The New York herald., 1877-11-15
Personal PeculiaritieS of the Late Mag
nate Of the New York Central.
how HE TREATED HIS CHILDREN.
Why He Made an Unequal Dis
tribution of His Millions.
t II f A u Il O p S Y

The Surrocate'g room was packed with eager
throng OF spectators attracted by the ight the
win Of Commodore Vanderbilt The son and princi-
pal heir Of the deceased railway magnate, William H.
Vanderbilt sat just behind his counses chair, gazing
sbstractedly at the ceiling BY mis- side Mr. Augustus
.shel. gazed placidy through his gold-rmmed spec
taclcs at nothing IN particular Mr. Vanderohts
counsel Henry l.. Clinton ana exJudge Comstock,
were early their places and these, together with
Jacob Vanderbilt, brother OF the Commodore, and
William II. IS two sons Cornelius and Frederick made
up group the right OF counses table At the other
end OF the table, and separated from them by an
pillar sat the opposing party made up OF Corne-
Illus j. Vanderbilt looking pale and sickiy, and the
counsel for the contestant. Scott Lord, Ethan Allen
anu Mr. Tenney, Judge Jeremiah S. Black senior coun
sell being absont throughout tho day. There was not
lady in tho room, fact which was commented upon
as rather singular at least few OF the gentle
sex are be found at almost every trial wls ch ex
any public interest," whatever may be its nature.
More than onc-half of those IN attendance were
obliged to stand during the proceedings, there IS
but limited number oil chairs the Very lew.
however, retired account OF fatigue The greater
proportion manfully kept their positions. with
their eyes fixed alternately upon tho witnesses
and upon the opposing family groups whose private
Affairs were being detailed to the world. From tho
sager expression the faces OF the spectators 1t
peared that they expected TO some testimony OF
the kind sometimes called "spicy." II so they were
disappointed, for the evidence while it intensely
interesting, not OF that character. The examina-
tQn Of DR.. Linsly the family physician was resumed
by Mr.. Clinton, and some interesting facts were
elected TO the Commodores dislike OF his son Cor
nelius j.. his feelings toward his son William IL. and
The way which he treated his other children when
they called at the house during his last illness At
ono O'Clock recess OF half hour taken, and
.l,e haua Tor nar
DR.. Linsly, in which he about 10 question witness
IN detail about his relation 10 tue casc--how much
he had been left under the will and other matters OF
that kind-but the queries were ruled out, for the
time at least Irregular 1t was stated by Mr.. Lord
that DR.. Lnsy had bill Of $50, 900 against the
tate for professional ces, and was besides lega
tee to the extent OF $40. 000 The third witness
called in the person OF Dr. T. Il. Satterthwate, who
mado the autopsy of the deceased. His testimony
mostly OF technical character, and 1t was not all
in iour O'CLOCK when adjournment was had
til Friday morning at eleven.
THE TESTIMONY.
At the opening Of court Mr. Lord stated that Judge
Black would not be present ut tho morning session
of the recurrence Of malady which he Is
subject. II was agreed to 60 on without him. Surro
gate Calvin remarked that others would probably be
SICK il some method OF ventiiating the court room
were not devised Despite the ventilation Of the
Court House frauds there still serious need Of
ventilating the building itself. Mr. Lord remarked
that under the code IL necessary to give i've
days notice OF the introduction OF books He hoped
that Mr. Clinton would move that point to IA
ctato matters. Mr. Clinton seemed willing
do this. but desired written statement
OF the books, accompanied by the requcs
that the should be waived. The Surrogate stated
that his calendar full for the whole Of this month
after Monday next, and tnat consequently ifthe
was not concluded at that time II would have to 30
thai he had no hopes oil getting through his wit
nesses by Monday next
DIR LyslY's CROSS EXAMINATION
DR.. Lnsly, the family physician of Commodore
Vanderbilt resumed the stand and was crosse
ined by Mr. CLINTON. some OF the questions beng OBJ
jectcd by counsel for the contestant exceeding
the limits OF cross-examnation Mr. Clinton con
senied that such questions should be considered
elected from the witness rs called by him.
selt The testimony related exclusively TO the
lnal illness or the Commodore and his treat
incnt by witness and associate physicians Dr. Linsly
stated that from the 18th OF April until the middle OF
Nay las. year ne was oy an accident = disabled rom rom
nothing 10 do with the selection or direction OF the
attending physicians, except that on one occasion Dr.
