Van Wagner, who did not know which he has spent educating people about Native American arts, crafts and beliefs."
A close call
Wooley was almost caught in January 1998 when an anthropology professor at a German university saw the war club for sale by an Ontario gallery. Perusing an auction sale catalog on the Internet, Christian Feest quickly recognized the distinctive war club, also called a prophet stick, because he had photographed it 17 years ago. The mid-18th-century war club, a stick with a ball at one end and a triangular point at the top, would have been wielded by a warrior. The piece Wooley stole has carving along the shaft that makes it even more rare. The war club is one of only four known to exist in North America, so Feest figured it was Ellis, owner of the gallery, who said he had purchased the artifact for $28,500 from a man who later revealed he had bought it from Wooley, court records say. Apparently unaware that Wooley was the one who took the war club in the first place, Feest war club back in early 1998 and thanked Feest for his interest. Fast forward to Sept. 25, 2000. Wooley has left his job at the historical society museum in Cultural Center for the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa tribe. Feest is in Madison to give a lecture and happens to meet with new Wisconsin Historical that Wooley told him the artifact had been returned to the Ho-Chunk Nation, Koski gets a sinking feeling. Feest is "telling me this story and I was aghast. There's no other word for it," Koski said in an interview. She knew the war club couldn't have been returned to the Ho-Chunk since the process of giving back an artifact to a tribe is lengthy. That could mean only one thing: Wooley had stolen it. "I think I was shellshocked. I got out of there so fast and ran back to find out what went wrong," Koski said.
More items were stolen
If Wooley had taken the war club, Koski wondered what else might be missing from the museum. She immediately asked her staff to begin combing through records. Fortunately, the former anthropology curator, the person Wooley replaced in 1995, had kept meticulous archives. "Things started showing up missing within the first week" of searching records, she said. Capitol police were contacted in early October 2000. A search warrant was issued, and authorities found missing artifacts in Wooley's home. Wooley revealed what else he had taken. A pair of moccasins Wooley stole later showed up on TV's "Antiques Roadshow," where they were praised as a classic example of American Indian footwear. A John Quincy Adams silver medal was sold to a New York City coin dealer, who sold it to a treaty or a visit to the U.S. capital. The medal, one of only 125 struck, was discovered years ago in an unidentified grave in Wisconsin and was acquired by the state historical society. Also missing: a cradle board chosen for display a few years ago at the museum. The display was allowed to pick out their favorite items. "It's a very distinctive, beautiful piece," Koski said. "That cradle board was picked by Mr. Wooley for display as his favorite object. It never made it back into the collection." There's a fairly large market for artifacts like those Wooley stole, said Ellis, one of the top dealers in North American Indian art and an appraiser for "Antiques Roadshow." The pilfered war club ended up at Ellis' gallery in Ontario. As soon as Ellis learned it might money back. The collector sent it back to the historical society, where Wooley intercepted it.
Thefts are unusual
Ellis said it's rare for stolen items to turn up for sale at galleries and auctions. "Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often. That was the first time it happened to us. It was quite an unpleasant experience," said Ellis, who appraised Indian artwork when "Antiques Roadshow" stopped in Madison last year. Once the theft investigation began, authorities looked into Wooley's work at the cultural center in Lac du Flambeau and discovered in Wooley's apartment a carved bear statue that had been donated to the institution. Accused of taking the statue valued at between $10,000 and $15,000, Wooley was charged in Vilas County with one count of felony theft. That case is pending. Why would a curator loot a collection of artifacts entrusted to him for safekeeping? At the time of the thefts, Wooley was suffering from depression and heart problems, and his teenage daughter was seriously ill, his attorney said. "He stopped opening his mail, he stopped paying attention to his business, and when money was or traded it for money to pay medical bills and expenses," Van Wagner said.
Wooley could not be reached for comment.
