Submitted by Kenyon Gibson, Oct 28, 2006 08:09

I knew William well for ten years, and he showed his collection to friends; he even had an interest in having someone look at the Copley before his death. As he knew me well enough to know I had worked with the police in NY on investigations (Kenmore Hotel drug running, etc.), he would not have shown his collection to me if he knew it contained stolen pieces. Out of 250 3 or 4 have been deemed as hot. Not bad odds, bearing in mind the number of major collections that have come amount of art with a dubious provenance. Let us not judge without evidence. William, or Melvyn, was an honest guy who was well respected for his knowledge, and often gave of his time. After 9/11 he made anomymous donations to families of victims, and on a personal level, he was quite friendly, mixing with the rich and poor alike. Let him rest now in peace.

Part of his legacy is that he helped me to research "Hemp for Victory: History and Qualities of the World's Most Useful Plant", and I have dedicated it to him.

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