The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-25
LOST VIOLIN RECOVERED.
Patient Search for stolen Stradi-
varius Rewarded.

variuS Rewarded.
From the New York Times.
Old violins nearly always have histo-
res. Few of these records have more of
romance in them than that of Stradiv-
arus recovered yesterday. 1t is worth S.
COO. One man came to his death. one was
sentenced to a year in the penitentiary,
and a woman has grieved for five years
on account of this rare instrument.
j. Bott of 374 West Thirty-second
street reported to the police March 81,
1895 that a Stradivarius violin worth sew
eral thousand dollars had been stolen
from his house. He said that he had but
a short time before commissioned Victor
Flechter, a dealer in musical instruments
at % Union square, to negotiate with
signor Nicolini, Nine. PATHS husband.
for the sale of the violin.
Signor Nicolini offered check for S.
900 for the instrument just as he was
about to sail for Europe. Dealer Flechter
carried the check to Bot, who declined
it. He said he would not accept a check
under the circum stances. Flechter was so
disguised that he returned the Stradva-
RUS to its owner and asked to be alb
solved from any further connection with
the matter. 1t was believed that the in
c'dent was closed. Not so, however. for
S gnor Nicolini had no sooner reached
home than he wrote to Mr.. F1echter He
renewed his offer and said he would
make the payment in any form required
MIR Flechter went to the Bott home to
see what could be DONE Mr.. Bott decid-
ed to accept the offer. He went to his
cabinet for the instrument. He came out
a moment later, pale as death. he sank
in a swoon into chair. HIS StrauVa-
RUS had been stolen.
The police on June &c, 1895. arrested Mr..
Flechter on the charge of having stolen
the instrument He was indicted by the
grand jury. A jury convicted him OF the
theft. Recorder Golf on May %, 1896, SEN
fenced the dealer to one year in the PEN
itentiary Sentence was suspended pend
ing an appeal Since that time Flechter
has been out on bail.
Mr.. Bott worried so much over his loss
that his health was undermined and he
died The widow has been frequent
caller at police headquarters.
Capt McClusky was in his office yester-
day when Flechter called. The dealer was
so excited that he could hardly stand.
AT last; at last" he exclaimed.
Have you found it," asked the chief Of
detectives eagerly.
''Its over in Brooklyn" Flechter told
him. He then told of how friend of
his James G. Tarr a violin maker of 294
Atlantic avenue. had a few days before
dropped in to tell him of a marvellous old
violin that could be bought over his way.
He said Mrs. Amelia Springer of 1855 Jay
street who had a small tailor supply shop
at 40 Smith street, had the instrument.
GO and see it, It's a marvel"
| I'D Gn
that he was not inclined to bother. But,
despite himself he could not forget his
friends enthusiast site request to go and
see it," He finally did. Mrs Springer
readily allowed him to see the instrument.
He was almost certain at the first glance
that it was the lost instrument for which
he was in danger of becoming felon. To
make sure he tried it. That removed all
doubts.
Capt. McClusky called in Detective Ser
seant Samuel Price and told him to inves-
| tigate Detective Price looked up the
| records of the Flechter trial He then
went with Flechter to Mrs Springer
house. He was introduced as Mr.. San
| ders, who had lots of money and a pas
| sion for rare violins. After thorough ex-
| animation of the instrument he was con-
WINGED that it was the stolen Strad. He
so informed Mrs. Springer and. revealing
| headquarters.
Mrs. Springer appears to have come
| into possession of the violin innocently.
| She said a tailor who had sometimes
made small cash purchases at her shop
and whom she had dealt with for per-
| haps ten years, called one day about Ave
years ago and told her of a friend of his,
| a widow in sore distress. The widow was
alleged 10 have just buried her husband.
l In tna ira ~
| York theater. He said she wanted to sell
her husbands violin, a rare instrument,
! She would Toxic $50 for it, Mrs. Springer
| consulted with her son. who is a musician,
| and he advised her to risk a purchase.
| She paid the $50 and the violin was given
| TO her Her son at once recognized Its
| merits. but never believed ID was a Strad-
! ivarius He thought it was an old French
! instrument.
Detective Price and Mr.. Flechter are
| convinced that they have the stolen violin
beyond any responsible doubt. Two prin-
cipal marks are a Clipped corner. which
has been glued on, and a peculiar mark
made by the wearing of the bow. There
| are a number of smaller marks.
E-lechter was so delighted over his vindi-
| cation that at times he talked incoherent-
| lv Had he been allowed he would have
| crushed the violin in his fond embrace.
Word was sent TO Mrs. Bot of the re-
! covery of the violin. She said she would
call at police headquarters this morning
| 10 Identify the instrument. No arrests
| have been made. The police are con-
WINGED that Mrs. Springer is innocent OF
any wrong In the case
n the violin Is accepted by Mrs. Bott
F,echter will at once have his counsel go
into court and ask for his discharge.
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