The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-12
Alsxander de cxeke.

Alexander de Czeke.
 Under the same date, the Clerk Of the court. William P. Johnson, certified to the correctness of the transcript of the record, and James F. Gregory, Judge of the County Court of Jefferson County, Kentucky, makes oath that William F. Johnson is the duly elected and author ized Clerk of the court. w. F. John- son certifes that James F. Gregory is the duly authorized Judge of the court.
 Court Intervenes..
 When these papers were filed with the Probate Court Colonel Jones called the attention of the court to the announce ment by the Special Administrator. Mir. Sternfeld, that the violins belonging to the estate would be sold at auction yes terday and asked for an order restrain ing him from selling the musical instru- ments. The order was issued and nel case was set for hearing on December sth to give both parties to the contrqr versy time to prepare evidence. Ie
 It Is said that the heirs of Professor Czeke would contend that at the time of his death Professor de Czeke was citizen of Alabama and that as such his unwitnessed will admitted to probate in Kentucky could not be accepted as a valid will by an Alabama court.
 It is further said that there was Joubt as to the genuineness of the will. 1t Is also said that the aged musician met Miss Hardin in Pensacola about two years ago. Whether she was his pupil is not known, but 1t Is related that he became attached to her. He remained in Pensacola seven or eight months and returned to Montgomery. He made periodical trips to Louisville. presumably to see Miss Hardin.
 A correspondence between them ensu- ed after he had met her in Florida and it Is claimed that this alleged will Is merely an extract from a letter writ ten by Professor de Czeke to Miss Har- din.
 Colonel Jones says his interest in the case is the result of a correspondence with the we'll known law firm of P. B. and Upton w. Muir of Louisville, Ky. This firm, representing Miss Hardin en- listed his interest and a copy of the alleged will was sent to him for probate in the Alabama court. Through the Louisville law firm Colonel Jones was of the controversy.
 tention of Colonel Jones by Judge Fl. w Bruce, General Counsel of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. Further correspondence with Judge Bruce, the herself. elicited the information that Miss Hardin belongs to the famous Hardin family of Kentucky. She Is highly rec commended by Theodore Harris, Presi- dent of the Louisville Banking Company and other correspondents of Colonel Jones. She writes that she Is in poor financial circumstances, but 1t IS indf- cated that. she is rich In influential
 Miss Hardin's Claim.
 Colonel Jones says he knows nothing ot Miss Hardin's connection with Prof. de Czeke, but he gives the opinion that she was his music pupil as she expresses her anxiety to secure the violins or Prof.
 When asked as to the legal status of the case Colonel Jones said that he stated to the Probate Court yesterday that ne was prepared to show the legality of the will. and if necessary to prove that Prof deCzeke was a citizen of Kentucky. He says he will further be able to show that Prof. deCzeke was preparing 10 leave Montgomery to make Louisville his per manent home when he was strlcken uoWh by the hand of death.
 The life history of Prof. Alexander de Czeke is as full of interest as if It had been written by master hand at fiction. He was a native of Hungary and began the study of music in the University of Vienna. He was not communicative about his early life and 1t is believed he belonged to the Hungarian nopinty. He associated with the master musicians of the old world and in Zurich Switzer. land. made the acquaintance Of Richard Wagner
 About seven years ago Prof. de Czeke, then about 70 years of age, came to Mont gomery from Georgia to teach the music of his violin at the earnest solicit2tlon of J. 8. Wilcox, Prof. Robert Eilenberg and other local musicians. He was no- madic as well as romantic and had lived in many places throughout the country: Notwithstanding his extreme age he had a picturesque appearance, being tall and stately with white hair His figure was a familiar one on the streets and he en- loved the full confidence and esteem or Montgomery musicians. =.
 Prof de Czeke was frugal. He loved his violin better than he loved himself Its sweet strains gave him the full pleas ure of his life and 1t is said that ne oIten sat alone in his apartments at the nome of Mrs Worsham on South Lawrence Street, and consoled his loneliness with his bow. "
 He had relatives in Austria and he reg ularIy correspondeh with them. IL is known that he had three sisters iiVlng in Austria and it Is said that one Of these sisters is totally blind. It Is said that Prof. de Czeke contributed regularly 70 her support. Mir. Sternfeld says that as snecial administrator he hopes 70 save something from the estate for this blind sister.
 Death of de Czeke.
 The dramatic and beautiful death of Prof, de Czeke will be recalled. The string of his life snapped while he was piaylng his beloved violin DeIOre n large duul- ence of Montgomery musicians.
 It was at a public recital given by ProI. Eilenberg at his studio on South. Perry Street The virtuoso never appeared to better advantage The audience was com nosed of his friends and admirers. He stood near the grand plano amid flowers and beautiful faces. The soft cadences of a classical selection had inst died away and his friends were clappinR their hands when the aged mu- sician staggered and fell to the floor. Friends rushed to him but hls life had gone out with the dying of the music.
 If ia now said that the violin on which ue pIayed that last selection is worth all oS inc violins in America combined. This is the violin that has caused the begin ming of litigation in the courts or two States There are five of the de Czeke violins but the instrument of the greatest value is the one which is said to have an- teda ted the superb violins of Stradiyarius hv two hundred years. By some this vio- lin ia said to have been made in 1517 by t;aspard Duiffopruggar. It was purchased hv PraS de Czeke from J. W. Ferre of Torest Miss. It is said that he paid $40 for inc Instrument in letter written to Ferre Joseph Bohman of Chicago, the famous violin manufacturer says:
 Your violin is a Defenbronir. He was one nf the first known makers-before Gasnsrd de Salo and others. It is quite valuable but I could not put a price on "Mr sternfeld. who was appointed spe-
 ,1 s-t.ator of the estate has had