The New York herald., 1921-08-05
Secretary Says Singer Con-
verted U. S. Securities and
Also Took Personal Be-
longings With Him.
INCOME TAX FIGURES
Villa at East Hampton
Was Held by Him Under
Lease and He Owned
No Realty.
PACKED IN 38 TRUNKS
who Knows if / Shall Ever
Return to New York; He
Remarked in Explain
ing Action.
PACKED IN 38 TRUNKS

Bruno Zirato, for years the private
secretary and conf1dant of the great
tenor, authorized THE NEW York
HERALD yesterday to make public
the fact that Caruso left practically
no property, either real or personal,
In this country when he sailed away
last spring to his native shores. His
bonds and securities had been sold
under his orders before his departure.
Even his beloved objets dart, his ce-
ramics, his pictures, coins and curios,
Of which he had marvellous collec-
tion, were packed into twenty great
trunks and boxes, and most Of them
were shipped to Italy. So were all
the personal effects and furnishings
with which he had beautified the
Caruso suite in the Hotel Vanderbilt.
And Caruso's frankly spoken rea-
son for this course, according to his
secretary, although the tenor ex-
pressed it with an almost jocular
nonchalance, was, Who knows,
Bruno, may never get back to New
York;"
Nothing Here to "seal.r
Mr.. Zirato secuted the cabled re-
port from Naples that Mrs. Caruso
had taken steps Ito seal the New
York residence OF the late singer
pending decision regarding the
Z disposition of the estate" Il can
not believe" said the secretary.
that Mrs. Caruso has done anything
of the sort, for she knows quite
as we'll as do that there is nothing
whatever remaining here that be-
longed to Mr. Caruso. All the furni-
ture and appurtenances now in these
apartments are the property OF the
Hotel Vanderbilt and part of it's
regular equipment. The few pictures
which you see here on the wall be-
hind my desk, personal souvenirs
and the like, are mine. There is
nothing whatever here to be sealed
"As there has been not a little error
in some reports, ! trust THE NEW
YoRK HERALD will make. what | now
have to say emphatic and precise. MIR.
Caruso. in the first place, never has
owned any real estate in America. The
villa in East Hampton. l.. l., he leased
for a term of six months from AL
bert Herter the artist. His city resi-
dence here in the Vanderbilt, of course,
was also under leasehold. When he
sailed for Italy last spring 1t was his
request that occupy 1t with my wife,
and lave continued TO do so.
Little Left In safety vnult.
"As for personal property, practical
" all Mr.. Caruso's stocks and bonds
with the sole exception of a compare
lively small block OF Liberty loan Sc
curities which he still retains in
safety deposit vault. were sold out
completely something like two years
ago by the Fifth Avenue Bank, under
his orders. His reason for this action
! presume. was the heavy Government
taxes now imposed upon such hold
ings. though during war time and
thereafter there were few men. IL
any. who paid large income tax i'm
posts more cheerfully than he.
Until shortly before his departure
for Italy many of Mr.. Caruso's most
cherished art objects remained here
In his suite in the Vanderbilt. But 1t
was by his order that these were all
large packing cases and were re-
moved Even the magnificent collec-
ton Of gifts-silver. china, pictures
and all kinds Of rich knickknacks--
occasion of the twenty-fifth anniver-
sary Of his connection with the Metro
poltan Opera Company were careful
" packed away. ana these accom-
panied him and Mrs. Caruso TO Sor-
rento. There were eighteen. trunks
and large cases required to contain
these personal effects. in addition to
the twenty trunks which, went aboard
the Presidente Wilson as cabin bag
gage a few cases which remain here
arc now In a safe deposit vault"
Nr. Zirato vas asked f he knew the
rifpcrt ot the Sll executed by Caruso
n.fosr nis t.ness last winter in this
city,
II Sioall ltsc sen 70 mako this par
;lcularly emphatic" he replied. There
= no 1san IN America who knows any
hing authentic cf tfe amount OF tho
Garuso cstnte nor OF the manner In
which ne has disposed ~ Il;
Il note In thc newspapers references
70 Caruso's will made by Constantine J.
lperco. personal friend OF the testa-
cowftnred on Fo.,Yh ra0c.