The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-07
$1,000 StTadeVariuS TO Be Re-
stored to Widow Of Owner.
FLECHTER IS ExONERATED
Mrs. Springer, In Whose Shop the To-
sirumsni Was Found After II OIsap.
psarsd, 10 Receive $l5O.

New York, July 7.--After eight years
OF wandering. the famous $1,000 red Strad-
ivarius" violin will tomorrow be re-
stored 20 the window Of its owner Joseph
Jean Bott. from whom IL was stolen on
the afternoon OF March 81. 1894 The re-
storation will be accompanied by the dis
mlssal of the indictment against Victor
s. Flechter. an instrument dealer. who
was once convicted OF the theft, but 10
whom the appellate division granted a new
trial. which is now pending
This will end one OF the most dramatic
cases that has ever come within the ken
OF the police, who were engaged for years
In the effort 10 solve its mysteries-mys-
teries that were fraught with sensational
Incidents and that led indirectly at least,
20 the death OF the man from whom the
historic instrument was stolen. Mrs Bott
is now living with a friend at 374 West
Thirty-frst street When she regalns pos
session OF the violin she will return to
Hanover, Germany, where she has made
her home since her husbands death.
BELONGED TO HIS INSTRUCTOR.
Mr.. Bott was a music teacher who had
gained celebrity In Europe before he came
TO this city, where he had many pupils.
While In Germany he obtained the violin
at a sale OF the effects OF his instructor,
Professor Hausman, then dead, for $500.
When brought 1t here II was coveted by
numerous dealers and collectors, but he
was ioath 10 part with Il. for sentimental
reason Mr. Flechter. among others,
made fiattering offers for the instrument.
At one time Professor Bott was about 10
Yield 10 a tender of $780, made by the
husband of Adelina Patti, Signor N!colini,
but desisted when he learned that the
payment was TO be made by check on the
eve OF Nicolini's departure for Europe.
This was early In 1894. Less than
month later the violin was stolen from the
Bolts apartments. In West Thirty-fifth
street At the time both Professor and
Mrs. Bott were absent, and the fact that
money and jewels that lay I'm plain sight
on bureau were not touched was regard
ed as proof that the thief was aware or
the value attached to the instrument.
More than a year later Mrs. Bott accused
Mr. Flechter OF the theft, and then began
the litigation whose termination will take
place tomorrow. Fletcher was indicted on
Aug. 30. 1895. and again I'm March I, 1895.
and on April 30 of the latter year was con-
victed.
FOUND UNDER OLD SOFA
While the case was on appeal the red
Strad" was found, on Aug. IL, 1900. under
an old sofa In little shop conducted by
Mrs Leon Springer. a dealer In tailors
trimmings. at l55 Jay street. Brooklyn.
Experts who examined II pronounced IT
genuine Mrs. Bott who I'm the meantime
had become widow. rushed across the
Atlantic to regain possession OF II.
To the detectives who had been engaged
In tracing the movement OF the violin,
Mrs Springer told the elements OF the
romance Of the wandering OF the instru-
ment. She had got II. she said, from an
itlnerant Irish tailor for $50, but she was
unable 10 tell who the man was further
than ne had represented himself as Jim"
Dooley. After a long search Dooley WAS
found, and he added a few more de-
tails.
In the window OF BenaJmln Foxs pawn
shop an Eighth avenue, near Fourteenth
street he said he had seen the violin, and
being a fiddler" as he expressed II, he
purchased the instrument for $50. The
marvellous sweetness OF its tone had Inn
pressed him. but he was no connoisseur
ard was frequently BROKE" so the
"Strad" was as often I'm pawn shops as
81 was IN his possession. At one time.
while the search was at it's height he
had pledged II in a pawn-broker's place
within a few doors OF police headquarters
PLEDGED FOR 81 on DAY OF THEFT
The recovery OF the instrument and the
individuality OF its Identification gave
Flechter more hope. and he pressed hard
for the retrial which. I'm the meantime.
had been ordered by the appellate division.
In tho taking OF new testimony before Re
corder Con Fox, who had sold the violin
90 Dooley, produced his books. which
showed that the instrument had been
pledged on the very day OF its disappear
ance for 81. though he was unable 10 say
by whom. The taking OF this testimony
was for the purpose OF eliciting new evi-
dence which Flechter's lawyers claimed
10 have discovered.
During Its progress the violin was taken
apart In court by an expert. who pro-
nounced Il n genuine Stradivarious and
the one which Professor Bott had brought
10 this country.
In the gendency OF the new trial the
instrument was held az evidence Mrs
Springer being recognized as It's valid
owner Ii Is understood that Mrs Bott
has paid Mrs Springer $3.50 and that sne
will receive from the Brooklyn woman
a release OF her Indictment against Flech-
ter is a natural consequence as there Is
no proof that he had any connection with
the disappearance OF the violin. while the
fact that II was permitted 20 be sold as an
unredemeed pledge for pittance is re-
garded as additional proof of the indicted
mans innocence.
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