The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-16
SERGE MDIvANI
KILLED BY KICK
OF POLO PONY
Louise Van Allen in Mourn
ing for Mate; Rites to Be
in Newport.
BIZ Enifed Presa

~ CHtteG PTeeS
PALM BEACH, Fla, March 49,
The wealthy, blue-blooded Van
Aliens withdrew into their winter
villa today to mourn Serge Mdivani,
of an adventurous Russian pro-
vincial family whose members have
twice brought tragedy to the family
of American ariStocrats.
Sad-eyed Louise Van Allen Midi
vani stood on the edge of a polo
field yesterday afternoon and saw
her husband kicked to death by his
pony. In 1882 she divorced Serge's
brother, Alexis. 1t was no secret
at the time that she still loved him.
Alexis later married Barbara
Hutton, five-and-ten-cent store
heiress, who also divorced him. He
was killed seven months ago in an
automobile accident in Spain.
Serges body was taken from the
polo field at Delray Beach to the
Van Allen villa, then to West
Palm Beach funeral parlor. 1t prob
ably will be shipped today to the
Van Allen mansion at Newport, r. l.,
scene of the Van Allen social tri-
umphs of three generations, where
funeral services are to be held.
Bride Breaks at Home
Mrs. Mdivani, bride of one month
who stood like statue in a pour
| ing rain while ambulance attend.
ants worked over the body of hel
husband, was understood to have
broken once she was in the privac!
of her mothers home.
Serge was one of three brother
who styled themselves princes ant
became celebrated for their mar
RACES to wealthy American women
Serge was the former husband o
Pola Negri, movie actress, and Mar.
McCormic, opera star. He was 80
The accident occurred on tn,
Gulf Stream polo field, one of 1
chain maintained by the wealth,
Eastern socialites. Serge, not al
expert player like his brother
Alexis, but an enthusiast, was ;
member of a team comprised o
Michael Phipps, E. A. S. Hopping
and G. R. Harrison. The Opposing
team was comprised, too, of en-
thusiastic society men with tn
notable exception of Cecil Smith
one of the worlds great players.
Serge, Mount Go Down
Serge was pursuing the bal
across the field. His pony swerve'
suddenly, directly into the path O
Smiths charging Steed. There wa
collision. Serge and his noun
went down. Serge fell on his face
He did not get up. The pony hat
kicked his head and doctors be
lieved he died almost instantly of
fractured skull.
The players gathered around
Mrs. Mdivani waited a minute TO
him to get up, then ran out on tn
field, followed by her mother. Sud
denly it began to rain. Many o
the spectators ran for shelter, think
ing the accident had been of n
consequence. Mrs. Mdivani knel
beside her husband, urged him t.
speak. She stood up, dry-eyed an
calm.
An ambulance arrived and it's at
PENDANTS applied a pulmotor. Tw
doctors came out of the spectators
Both said he was dead, but Mrs
Mdivani urged more efforts to re
vive him. Finally, she was led from
the field and taken to the Van Alel
home.
The Mdivani brothers we're borl
in Batoun, Georgia-the nativ
province of the Societ dictator, 10
SET Stalin-the sons of Gen. zakhar
Mdivani, later styled prince. The
were brought to this country at al
early age and attended Massachu
sets Institute of Technology.