New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-18
BOTTS VIOLIN RECOVERED
RARE STRADTVARIUS STOLEN YEARS
AGO FOUND IN BROOKLYN.
ITS LOSS KILLED ITS OWNER AND RUINED
DEALER CONVICTED UNJUSTLY OF
ITS THEFT-sOLD FOR $50 TO
WOMAN SHOPKEFPER

ITS THEFT-SOLD FOR $50 TO A
WOMAN sHOPKEEPER.
Old vioIins nearly always have histories. Few
Of these records have more Of romance in them
than that Of a Stradivarius recovered yester-
day by Captain McClusky. It is worth $1,000.
One man came to his death, one was sentenced
to year in the penitentiary. and a woman
has grieved for five long years on account of
this rare instrument.
J. Bott, of No. 374 West Thirty -second-st, re-
ported TO the police on March 81. 1895, that a
Stradivarius violin worth several thousand dol
lars had been stolen from his house. He said
that he had only a short time before commits
stoned Victor FlechJer, a dealer in musical in
struments, at No. % Union Square to negotiate
with Signor Nicolini, Nine. PATHS husband, for
the sale OF the violin
Signor Nicolini offered check for $1,000 for
the instrument just as he was about to sail for
Europe. Mr. Flechter carried the check to Mr..
Rott, who declined it He said he would not
accept a check under the circumstances. Signor
Nicolini angered at this impeachment
Of his good faith that he declared the deal off
Flechter was so disguised that he returned the
Stradivarius TO its owner and asked TO be ab-
solved from further connection with the affair
It believed that the incident was closed
Not so. however, for Signor Nicolini was so
impressed with the wonderful tone Of the violin
wrote to Dir. Flechter. He renewed his offer
and said he would make the payment in any
form required. Mr.. Flechter had also recon-
sidered his determination and he went to the
Bott home to see what could be done. Mr. Bott
decided TO accept the offer He went to his
cabinet for the instrument. He came out a
moment later pale as death, and sank In
swoon into chair. His precious stradivarius
had been stolen.
FLECHTER CONVICTED OF THE THEFT
The police on June 90 1885, arrested Mr..
Flechter on the charge Of having stolen the
instrument. He protested that he knew moth
ing Of the violin. He had returned it to Mr.
Bott and had never seen it again. He was in
dicted, however, by the Grand Jury. A Jury
convicted him Of the theft. Recorder Goff on
May %, 1896 sentenced the dealer to one year
in the penitentiary. Sentence was suspended
pending an appeal. Since that time FIechter
has been out bail He has spent thousands
Of dollars IN searching for the violin. The
great strain Of worry over his disgrace has
visiby aged him.
Mr.. Bot worried so much over his loss that his
health was undermined and he died. His widow
for five long years has been a frequent caller
at Police Headquarters, inquiring for tidings Of
her lost treasure. Flechter too, was frequently
seen at Headquarters a similar errand.
Captain McClusky was in his Office yesterday
when FIechter called. The dealer was so ex-
cited that he could hardly stand.
AT last! At Iast!' he exclaimed.
Have you found it?" asked the Chief Of De-
tectives, eagerly.
It's over in Brooklyn" FIechter answered.
He then told how friend Of his, James G.
Tarr violin maker, Of No. 294 Atantic-ave.,
had few days before dropped in to tell him Of
Z marvellous old violin that could be bought
over his way. He said Mrs. Amelia Springer,
rF "a haG nal "a
supply shop al No. 45 Smith-st.. had the in
strument.
COULD NOT FORGET IT'S SWEET TONES.
60 and see it. It's a marvel" Tarr told him
Something seemed to tell Flechter that this was
q clew 10 the stolen Stradivarius. He had been
fooled so many times, however, that he was not
inclined TO bother. But despite himself, he
could not forget his enthusiastic friends request
10 GO and see It" He finally did so, and his
visit was q fortunate one for him. Mrs. Springer
readily allowed him to see the instrument he
was almost certain al the first glance that it
= as the instrument for the loss of which he
was in danger OF Imprisonment. To make sure
ne tried IL. That removed all his doubts. Once
heard the heavenly tones Of the old masters s
WORK cannot be forgotten he SAID nothlng 10
Mrs. Springer, but excused his agitation on the
pretence that it was his heart which had af-
fected him. He would bring q friend to see II.
Captain McClusky called in Detective Sergeant
Samuel Price and told him 70 investigate. De-
tective Price looked up the records Of the Flech-
ter trial and secured the testimony given by
Mrs BOtt. in which she described the violin in
minute detail. With this information he went
with Flechter Mrs. Springer's house. He
was introduced who had plenty of
money and a passion for rare violins. After
thorough examination Of the instrument he was
convinced that IL was the stolen 'Strad." He
50 Informed Mrs. Springer, and, revealing his
Identity TODD the instrument 10 Police Head
quarters
Mrs. Springer appears TO have come into pos
session Of the violin innocently She said a
tailor VINO had sometimes made small cash
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