New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
Vivian Carmichael, of 7th Regl.
ment, Accused of Fraudu-
IentIy Collecting Insur-
ance on Wedding Gifts.
TRIED TO LOCK SLEUTH IN
Key Turned on Detective Sent
to Make Arrest - Threat
to Batter Down Door
Secures His
Release.


Vivian Carmichael, thirty years old,
Of Merrick, Long Island, a member Of
the 9Th Regiment, who says he is
lineal descendant of the Earl of Fife,
was arrested yesterday by Detective
Russo, of District Attorney Whitman's
staff, on an indictment charging him
with fling a false evidence Of loss on
5000 worth Of wedding presents said
tC have been destroyed when his house
burned to the -.ound in Merrick on
July %, 1910.
Carmichael is the son. Of Thomas
Carmichael, head Of the finn OF Dent &
Palmer, bankers, Of London, with
Offices in New York and Cairo. Three
days ago he returned with Mrs. Car
michael from a visit at his fathers
residence. Monks Orchard Kent. De-
tective Russo, with a bench warrant,
shadowed him about from one place TO
another in the vicinity of Broadway
and 72d street. On Friday night he
heard that Carmichael and his wife
were visiting friends in the Chatsworth
Apartments, in I'D street, at the foot
of Riverside Drive.
Russo sent up his personal card yes
terday morning. saying that he wanted
to see Mr.. Carmichael on private bust
ness. The servants said Mr.. Car
michael couldn't be disturbed. The de-
tective walked around the block a few
times and then went upstairs and rang
the bell. He stepped inside and made
his way TO the apartments, and man.
aged to get inside before he disclosed
his identity to Mrs. Carmichael and the
other women occupants.
Detective a Prisoner.
The women offered to show Russo
around the place and took him through
several rooms. They finally came TO a
bedroom. and as Russo stepped inside
Mrs. Carmiahael stepped back and
snapped the lock. The detective, re-
alizing that he was prisoner, raised
his voice and informed the women that
the house was surrounded by de-
tectives and that it would be silly for
Carmichael to attempt to escape. As
this seemed TO have no effect Russo
threatened to smash out the panels Of
the door. He was just putting his
shoulders to he door when it was
opened.
Carmichael was found in bed in an
adjoining room. He dressed and ac-
companied Russo to the Criminal
Courts Building, where he was joined
by his lawyer. Neither would have
anything TO say about the arrest. Car
michael was taken TO the Tombs in de-
fault of bail
According to the story related to AS
sistant District Attorney Delehanty BY
w. J. X. Kenney formerly supervisor
Of the City Record, Carmichael married
his (Kenney's) daughter. Elsie Marie
Kenney. on April 13, 1909. in Merrick.
They were introduced in 1902 by mu-
tual friends when Miss Kenney was
attending the Academy Of the Sacred
Heart. Madison avenue and 5ith street.
He said he was a descendant OF the
Earl of Fife and that he was soon TO
come into his estates in England. Hs
told Miss Kenney that II she would
marry him he would present her az
court during the coronation Of King
George V. The marriage followed
shortly.
There were reports Of fabulous we'd
ding presents mounting up to many
thousands OF dollars. The information
contained in the indictment says that
Carmichael took out $4,000 insurance
on the gifts with the Insurance Com
pany Of North America, in Philadel-
phia, in May. 1910. The gifts, It was
said. were stored nigh on a shelf in
corner cupboard Of the Carmichael
house on Merrick Road, known as The
Manse." The door to the cupboard was
fastened down by two dozen long
screws.
Collected Insurance.
Carmichael. after the marriage, the
information states, engaged in real
estate venture. selling so called "Mer-
rick Estates" on Long Island. the
company stopped doing business IN
1911. with a 100000 deficit. Carmi-
chael continued to live in his fashion
able Merrick avenue house until July
IS. 1910, when he and his wife went
10 New Rochelle to visit friends. Four
days later word was conveyed to the
servant to close the Merrick house and
remove her belongings The following
day the house burned TO the ground.
Carmichael. the indictment says. re-
covered S4,950 insurance on the we'd
ding presents alone According to the
information brought to the District At
torney's office, some Of the most costly