New-York tribune., 1921-12-22
Widow Seeks
To Administer.
Carl1so Estate
Application Affecting N. Y.
Property Shows All Heirs
in Agreement Regarding
Disposition Of His Wealth
Daughter Receives Half
Italian Holdings Put at Four
Millions: 100000 Here
Besides Record Royalties

Mrs. Dorothy Benjamin Caruso ap-
piled to the Surrogates' Court yester-
day for ancillary letters Of administra-
tion on the American property Of her
husband, Enrico Caruso, at the same
time filing with Surrogate Cohalan a
copy of an agreement of all the heirs
OF the tenor, which document reveals
that the affairs Of his estate have been
adjusted satisfactorily to all con-
cerned.
Suggestions that have been made Of
a possible litigation over the estate are
set at rest by the agreement which
was signed in Naples on October 10
and approved by the proper tribunal in
that city on October 21. Under its
terms Gloria Caruso, infant daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Caruso, also is pro-
vided for, although she was born after
Mr.. Caruso made his will, January 4,
1919, which, under the Italian law,
made it imperative so far as she was
concerned.
O6ugnler GetS One-HaIf
Gloria will receive one-half of the
estate. In the case of Gloria, as with
all the other terms set forth in the
agreement, the wishes of Mr. Caruso
were carried out in every particular.
The agreement, a foridly worded docu-
ment in Italian, tells of the parties to
it "rising above personal interest" and
"guided by harmonious sentiments with
reverent thoughts of the unforgotten
deceased" Also, the agreement re-
lated that it would avoid expensive
litigation.
Alfred F. Seligsberg, of Wise &
estimated the italian estate of the
singer at 2o,o00,e00 lire, or about s4,-
100000, while the American estate, ex-
elusive of the photograph royalties that
will continue to accrue, has q value Of
about 100000.
Baby Gloria will have bank account
of 100000 lire, which is to be deposited
in the Banco Commercale, in Florence
In her name and on which the interest
is to accumulate until she is twenty
one years old, when the principal will
be turned over to her. Her share also
includes the more important articles
which belonged to her father.
The other half of the estate is to be
divided into four equal parts, of which
MRS. Caruso will receive one part, the
other three parts to go to Rodolfo and
Enrlco, some of the dead tenor, and
Giovanni Caruso, his brother. In ac-
cordance with the wishes of Mr..
Caruso, fitting chapel will be erected
IN the Naples cemetery to received his
body Provision is also made for the
support of the decedent's stepmother
Mrs. Marie Castaldi, and for a dis
tr1bution Of funds to employees of Mr.
Caruso.
Will Dated January, 1919
Mr.: Caruso's will of January A, 1919
annnlied all prior testments made by
him and named as his universal
nelrs," his widow, sons and brother
AS to Mrs. Caruso, he said: "To my
wife. Dorothy, born Benjamin, the part
which the Italian law grants to her"
Because of the fact that Gloria was
not yet born when this will was ex-
ecuted, difficult questions might have
arisen, said Mr.. Seligsberg, as to the
exact proportion of the estate to which
Gloria and the other interested par
ties were entitled. That all these are
now in accord is shown by the fact
that they have Joined in asking that
Mrs. Caruso be appointed here as
ancillary administratrix of the Amer
lean estate. Amedeo Canessa, noted
antiquarian, appointed by the Italian
courts as special guardian for the
Caruso infant, also joined in the an.
plication.
Mr.. Seligsberg said the appointment
of Mrs Caruso is for the purpose Of
collecting the assets of the estate ir
New York State and paying the credi
tors here, after which she will turn the
surplus over to the Italian estate fo,
distribution, according to the terms
Of the agreement
Later application will be made In
New Jersey to have Mrs. Caruso ap
pointed ancillary administering there
so that she can collect the royalties
due from tho Victor Company under
the contract Mr.. Caruso had with tha
concern.