The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-17
By Bruce Kennedy.

upon the porperty of her deceased friend, ] Professor Alexandert de Czeke. The property includes violin which is said to be worth it's weight in pure gold.
 Professor Czeke was for seven years a familiar figure in Montgomery. He walked the streets and mingled with it's people. They did not know that the distinguished-appeari old gentleman, who daily went among them was per haps the greatest, certainly the most in- teresting musician that the Old World has given to the New.
 He was recognized as a musician of rare ability. His touch with the bow was something far sweeter than had ever been heard before by the cultured musical folks of Alabama's Capital City. But not until the venerable master laid down his bow and with it laid down his life did they know of his greatness. The secret was his own. He was modest as the maid who knows not of vice and 1t was not for him to say.
 He did not tell his friends that he was contemporary of Richard Wagner the great composer of music and reformer of the musical drama. It was not his to boast that he had walked the rosy way with Liszt when his youth was upon him. Sometimes, but seldom he refer red to his intimacy with Ole Bull, the great Norwegian violinist, but with char acter- istic reticence he saved his criticism of the great violinist for his autobiography. This autobiography declares that in the opinion of Professor Czeke Ole Bull vas a clever imitator. This he said of the great virtuoso, but with true loyalty to the reputation of his great friend Professor Czeke reserved this declaration for his poSt-mortem paper
 Of International Interest.
 The controversy over the estate of this aged musician who had nearly reached the eightieth milestone in lis remarkable career, has become of intern national in terest because of the fact that his rtta- tives scattered throughout the ,nuusl cily of Hungary have announced th"ir int"n- ton, through Montgomery lawyers, uf battling with Miss Hardin for tho per sonal effects and this priceless violin which was more to Professor czeHo than life itself. This sweet-stringed soul ful instrument was the pride of his life and the comfort of his dechuiag ears. When misfortune came and tho woman who, in the confiding faith of his old age, he had hoped would give him Ter heart had told him that 1t could not be so, the distinguished musician turned to his violin with confidence Tn it's ability To soothe. He died with the instrument elasped to his breast before an audi snce of his friends--just as he had. hoped to die.
 This Is the violin which Miss Hardin, who has presented a will said to be the only will left by Professor Czeke, claims is her property by virtue of his he1uest. She attaches no intrinsic value to the instrument. She has declared in letters to her Montgomery representative, Cclo- mel Charles P. Jones, that she r7Cst have the violin because of it's tender asccia- tion It was dear to her dead fliend and it is dear to her. On the other hand comes Alex Troy with powers of attorney from sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces of the Professor who live in his own picturesque Hungary and declare that they are his lawful heirs and as such are entitled to his property. They declare through their lawyer that the will filed in the Montgomery court is not the lawful will of Professor Czeke and that Miss Hardin of Kentucky nas no awful right to this grand old violin which may yet be sounded throughout the world as the greatest violin now in existence.
 The Other Claimants.
 But there are other claimants for the estate of Professor Czeke. In Hun gady there lives Miss Cecelia Czelle and Madame Raska, born Czeke. They are sisters of Professor Czeke. Miss Cecelia Czeke is totally blind and dependent Montgomery friends who knew Profess sor Czeke will say that he loved this Sister as he loved his violin. She is / destitute they say, now that he~ brother Is dead. Regularly he sent her money for her maintenance and since he is dead she must live upon her other rela- tiVes. These friends declare that they will see that the blind dependent sister of Professor Czei<e shares in his estate. They say this would have been the wish of their dear dead friend.
 Miss Cecelia Czeke and her sister. Madame Raska declined to join Tn the power of attorney sent to Alex Troy who represents the other heirs. These sisters are represented by JuliIs Stern field of Montgomery, who was appointed Special Administrator of the est ite of Professor Czeke fifteen days after his death and when 1t was believed that the great musician died intestate. They will be represented in the State of Florida by Blount and Blount. a we'll known Pensacola law firm. Professor Czeke owned property in Pensacola. It is said that he also owned property in Louisville, Ky 10 fiei value of .he (: tate cannot be determined until it is shown in court on December 9th.
 Landed estates, however, are not to be compared with the value of the grand old violin which played the accompaniment to the last heart gasps of Professor C,zeke. if connoisseurs who have journey cd to Montgomery to take look at it's delicately carved wood and it's peculiar mechanism are to be believed. Securely sealed in it's bejeweled case, it lies in the vault of the Merchants and Planters National Bank until the day when the courts of three States shall decide to whom 1t lightfully belongs.
 The Great Violin.
 Its master is sleeping on the crest of noble hill in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery. His wears have gone, but the years of the sunerb instrument. already passed four centuries. are still growing, each day giving it the crowning touch of antiquity.
 It is claimed that this violin Is mas terpiece of Duiffopruggar, the father Of violin makers This instrument was built in 1517 by Gaspard Duiffopruggar, who was born in Welch-Tyrol in 1467. He was called to the Court of Francois l, King of France, in 1510. and was later at Bologna with Italy's two most famous painters, Leonardo da Vinci and Audrea del Sarto.
 Gaspard had studied the art of lute and viol making in Italy, and he Is now acknowle dged originator of the king of string instruments, the perfected violin, he having evolved it from the incomplete and clumsy viol of the ancients.
 Francois I ordered several complete sets of the instruments from Duffoprug gar for his royal Orchestra-lute. viol, violin and cello. Vuillanme owned a vio- lincello of one of these sets. on whose back Is found a plan of Paris inlaid in rich wood.
 After thorough search it has been found