Finder of treasured viola insists that he did
nothing wrong. |
Chicago Tribune Tuesday June 23rd, 1998
By Phat X. Chiem - Tribune Staff Writer
Days after the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recovered a prized viola that had been missing since 1996, some light has been shed on the Instrument’s mysterious 20-month absence.
Robert Heiss, the 71-year-old Chicago businessman charged last week with the viola’s theft, said Monday that he did nothing wrong when he took the instrument home street on Sept. 18, l996.
His find came just moments after CSO’s principal violist forgot to take the viola after loading his car on South Columbus Drive behind the Art Institute of Chicago. After almost two years, the instrument surfaced late last week when Heiss took It to Fritz Reuter, a Lincolnwood violinmaker and appraiser.
Heiss, who has been charged with one account of felony theft in connection with the viola’s disappearance said he didn’t know the instrument’s $175,000 value. The instrument bears an Inscription Indicating that it was made by the Venetian violin-maker Dominicus Montagnana in 1723, but some experts don’t think its authentic.
"I thought it was a fiddle and threw it in the closet" Heiss said. "I wasn’t under any obligation to return it."
Heiss insisted that nothing on the viola or inside its brown canvas case identified it as the property of the orchestra. And Heiss said he made no attempts to turn the instrument over to authorities because "I don’t trust the police."
But Charles Pikler, the
CSO violist who lost the viola, said Sunday that its case contained the orchestra’s address and a checkbook with his name and phone number on it."The case was loaded with Identification," Pikler said.
On Monday afternoon, a delighted Pikler gave a special performance with the instrument at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park.
Meanwhile, police detectives still are alleging that Heiss meant to profit from the missing viola. According to police, Heiss initially told investigators he bought the instrument at a flea market for $20,000.
"He was aware of the value of the instrument," a Chicago Police Department spokesman Pat Camden. "He took it to the music shop to sell it for consignment."
Heiss denied any wrongdoing, saying he would have gladly returned the Instrument if he had been aware of Its significance.
"I took it to a world-renowned violin-maker and appraiser," he said. "I figured if there was anything wrong, he would tell me."
CSO officials said Monday they are leaving the investigation up to the police. They’re just happy to have the treasured viola back in their possession.
"We are more Interested in the sound that it ‘brings to the orchestra," said CSO spokeswoman Synneve Carlino. "In a sense, it’s priceless."