The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-28
Wichitan Paid $25 for 1t to a
Second Hand Dealer.
Thought to Be One of Few
Genuine Stradivarius.
WAS MAIDEN CREMONA
Kansan Has Owned Instrument
More Than 30 Years.
Bought 1t at Palatka, Fla, From
a Frenchman.

Wichita, Kan, Feb. 28.-With the
coming to Wichita of the great violin
| list, MiSha Elman, and his $4,000
Stradivarius instrument, made early in
the eighteenth century, it develops
that Wichita citizen owns what is
purported to be a very valuable violin,
the make of the famous Antonio
StradivariuS. The Wichita violin is
| ia years cid and owned by w. o. Raj
ferty, 419 North Waco avenue. Mr..
Rafferty, says that he has been m
| formed by the greatest experts of vio-
Inns that his instrument is a genuine
''Strad."
He has owned this instrument more
| than 30 years and for at least a quar-
ter of a century never dreamed of its
great value. He bought it at Palatka,
Fla, of a Frenchnan who was in the
second hand musical instrument bust
ness, paying SIS for it. The dealer had
purchased it of a countryman who
| landed in his town destitute and need
| ed cash.
In the summer of 1903 Mr. Rafferty,
picked up a copy of the st. Louis Re-
public and read:
Paris, France. June is, 1903. (Spe-
cial to the New York Herald and the
st. Louis Republic.)-Two Stradivarius
of the year 1920 sold today at private
sale. One to NJ. LIE Lange for 81, 400,
and the other to M. Caressa for $2,100."
This caused Mr.. Rafferty, to get in
still in excellent preservation, might be
one of the rare make, so he wrote the
firm mentioned in the newspaper clip
ping. Promptly came letter from the
firm in French, translated for Mr.. Raj
ferty by his daughter. The letter was
from Caressa & Francois, under date
of July 1, 1908. 1t stated that Mrs
Rafferty's instrument was probably
one of those made by the great genius
in the last years of the Lutte Mekler,"
and though rare and of great value,
not one of the most rare. However,
Mr.. Rafferty, replied to this letter and
another came from the French firm
saying to send his violin for inspection.
Then for the first time Mr.. Rafferty,
learned that there was one sure test
Of the antiquity of his instrument and
that was a certain inscription within
the violin and beneath the cured open
ings. Mr.. Rafferty, looked as advised
by Caressa & Francois, and there was
the talisman that proclaimed his in
strument genuine.
It read in italian: "Antonius Stradi-
varius, Cremonen, fra faciebat; ammo
1872
Evidently the Paris firm announced
to the curio world the possession by
Mr.. Rafferty, of the old violin, Tor since
that time, though he has not initiated
any correspondence, be has had a flood
of letters from many dealers in Amer
lea, asking his price and to send it on
for inspection. He now says that he
will not sell it for less than $500. 1t is
not refinished, one of the absolute re-
quirements of all dealers; there are no
splits in it, and it is in very good con-
dition.
Mr.. Rafferty, tried in vain to get an
audience with MiscIa Elnlan to see his
violin. Elman absolutely refuses to al
low anyone to touch his instrument,
and he declined all overtures on the
part of Mr.. Rafferty, to see him.
Mr. Rafferty, has a house full of
every known instrument, string, wind
or otherwise, accumulated in a half
century. He lays no claim to musical
talents himself, but he has given to his
children musical opportunities.