The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09
FOUND, FLECHTER ISHAPPY

. OCND 70 establish his innocence. II
ID gntiring eFfort would avail Flecatee
immediately began an inquiry which
did not end until last week. About
month axe a friend IA Brooklyn told hua
there was an excellent instrument Ia
that borough which might be bought at
small prce IL was owned by Mrs.
Springer, OF No. %S Jay street. and she
had bought il about FIVE years ego.
How Is IL that you never hear Of any
thing that would put us on the track az
the Bott Stradf" Flechter asked of his
friend on the way
When they reached the house Mrs.
Springer was no; Inclined TO let them see
the violin. which, she said. belonged to
her son. who was playing with an orches-
ira al Coney island. When she said this,
Fiechter remarked afterward. something
told him that at last he had the missing
violin. and he determined not TO leave the
house until he had seen Il. lie argued
with the woman, and finally she said SHE
couldn't see any harm In allowing him TO
examine the violin. She pulled IL out from
under the bureau. and. taking II from its
case. handed IL 20 Fiechter.
AT the first glance" he said, Il knew
all my troubles were at an end. II was
the Bot Strad--the violin we had been
seeking for so many years. II was hard
iy necessary for me to examine Il closely.
but l did. So nervous was 1. 30 fearful
I would betray my secret, that did not
attempt 10 play on IT. But telling the wo-
man that would pay her what she be-
lieved the violin was worth. left the
house.
lilo lest no time In going to police head
quarters. where he saw Capt McciuSky.
who is oonversant with the whole mat
ter.
at last, At iastr' he shouted. as he
burst IN upon the head OF the detective
bureau.
When he had told his good news. a de-
tective familiar with the case and tho
violin was sent with Flechter 10 Mrs.
Springer's house She said TINT about tive
years ago tailor with whom she had
business relations. and who knew hor son
was a musicion. told her he knew of q
violin her son should have. II was owned
by the widow of a musician: she was poor
and she was willing To sell tho "nddie'
for $50. Her son looked at the iustrn-
ment. but never dreamed II was the Bot
Strad. lie liked IL. however. and Mrs.
Springer bought II.
When the detective told her who no was
and the history of the treasure she own
ed the woman was amazed. To corrob-
crate her story. rhe said she had heard
from the tailor that the violin had been
offered for sale to "A butcher, whose name
she gave. Afterward tho detective visited
this man and learned that Mrs. Springer
told the truth, Then tho detective
brought the violin 70 police headquarters.
There IL was examined by many must
clans who knew II when II was owned by
the old professor. All Of them declare un-
hesitatingly that n was the Strad which
caused 30 much woe. Tho sister of Mrs.
Bott-tha professors widow IN now In
Europe--was one Of those who identined
the Instrument. and each day the identi-
ficatlon II made stronger.
III Ax.n IN N n
said f1achter recently. II have been am
ply repaid for oil my trouble. and az last
1 will be- able 90 look every ono In tho
face and feel that am an honest man
once more l felt that before. Of course.
but l knew few shared my opinion.
And my trouhleg An. no ono who has
never passed through II will ever reaiixs
what II was 1t has cost III. saa.Dco In cash
in these last nve years. my business has
been ruined. practically. ] have Lost many
" HON thought were my friends. have
Travelled thousands and thousands ~
iniIes. awake or asleep my mind was busy
with that violin. Il never has been absent
from my thoughts. and now. thank God.
we have found Il ut last and no one may
call me a thief But my work In no, COM
piese We must learn who II was that
stole the violin. 10 I have determined
that when am declared innoc~nt ! will
devote my whole energies. what little
money / have left, in tho endcavor to-
learn who entered prof Bolts hous. on
that eventful day and stole his Red
sfrad