The Washington times., 1921-07-24
A. ('.PA[M|ER
|SHELD BY
n. !. POLICE
Brother OF Major A. n. Palmer
Claimed WindfalI After Death
OF British Earl.

W SssSSss sssAs b
NEW YORK, July 23.--In York
vile prison, charged with larceny
IN passing bad checks, is Alfred
Craven Palmer, former army lieu
tenant, who saw service abroad in
the Intelligence Department, and
who Is connected with some Of the
best families in New York and
Washington.
Brother Of Capital Man.
Until his arrest, Wednesday. Palmer
lived at the Hotel Allerton. IS East
Fifty fifth street He IL q brother Of
Major A. Henry Palmer. Of Washing
ton. and first cousin of Eckford
Craven de Kay, Of New York. military
secretary under former Governor Dix.
Mr.. de Kay said today his mother and
the prisoners mother were sisters.
Through his mother. Palmer is also
related to the Schermerhorn family in
New York.
Paimer was appointed a prohibition
agent in New York by Federal Pro-
hibition Officer Chaplin. March 2. In
his room at the time of his arrest
were found eleven empty gin bottles
and one three-quarters filled
Claimed Noble Lineage.
Palmer was arrested by Detective
John A Hughes on complaint of
Charles r. Britton. night manager Of
the Allerton Hotel, and Thomas King,
hotel valet Palmer's check to the
hotel was for $40 only, but that to the
valet was said to be for $40. He Is
also alleged to have given checks to a
"cabby'' from whom he further Dor
rowed S2h He told the latter at the
the time he was a cousin of the
Earl of Craven. recently drowned off
Cowes, and that he had inherited a
''windfall"
MIR. de Kay said last night his
cousin might be related to the
family of the Earl some 200 years
back. He said Palmer as a boy trav-
ded around with q rich set and got
in the habit of spending beyond his
means. He said he disappeared for
years at q time and this was the
first heard Of him In . long while.
Palmer's mother. Mrs. Aulick Pal
mer,7 lives'in Washington. His moth
er and father. the latter a prominent
retired business man, are both out
of town for the summer. A sister,
Miss Helena Palmer. is the only
immediate relative now in Washing
ton.
Family in Washington.
Miss Palmer said that no direct
Palmer for many years. She said
the family knew he had served as
a lieutenant during the war and
that he had left the service. but un-
I'll last night they did not know he
was under arrest. His brother. L.
Kenny Palmer, Is stationed at Wash
ington.
Before his identity had become
known Palmer was asked of his re-
ported relationship to the Schermer-
horns. He said: Just say I'm not
related TO anybody" He admitted
having been a lieutenant in the army.
however. and said his difficulties
would be explained at the proper
time
Palmer is apparently forty-five
years old. He has a brown mustache,
neatly trimmed. and is slightly bald.
in his rooms at the time of his arrest
was a letter addressed ALFRED Dear, /"
written by a woman who signed her
name Helen. and spoke of his love
growing cold. There was also COM
: r1endation from his superior officers
for stopping certain Bolshevik activi-
ties.
War Record Vouched For.
Palmer is said to have been mar.
ried and divorced many years ago.
He was recommended to the Hotel
Allerton by e. K Wrinkle OF 152 Yves,
Seventy-second street as having had
q good war record"
The checks drawn by Palmer were
said to have been on the Lincoln Trust
Company, where on May 2, 1t Is said,
he had only s1.45 deposited and had
been notified to complete his account.
According to the Burns Detective
Agency, Palmer owes bills to several
hotels in this city. and that agency
Is said to have sought him since July.
1920.
Palmer was held in $500 bail by Mag
istrate Mancuso In Yorkville court.