Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-20
Vanderbilt VIII Contest.

The Vanderbilt will contest was opGucu aSa'n
in New York on Tuesday. MIS-. Ca!u%er'
former servant in Commodore anoerDllt llu'
lily, testified that on one occasion When inc cUm;
modore received a letter from hleson' Cof1elius
j. Vanderbilt, he said :-"Ihat 1elloW' Gf lnat
scamp, could write letter to the Queen" The
chief feature Of the days proceedings was Inc
testimony Of Cornelius j. Vanderbilt. He lsa
sou of the tcstator and is torty::sx years old:
lie lived at his fathers house, he snid, unt'
about his eighteenth year, and lett 1t then be-
cause his father treatment was harsh; ne pre-,
ferred to live away from home, and thought
his father preferred to have him; his father al
lowed him a monthly stipend Of 500 up to the
time of his marriage, November, 1856; be IN
creased this, first to $50, and subsequently
to 5000 and $3.50 per month, the last increase
being made after tho death Of the WItncsss
wife. 10 1854 the witness was arrested and
taken to Dr. Brown sinsane asylum. This DC
Cured on Sunday evening, aud he was kept at
the asylum until the following morning, when
tic doctor brought him back to the city tclllog
him that he was sane man. lie then got out
writ of babe .s corpus, knowing that the same
commitment would be sufficient to put him in
any other asylum. The issue OF the writ was
opposed by William II. Vanderbilt and Challts
A. Rapcllo William H. told him that he
had better withdraw all opposition to his com
| miment, as there was warrant out for his ar
rest on charge of forgery, and that he would ca
| cape the peDieniary by going to the saylum. lie
also told him that if he persisted in getting u
habeas corpus his father would disinhcrlt him.
! The Commodore at that time was daily expect.
| cd to de. The witness afterwards told w III.
| II. he would rather be considered O rascal than
| a lunatic. lilo next saw VIM. Fl. to speak with
! him about two years later, at the time OF wit
ness's wedding He saw him again at the
| Grand Central depot in 1872 and 1873. VIM.
| II. was very overbearing and naughty lie
afterwards spoke to his father about it, and his
father reproved VIM. II. sharply; his father
then called VIM. H. "becllc head. and said
he had been trying to learn something tor
twenty years, but 'didn't know enough to hold
his gab.'
William H. Vanderbilt evinccd much excite
ment during the giving Of the above testimony.
! He was continually urging his counsel to offer
objections, which they frequently did. At this
point he exclaimed in loud tone: "fle's max
ing it all up.
Yesterday Judge Black, counsel for contest
ant, offered to prove, through Cornelius }.
| Vanderbilt, that he had not been gambling or
doing anything about the time the will was
| made which could excite his fathers displeas
| urc. Mr. Lord offered to prove that Cornelius
J. Vanderbil's good behavior was known to
his father; that his father spoke to him, which
gave him high hopes for the future; that this
being known to VIM. H., he couSpircd 10 IN
| lure Cornelius j. with his father, and With that
object in view he got person OF dlsSlpated
habits to persoDate Cornelius j. and visit sew
craI gambling bells and other places so that
detective who followed him could report to
| William ii. that his brother had fallen into
evil courses, which were reported by William
| Il. to his athcr, whcreat he was much ercvcd
and disappointed, and that the will was made
month after William h. Vanderbilt regarded
counsel while making this statement with
look of surprise. Judge Comsock said that
what was offered 10 be proved did not amount
to undue influence any more than procuring
money on forged checks. MIR. Lord turning
around and facing his eyes on VIM. II. Van.
derbit (who Immediately looked in another
directon), went on to argue that his honor
had to consider whether the testatcr would
have made different will but for undue irtiu.
epce brought to bear on him. After further
al < uuuut rIu CuiIusale ueclutd TO auuflt tho
testimony relating to the conspiracy, and Cor
nelius j. Vanderbilt was recalled and testified
that be had not at the time named 10 his pre-
vious testimony visited gambling houses. lie
had endeavored to persuade William to give
him place on the railroads or to Influence his
father to do 80. WiiIilm had however, refused
to Interfere, saying he should only be damned
up and down tor his paios.. Witness said on re-
turning from the funeral be had conversation
with his brother William. This was 90 an offer
TO prove that William expressed surprise at
the contents of the will and said he knew moth.
ing about it whatever. lie did know Of the
contents before the will was opened, thus show
ing guilty knowledge.