An expert in American Indian beadwork, Wooley cooperated with authorities, returned everything he had and told officials where the rest of the stolen items were, Van Wagner said. Ho-Chunk tribal leaders were understandably upset to learn that artifacts from their ancestors had been sold. "I was shocked, hurt," said George Garvin, repatriations officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation. "Because this was the first time that we had somebody within the state historical society pulling for us and helping us with our Native American sacred items." Wooley will "have to account for all that he's done, just like anybody else that's taken from native people," Garvin said. http://www.jsonline.com/
Christie's chief was given $5m payoff, court told
FROM NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT IN NEW YORK
THE severance package granted by the auctioneer Christie’s to its former chief executive, Christopher Davidge, was revealed yesterday during the trial of Alfred Taubman, the main shareholder and former chairman of Sotheby’s. Mr Taubman is in court accused of fixing the terms and conditions of art works at auction with his opposite number at Christie’s, Sir Anthony Tennant. He denies the charge in a case in which more than 100,000 defrauded clients are said to have lost up to $400million (£280million) as a result of the alleged collusion between Mr Taubman, a Detroit property tycoon who became the main shareholder, and Sir Anthony, the former chairman of Christie’s.
Sir Anthony refuses to attend the trial and could be arrested if he comes to America. Sotheby’s, its former chief executive, Diana D. “Dede” Brooks, Christie’s and Mr Davidge have admitted fixing commissions and other terms of trade. The auction houses have been fined $45million (£31.5million) each. Mrs Brooks has pleaded guilty and awaits sentence after her testimony against Mr Taubman. Mr Davidge has been granted immunity from prosecution. From 1993 to 1995 it has been acknowledged that through Mr Davidge and Mrs Brooks, Christie’s and Sotheby’s agreed to adopt a similar scale of commissions.
They are also alleged to have agreed to drop a number of practices beneficial to customers, such as guaranteeing the outcome of an auction and providing interest free or low interest loans ahead of a sale. On leaving in 1999 after 34 years with the company, Mr Davidge agreed to accept $5million (£3.5million), paid in three instalments. In addition he took part of his pension in a lump sum of $1million and an annual payment of $240,000, and agreed to provide advice to Artemis, the parent company of Christie’s, for a further $320,000.
Mr Taubman’s defence team says that the terms of Christie’s payment to Mr Davidge is conditional upon testifying against Mr Taubman, thus tainting his testimony. Because price fixing is not a criminal offence in Britain, Mr Davidge was not obliged to attend an American trial or co-operate with the US Department of Justice. Scott Muller, for the defence, said: “Christie’s said to you, ‘You’ve got to help us out, pal, because we have got to give them something’. You said, ‘You want my help, you give me eight million bucks (£5million)’.” Mr Muller also suggested to Mr Davidge that he was incapable of telling the truth. He told him lied to the Christie’s board; to the shareholders; to the London Stock Exchange and to the Christie’s lawyers hired to investigate the fixing of commissions. “In every question to do with collusion you lied, right? You lied through your teeth,” said Mr Muller. Mr Davidge said yes, adding: “Though not through my teeth.”
The postscript was a typical aside by Mr Davidge. When Mr Muller asked whether it was not true that when asked by a Christie’s lawyer about incriminating conversations with Mrs Brooks, Mr Davidge “looked him straight in the eye” and told him a lie, Mr Davidge responded: “I do not know whether I looked him in the eye.” When Mr Davidge repeatedly answered that he could not recall various incidents, he said to Mr Muller: “I should have done some homework last night.” Mr Muller responded: “I hope you will have a chance to do that.” Yesterday Mr Muller got Mr Davidge to concede that he had never met Mr Taubman, that he had no said about Mr Taubman’s involvement in the fraud was an honest and true account.
Art Dealers Indicted in $4.1 Million Money Laundering Scheme, Reports U.S. Attorney
BOSTON, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Two New York City art dealers were indicted today for conspiring and attempting to launder $4.1 million in illegal drug funds.
United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Robin Avers, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Customs Service in New England, and Charles S. Prouty, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England, announced today the indictment of SHIRLEY D. SACK, age 73, of New York City, and ARNOLD KATZEN, age 62, also of New York City, on federal money laundering charges. The federal indictment charges SACK and KATZEN with conspiring to conduct, and attempting to conduct, a financial transaction with funds represented to be proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. The indictment further alleges that SACK, who represented herself to be a dealer of fine art, Avenue, New York, traveled to Boston where they attempted to sell two paintings for $4.1 million in cash to an undercover federal agent who represented himself to be in the illegal drug business. The two works of art, which were seized by the United States from KATZEN and SACK, were represented by SACK and KATZEN to be an original oil painting entitled "Jeune Femme aux Yeux Bleus" by Amedeo Modigliani valued at approximately $2.5 million, and an original pastel entitled "La Coiffure" by Edgar Degas valued at approximately $1.6 million. According to the indictment, KATZEN and SACK indicated to the undercover agent that they could resell the paintings overseas as part of the money laundering scheme.
