The New York herald., 1878-11-28
THE VANDERBILT WILL.

Ex-MINIsrER PIERREPoNT AND Mr.. WILLIAM E.
DODGE ON THE sTAND--THE cIEARNEss AND
PRECISION OF THE coMMoDoREs MIND.
The last hearing in the Vanderbilt will case for
1878 heard yesterday. The cross-examination
of Mr.. John r. Mccullough being concluded Mr.
james NJ. Marvin. the proprietor of the United
States Hotel at Saratoga. called and testified that
he had known the Commodore for many years; had
heard him say that William H. good railroad
man and that he could manage things well he
could himself; that his death would in way affect
the Central Railroad. for William would continue the
management; he frequently told witness that he was
much annoyed by people lending money to Cornelius
j.; he complained that it wrong. for people
should know that he could give his children all the
money they wanted or he thought they should have;
on another occasion the Commodore told him that he
had told Miss Williams, the lady who married Cor
nelius j. that he would steal the spoons from their
table and pawn her clothes to get money to gamble
with.
sI'M GOING MARRIED"
One day, while out riding with the Commodore, the
Commodore said to him. I'm going to tell you a
secret. No one in the family knows about it-not
even Bill I'm going to be married next Saturday
to Miss Crawford in Canada" All the acts and con-
versations Of the Commodore seemed very sane and
intelligent to witness.
To Mr.. Lord witness responded THE Commodore
told me that the foundation of his fortune sum
of money he paid for getting some wheat to
market; he was offered S40O by men, owners of
wheat, to get their merchandise to market before
certain time; he forwarded the wheat and paid
$400. which made him feel though he was the
richest man in the world
Ex-MrNIsTER PIERREPoNr's TESTIMONY.
Edwards Pierrepont, ex-Mnister to England,
next called He said he knew the Commodore from
1860 to 1875 that subsequent to the summer Of 1875
he deceased. To question to n certain
transaction put by Mr. Choatc Judge Black objected
He said that it contradiction of the testimony
of other witnesses sworn but on certain other occa-
sons other witnesses had noticed him to be perfectly
sane II the proponents offered to prove by witness
that occasion referred to by previous Witness
wherein he swore that he was then impressed with
the unsoundncss OF the mind of deceased. he inn
pressed with his clearness and soundness Of mind,
there would be clear contradiction OF one witness
by another. The times and occasions referred to-,
when the tcstator exhibited unsoundness Of mind.
were not to be acted on by this Witness but other
yersations and transactions sought to be proved
in which he exhibited great soundness Of mind. 1t
admitted that certain topics the de-
ceased was preternaturally sharp and alert.
but that in the line of certain
mania of his was the making of the win The con-
testants did not attempt to show by any of their wit
that on the subjects to be discussed by this
witness the testator was Of unsound mind. The wit
ness allowed to proceed. He remembered many
conversations with the Commodore between 1859 and
1873; during Mr.. Horace +. Clark was present,
and being lawyer he talked much to witness
corning the power OF the Erie Railroad to convert its
bonds into stock through brokers'; Mr.. Clark spoke
frequently of the doctrine OF ultra vres and finally the
Commodore became irritated and said, Horace, stop
talking about utter wires and come down to COM
mon English at all the conversations witness
thought the Commodore was very clear ar1 Direct
he noticed. however, that in 1874 and 1875 he was
much feebcr than in former years.
MR.. DODGE STAND.
Mr.. William f. Dodge was next called. He testified
that his acquaintance with the Commodore began
about forty years ago. had during that time intimate
business relations with him; provided him with the
copper the boilers and for the sheeting for
boats that were to from New York to Albany and
from New York to Hartford codrector with
him in the Central Railroad of New Jersey when it
started had intimate social and business relations
with him up to the time he died; always considered
him man of great intellect and force of will and
directness of purpose.
To Mr.. Lord-I did not mean to be understood that
the check for $500 for Moody and Sankey the first
had ever received from him for ch arity sug-
gested to the Commodore that he should build a
steamboat to cross the Atlantic.
The Commodore said Dodge don't think steam
boats will go across" he subsequently did build a
steamship to cross the ocean, heard Commodore
Vanderbilt swear when he young man. but not
during the years of his life; the Commodore
in the Church OF the Strangers when it dedicated
did not know whether this the only time he had
seen him in church.
At the conclusion Of the cross-examinaton Of Mr..
Dodge the Surrogate adjourned the until the lth
day of February, 1879 ut eleven A. M.