New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19
THE ERIE-VANDERBILT WAR.
ro1-RrH DAY-JAMEs FISK, JR.. CR0ss-EX-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

nv the Erie Railway Co against Commodore Nanoerolt
70 recover OOOO In stocks and bonds, was continued
pupctually a; yesterday in the Supreme Court
Special Term, before Judge Barnard. The courtroom
was filed the interest taken in the trial seemed no
Ia have abated in the least. Messrs. Gould ana Fls'
were present and there large array of counsel OF
both sides. Mr.. Fisk called. and the crosse1ama
ton was resumed by ex7Judge Davis.
TESTIMONY or DIR. FISK.
There was no one else in the bedroom beside the CON
modore and myself were not on very frlendiy term
although h sd visited him before; he asked me what
wanted; informed him that had come to see what Wa
going on that We had boon, TO a certain extent uhao
10 find out what going on by our Peo
pie, and thought We would drop IN ana SO
~ We could ind out anything there; nc eaN
that he had been making arrangements WIN ~ 49,
Drew and also with Mr. Eldridge and he had made up w.
mind that he did not know exactly who 10 u"S
with in the Ere Board he said that the ""u'
no was going TO make trade TO get rid OF ln"'
I told him did not think he could get that ~
said he thought he could get II through an Item in his
Gould myself told HIM that was gn.o nnnt hs
way said we had been fighting It foI seven ,, no,nS
that since had been In jersey CITY M 10 dnd ro,
and caTung the Ere money of ne st Nc tcS IN his
get of from higations ln saiI altbongb do moi
hands presume there more saiu' although uo HUI
% ~ yesterday Of noticing his shoes while he
h" tI, ,Gt caused you 10 notice OF remember themi
a n0iiced the regularity Of the four buckles on then
= ibon,h ~ grest men wore those shoes might want
pa ME them daughters after we went mo tie
oo aid Mr. Gould hat had taken place III the bed
Ioon. remember the COmmodore's saying III me pre-
aYcc ~ Mr.. Goud that unless lie should "llnuIHW
these suits these ltgatiOns would not stop uti hs
i Rad been made good on this stock; remember tne
Con1modOIc's asking Mr. Could n he was positive III Sase
this trade carried out with Mr. faiISe, IL ,, he
GOT through the Board and Mr. Gould told MN tia ne
Was 20 certain extent IN the dark, prohahy as nucu
The Commodore Was-that there was as niue lhtIndcy
Gsfvec ms and the other members Of the Board as erc
was between him; do not think ANYTHING Mas haia ~
regard 10 any particular suit; cannot N the tIhe o
his INTERVIEW The impressive thing had upon my
mind was the almighty robbery thdt WIS SoI"S on ~
mat man vanderbilt; that is stu on my mind ~.
"a Van cauot give tie date OF yOur visit TO Mt Pierre
monte bnDsei A. No sir II WAS about - when we ar
1,ad ,ncr,. we mad meeting with Mr.. Eldrldge DO
NOT care about that aud would JUST as HtNes Itt.
o1t stepped into the hall and asked the servant u MT
Tirepont was ~ said lie would see; as he stepped
along | stepped right along with MN. ,-,,
be - moi generally far behind; the servant went into the
reception room at the right ana when ne opened lh9
could look Mr PerrcpOnt at that moment stepped out
into tie hail. asked him If MI Edudse was there; no
sttuucd in | stepped right along; was 10
that room where found the consplraloLs round Mr.
