Missing 18th Century violin recovered

The Washington Times ^ | Feb, 10, 2005

[LadyShallott]

Lisle, IL, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Police have recovered a rare, 18th Century violin that was taken from the basement of suburban Chicago church when its owner took a break from music lessons. The instrument made by Italian-violin maker Nicolo Gagliano in Naples in 1774 was valued at more than $280,000. The violin disappeared Feb. 2 from a basement room at the First United Church of Christ in Lisle, Ill. Police released few details but said the violin was recovered undamaged and was being held as evidence. Printed music scores and catalogs were missing from the violin's case. Technicians were dusting the instrument for fingerprints. No one has been charged. "I'm so happy to have it back," Pamela Bublitz-Snider told a news conference. "I have never had a scare like this before." Bublitz-Snider said her parents bought her the violin when she was a teenager. She plans to outfit the violin with a chip that can be tracked electronically.

[politicket]

I wonder if the evidence locker has the proper humidity controls that a violin of this quality would require.

Also, what in the world are the idiots doing "dusting" it for fingerprints? A violin's tonal qualities can change very easily when people begin messing with it.