New-York tribune., 1878-10-12
ASKING SPIRITS ABOUT STOChS

COMMODORE VANDERBILT'S INQUIRIES.
APPLYING TO A " MEDIUM" FOR A MESSAGE FROM
JAMES FISK. JR.-NOT SATISFIED WITH TIE
ANSWER.
Yesterday was comparatively dull day in
the Vanderbilt Will case. 1t was not even en-
hvened by the sharp repartees attacks Of
opposing counsel that have taken up so much
OF the time on some days Judge Black
was absent and his frequent humorous saes earnest
speeches missed Mr. Clinton did not appear TO be
IN very good humor, and Judge COmstOek was mole
rlgdly dgntfed than usual The crowd in attendance
not large. and the faces had weary discouraged
look
The only witness who gave interesting testimony was
Mrs Helen Clark who gave the incidents Of her visit
with the Commodore in 1874. TO a Spiritual medium
Dr. Foster. The Commodore, she said, wrote
upon a paper that be wanted James Fisk to
there was WI" responso but s'u t6e witness OS ssd
she was not sufficiently familiar with such matters TO
say what II IL diff red from the CommOdOre's
views: be said couldn't be So but he would watch the
stocks and If II came The Commodore also in
ITed or hs clark 10 REGARD 10 some Itga papers sue
had lost and tie response Was to name some one said to
The witness said that she had had various conversa
Spiriualisn. " He said time" continued the witt
ness, that there was something remarkable about ti
and asked had ever seen the manifestations told
him | couldn't afford It. he said he woulG pay
all INV expenses, and he did do it. He said think
which will prove useful AT another conversation he
mediums, and as living in the Bennett family"
After seapce" continued the witness, he asked
whether thought that certain raps were really
made by my father, as they pretended TO be. told
him that was doubling Thomas, ana thought the
mediums legs were TOO closely covered up under ths
table and might have been made by his feet In
the Spring months Of 1878, be spoke frcj
quently OF his ailments, ana how he had
been helped by tho laying on OF hands Hd
wanted 10 know If It spirits that controlled
hands. and I said didn't think IL He said thai
there remarks in the Bible that confirmed Spirit
ualisn He spoke OF st. Paul and the handwriting on
the wall To some, he thought, was given the gt u
healing, and asked did not think 20. The cOmmu'
from the spirits lie frequently said had given
him great deal OF comfort, whether they were true
not"
mo ocrossexamination." said Mr. Clinton and this
witness followed by Dr. BOdenheItn0r. who was re-
called He was asked in regard 10 what the C0mmo.
dore had said in his illness concerning hid
belief IN clairyOyaDce. This was excluded as BEN
from the tlme OF the making OF the will Nj
Lord said he proposed to prove b. this witness that
the Commodore did believe in cairyoyance.
William W. Bennett recalled, but his testimony on
a similar subject was excluded Tor luilar reason.
A proposition was made TO show that the COmmOd0HI
said 20 the witness that he had made hb|
wilt in accordance With the direction OF ets deatl
wlfs's spirit The testimony OF Mrs Jennie DabiOfth
was also excluded. ,
William HOTn witness called 10 oOrro00rate The tes
mony OF Stoddard alias Bennng, not allowed 10
testify 10 the points inquired about MI Lords oneE was
show that Mrs. Stoddard had boarded Tor several
years vita the wness the wife OF Dr. stoddard and
that she during that time everywhere recognized az
such.
Mr. Lords stock OF witnesses having been exhausted.
adjournment was taken until CeKt Tuesday morning.