Richard Schcl Nj Frank Work | think those were all
that were there mat Iue stepped up to Mr. Edrdge
and Gid NOT md him there; he said he knew that he
hot t8ero; said looks rs II there was some meeting OF
! asked HIM what going On ne said he was arrdng-
Ing q settlement OF our litigation, and that they had
been fcldug that position for seven months,
and had been DONG II without any advice from
IucHt; that point Nr Drew took hand in the cOuyer-
sauou; the od gcntlemuus voice was little weaker;
he went tell what lac mad suffered during his pi
.imagc Jersey aud that our relations had been very
pleasant together for number OF years. ana that lie
older lu these matters was very glad TO hear hun
say ho Older Ia these matters aud that settle
mrnt Of This kind nothing unusual III large opera
through any way, mat night; he had fixed upon taking
$1,000 shares OF stock OF the Commodore and
and pay him his differences the stock, and he
was to take quantity Of the Hartford and Erie bonds
l..G rs.a1 to nay 81 of
when would reEsate them for their losses asked him
sor hat amount: evaded the answer, and did not
suow the amount until after the papers drawn; the
"a consumed III trying 70 make un
d,r.tand that ought To carry out this arrangement
q WHAT beng done by the others ia the room :
A. NJ. KdpdllO writing; Mr.. Schell was buzzlng
round he was mighty intent cODsummatlug his part
Of the scheme Nh Work seated the sofa most
OF the time MIR. PieErepOnt was talking with different
ones ] cannot Say positively whether MI Ealon WAS
there.
q Did Mr. WORK have anything to say in this
sat,oui A. Not tnat l remember; were not on very
est tradcs Tor Erie corpora
ton Il It was contaminated Mr.. RapalO said that he
had rot received any money all this litigation. and
that $4,000 should be added ~ the amount think IT
q At what time did you CONSENT A. About y p. m.
MI Gould gave his consent st ana ne then old me mat
DC had Lao another talk Win Edildge ana lhht ne hau
bnay made up bis mind to assent 10 inns proposition as
being t4e best way TO Iet out Oh inc matter ana nat G
thought There was no use III nghthS any longer that
We had better let through told HIM That he could
90 he pleased; that II he had decided that way
O. Did you announce your assent A. I announced It
10 n.
O. How dld you announce your assent TO the other
genemen a. There was some paper passed around for
Q. You did sign the papcri A. signed some paper
there
tbIuk knew tie contents; slSueu the paper tNoA my
and left the house; thought had sold myself to
Q Instantly upon signing that paper, without knowing
word Of contents you TOOK your nat and Ieft the
hOusCi \. My Impression IS mat eit IL immediately
q. M. Could follOWeOl A. Yes, SIR
q Where ala he Overtake youi A. We were always
o Bi Mr.. Gould feel in that wayi A. Yes, Sir
he fet the whole time; IN the room l mad an
fore consenedl l said that did want to 20 into
ths that only counsel there that belonged
TO ny counsel MI Field appeared TO me that the
counsel other side MANAGING our side Of the
tod HIM that MI. Eyarts had gwen his opinion
that ih!3 was legal ana and, conid De earned 1ed
not known OF Mr. Lyara being Win us or working IN the
Evarts $4,000 and MI Eaton $4,000 and that their opn
IONS were all right; remember MI. Nmle, the cashier
coming in with the check books; remember what sad
80 hin when he i-that ne bearing in the bal
auoe of the remains OF this corporation to be nut INTO Mr
Vanderbits tomb laughter; UNDERSTOOD that me
checks made there although DID not see any made
Did Won leave before the checks were executed
A. think did; saw Mr.. SChcA sign paper did not
O. Did You see any papers drawn there and signed
night signed the first paper, signed everything
thew presented the moment i signed the first paper
There went with the robbers and came out and have
kept with them up 10 laughterl after signed the
FIRST paper, kept account Of them; have no idea
how many sigued
O. Did you any other party sign those papersi A.
Yes sr Mr. Gould Mr. brew sloud say all that were
IN the signed II.
q. We're those papers long or shorti A. There was
PLAIN paper at the bottom than there was writing
at the top there plenty Of room left for the con-
spiratOTs 70 sign at the bottom.
O. Had IL occupied good deal OF time 10 draw them
upi A. / remember Mr. RapalO working most ali
The evening; know the hrst time had ever been
where he
z. How long did you remain after your conversion
A. My impression that took my hat and Ief.
night of.
q. Did you all sit down and talk these mat
tersf A. do not remember; did not have anything
u cat.
Q. DO you remember whether you had glass Of wine