Flint thought u was not necessary Tor HIM TO call
day. and upon William II. being consulted about
the matter he said Il better TO have him como
every DAY; Dr. Lnsly slept IN the house frequently, |
and he ano ost contiL attcn0ance the Com
modorc al times refused TO nybody, even his own
children; permitted TO enter the sick room
except the patient wished it; sometimes his family |
would enter an adjoining room and peep into his |
apartment
''DIp THE gEsT ms COULD"
The witness, on several occasions during his last
Illness heard the Commodore state TO members OF his |
family that he bad done the best he could for alp Ia
his wi tnashf he had made 100 wills he could
make better one; Mrs. La Bau was one Of
tho persons 10 whom the Commodore made this state
mcnt. Mr. Clinton traversed the testimony gwen by
the witness the previous day relation 70 former
wills mauo by deceased The Will OF 1904, made when
The Commodore was suffering IRON an at
tack oI heart disease. gave the bulk Of his
property 10 his two sons, william Il. ana
was graduate OF the West Poini Academy ana IN
married when he died; between 1904 aud the time Of
George's death he Doctor did NOT remember any
conversations between himself ana the Commodore In
regard to his will; the Commodore had ire
quently conycrsed with his William H.
ON tho subject OF his Will during his
last Illness the Doctor remembered occasion,
on a certa day 10 the month OF July, In the even
Ing, when Mr. William H. VanderDilt his
bedroom and stood at the loot oi the oed when his
father commenced talking 10 him; DR.. Linsiy rose
10 20 out Of tue room, as he usually did when bust
ness was being discussed, but Commodore Vanderbilt
told him to SIT down; then, raising his finger IN en-
phasls, the sick man said 10 his son, "Biy, after
am dead there viii be great responsibility resting
on you; you will find piece OF paper lett direct
you you Will find my Will with several pieces OF paper
10 be attached TO IL. charge you TO carry IL faith
uily as nave direced;n many times the Commo
1ore had pressed his William H. the i'm
portancc OF the responsibility tnat would devoive
upon him; TO these charges liz. Vanderbilt acqu
esced, sometimes nodding his head and sometimes
sentihg by word.
A FAITHFUL PHYSICIAN
During his last illness Commodore Vanderbilt asked
witness to come and live with hin Tor the remainder
hts life he spoke praise OF witness for siihiul
attendance rectcd tue attacks OF illness
III which ho had been attended by witness ana other
doctors from the tIme wnen he was seriously injured
In the railway accident ia 1888 until that cine; he
named all the physicians VINO had attended MN in
their ordcr; there DR.. Baldwin, sad he, s'and
DR.. CheoseInan. Dr. Edmund Johnson, DIR. sweet and
DR.. Campbell--l have outyed them all,n ne went
TO hau died in Jersey, In 1883, or In 1896,
even IN 1854, the world would not know that Ind 1
iivcd but mink that have been spared 10 accom-
plisn great Work mat viii last and remain, and
have taken care that II Is secured IN such |
way that the stock or tho Central rond |
can't put on the Market II had given SO 600 900
TO daughter ana $5,000,0OO TO another the |
first thing mat would done would be to put |
.Biily" out oil tue road ard pul Torrance IN: then
they would get quarreIling among themselves and |
the stock into The market ana the next thing II
would be down TO Tort, ~ the Commodore furtner |
that he had perfected the road ny securing tho
Canada Southern rond so that u could not njnrc the
New York Central during MS last Illness the csator
sometimes transacted Dusiness his ntal condition
entirely sound up TO witnln lew hours before
his DEATH when he Tell into comatose state in the
July preceding his death he had congestve chill IN
winch he went a stupor for two bours; witness
never knew man oI soundcr mind; the Commodore |