"Today's indictment serves as a stark reminder that money laundering can reach across all levels of society," said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. "Money laundering is a serious crime that allows criminals to 'legitimize' the proceeds of their criminal activities making it that much more difficult for law enforcement to apprehend them. Anyone engaged in such conduct, regardless of their profession, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." SACK and KATZEN were arrested in Boston on May 31, 2001 as they attempted to complete the sale of the works of art. If convicted of the money laundering charges, SACK and KATZEN face maximum sentences of twenty KATZEN is charged with a Criminal Forfeiture Allegation which seeks forfeiture of the Modigliani and the Degas.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Customs Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Hanson-Philbrick of Sullivan's Strike Force Unit, Alex Whiting of Sullivan's Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, and Shelbey Wright, Chief of Sullivan's Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Museum Group Urges Openness On Donor Deals
Guidelines Firm on Need To Retain Control of Content
By Jacqueline Trescott Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, November 17, 2001; Page C01
The country's largest museum organization is urging its members to disclose all agreements with private donors and corporate sponsors. The report by the American Association of Museums comes after a series of controversies at the museum should have a say in the exhibits and whether corporations that support exhibitions should be able to display their names and logos prominently at the exhibits. Guidelines published yesterday by the association say each museum should have a clear policy urged each museum to develop firm criteria for the use of its names and logos.
On the issue of who controls content, the guidelines are strict.
"It is a nonissue. Museums must have absolute control over content," said Edward H. Able Jr., the AAM's president. The Washington-based group represents 3,000 museums. In the last 10 years, museums have become much more vulnerable to outside pressure. Private and public foundations and a few longtime patrons were once the mainstays of most museums. But government funding is eroding and competition for private gifts has increased. Meanwhile, the public is demanding bigger facilities, blockbuster shows and more amenities, multimillion-dollar capital campaigns. Many museums have also turned more and more to the business community, but corporate giving was often linked to corporate marketing. Bolder business practices have collided with parochial museum traditions. And some museums, such as the Smithsonian, the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York have been criticized for their business agreements.
These tensions prompted the AAM a year ago to begin discussion of these guidelines.
Interest in the topic was underscored earlier this year when a $38 million gift from local businesswoman Catherine Reynolds set off an uproar at the Smithsonian. Some members of the staff questioned the terms of the gift agreement in which the donation was designated for a "hall of achievers." Reynolds, who was given substantial say in its planning, publicly suggested personalities such as ABC newsman Sam Donaldson be honored in the hall. Smithsonian officials said the museum curators would make the final decisions about any new exhibition and have appointed a blue-ribbon panel to work on the idea. Two representatives of the Smithsonian worked with the AAM policy committee, and a spokeswoman said yesterday the Smithsonian has developed its own guidelines. These real and potential controversies spurred the museum association to add a section on Museum Directors also updated its professional practices and warned that compromises on "artistic control" would be seen as poor practice.
Able said the new rules are needed so that the people will not lose faith in museums. One of the ways to do that is to make information public. "It is terribly important that we maintain the public trust by being absolutely transparent," said Able. "There are times the transparency might be compromised by the wishes of a donor, but if that presents a real conflict, the agreement should be reconsidered." The guidelines give museums broad latitude in how they handle the extremely sensitive issue of it is willing to enter into a relationship with a business that restricts the museum from receiving support from the business's competitors and/or from using a competitor's products and services." David Levy, president of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, said the guidelines were a useful trigger in your mind or the mind of trustees specifics you may not have paid attention to," he said. "I really do believe that museums and other institutions need to make policy in the absence of a crisis. When you do that and you have a crisis, the issue of solving it is procedural." http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Display in Colorado library slants spousal abuse problem
By Will Shurley The Lariat Baylor U.
(U-WIRE) WACO, Texas -- Sometimes I really am confused by public perceptions in this country. A library in Boulder, Colo., decided employees should not hang an American flag inside its foyer after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., citing that some patrons could be offended. However, the same library evidently decided hanging 21 different colors of ceramic penises from one of its walls would go over perfectly well.