Claude Abel fights for painting
99'er Claude Abel fights for painting Ron Furno of L/395 sent an article from the Idaho Statesman about fellow 99'er Claude Abel of B/394 who is fighting for his state. Claude is 83. The newspaper article says he doesn't look like a "tough guy," he's soft spoken and enjoys classic automobiles and cardigan sweaters. An art collector purchased a painting from Abel's aunt. He paid $25 to the Salvation Army. Abel says the Salvation Army mistakenly took the painting after his aunt's death. It has an appraised value of $15,000. When the collector who paid $25 refused to return Abel's calls, it "made me made" the 99'er said. Abel got made enough to spend $7,000 in legal fees to get the painting back in his family. The newspaper ran a color photo of Abel and the painting — an Indian mounted on horseback. Abel said the value of the painting was not the major cause of the suit, but it was a family heirloom which never should have left the family. "I knew darned well I was right." The artist's work has been compared with Remington and Russell. He was a native Idaho cowboy who often presented his western artwork to friends. He gave the painting of an Indian riding a white horse to Abel's aunt in 1932. After his long and costly fight which went all the way to the Idaho Supreme Court, Abel won. He said the painting has a lot of meaning to him. And, like any 99'er, he fought for what was right.