A 2d guy has been charged with stealing a couple of ruby crimson slippers old via Judy Garland in The Expert Of Ounces.
The footwear had been recovered by the FBI in a 2018 sting operation – 13 years later they had been stolen from a museum within the past due actress’s native land.
Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, used to be charged with “theft of a major artwork” and observer tampering all the way through a listening to at St Paul District Courtroom in St Paul, Minnesota. He didn’t input a plea.
The sneakers, which is embellished with sequins and glass beads, used to be taken from the Judy Garland Museum in Lavish Rapids, Minnesota, just about two decades in the past.
They had been old via her personality, Dorothy, within the 1939 movie, and are usefulness round $3.5m (£2.75m), in step with federal prosecutors.
The Expert Of Ounces. Pic: Bonhams
The indictment mentioned that from August 2005 to July 2018, Saliterman “received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage” – in particular, “an authentic pair of ‘ruby slippers’ worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie”.
Prosecutors allege that Saliterman knew they had been stolen – and declare he threatened to leave a intercourse tape of a girl and “take her down with him” if she didn’t conserve her mouth close concerning the slippers.
Saliterman, from Crystal in Minnesota, seemed in courtroom in a wheelchair and with a supplemental oxygen instrument to backup his respiring. He declined to journalists later the listening to.
Then again, his legal professional John Verge of collapse mentioned: “He’s not guilty. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Jerry Hal Saliterman used to be wheeled out of courtroom on Friday. Pic: AP Photograph/Steve Karnowski
It comes later Terry Jon Martin, 76, who lived round 12 miles clear of the museum, pleaded in charge to robbery of a big art work relating to the case utmost October.
He admitted to the use of a hammer to wreck the glass of the museum’s door and show case, in what his legal professional mentioned used to be an effort to drag off “one last score” later turning clear of a hour of crime.
Martin used to be sentenced in January to life served, that means he used to be immune and have shyed away from additional life in jail as a result of his unpriviledged fitness.
All through his listening to, Martin defined he had was hoping to rush what he concept had been actual rubies from the footwear and promote them – however removed them when discovered the “jewels” weren’t actual.
His defence legal professional, Dane DeKrey, mentioned Martin had negative concept concerning the cultural usefulness of the slippers and had by no means clear The Expert of Ounces.
The courtroom paperwork didn’t quality any imaginable connection between Martin and Saliterman.
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The slippers are related to one of the crucial well-known traces within the musical: “There’s no place like home”.
The sneakers reputedly takes on magical powers when Dorothy utters the form thrice and clicks her heels – serving to to move her again house to Kansas.
The footwear are considered one of simply 4 excess pairs of crimson slippers old via Garland within the movie.
The alternative 3 pairs are held via the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian Museum of American Historical past and a non-public collector.
In keeping with John Kelsh, the launch director of the museum from the place the slippers had been stolen, they’ve now been returned to their actual proprietor – memorabilia collector Michael Shaw – and can then be offered at public sale.
