The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-02
THE VANDERBILT CONTEST.
Mrs. Lillian Stoddard Subjected to
a Trying Ordeal.
HER vERACITY IMPUGNED
A Proposition to Have the Famous Wit
ness Indicted for Perjury.
LIVELY SCENES IN COURT.

LIVELY SCENES IN COURT.
The proceedings In the Vanderbilt viii ysster
day wore by far the most remarkable OF any that
havo yet occurred In the of THIS extraor-
binary trial II Will be remembered that at last
fridays examination the Witness Mrs. Lillian Stoi-
lard, testified that William H. Vanderbilt desired her
husband to induce the Commodore to believe that he
Or. Stoddard, had received communication from
he Commodore's deceased wife, who desired tho
Commodore to make William Il. his heir This test-
mony. moro startling than any hitherto produced,
and more directly bearing ON the issues involved
the trial, tho counsel Tor the proponents naturally
attempted to break down. In the cross-examnation
yesterday the limo attack to impugn the
witness crsdibiity
Mr.. Clinton began the cross-examinaton OF MRS
Lillian Stoddard, raking every event OF her past
history with the evident determination to blacken
her character and thereby mpugn her testimony.
Nothing in Mrs. Stoddards career that
Mr.. Clinton would not have dragged into tho light Of
Gay had not Mr. Lord interposed 10 protect his wit
ness. The Surrogate also gavc her the privilege Of
refusing to answer many OF the questions. Mrs.
Stoddard evidently much annoyed at the sharp
questioning to which she subjected, ana at ono
you can't mako out that what testify to IS e."
Several lively fights between counsel occurred, but
the most dramatic scene took place Just before
recess. AT that time Mr. Choate arose and asked
that the lady DO kept In custody during tho
recess they proposed to have her indicted after
the close Of her testimony by the Grand Jury .
charge Of perjury. Mr.. Lord characterized this
trick to tntimdate the Witness and Judge Black
jumped TO his feet and IN strong and able speech
defended Mrs. Stoddard He challenged tho othor
sido TO make such affidavit, saying that they
might find themselves IN tho same trap which they
trying to put tho witness Upon Mr.. LORDS
promising 10 for Mrs. Stoddaras temperance
In the afternoon Mr.. Clinton declared himself
tented.
THE WITNESS PAST.
Mr.. Clinton said, when tho court opened, that
he would like to Mrs. Stoddard further upon
come new facis She then TOOK the stand and in n
swer TO his questions stated that she had lived tho
past two years with Edward Hall in Avondalc. n. (;
she had not much acquaintance with him. but knew
his wife very well; she did not know that be was
noted orger; had read that he for for
gerry; did not know that he had been accused OF
having forged New York Central bonds In 1870 or
that he was under Indictment Tor forging ST. Louis
bonds; was not wol posted In regard to bonds.
q BY how many names have you been known
Stoddard, but when wanted to get away from Dr.
S,oddard ! took the name Of Lille Draper.
Witness contnued-1 was u dressmaker at No. GA
Charles street; hired those premises from Mrs.
Jordan; hired rooms from her On the frst floor
nnd had my sign up as drcssmaker; 1 hired them
about five years ago; knew man named BenniDg;
did not live together there; TO come there
Q. Did you live then with Benning as his wifeP A.
No, sir; | kept house for him.
Witness testified that she never knew OF ne r own
knowledge that Benning had been In State Prison;
acquainted with Hall; became acquainted with Ben
ming through having been introduced to him by DR..
Stoddard.
Wara vnun tad fnr n ntNh md
chain2 A. earnestly and rapidly)-I never
rested, and would like to see the one 10 say was.
Witness did not know Governor Moses, OF South
Cnroina he never acted her COUNSEL Tor the last
SIX months she had her things In a house the
nar oil Fifty-seventn street and sixth avenue, and
lived there, but there all tho time snc kept
house Tor Benning and her male boarders last
tho premises at Sixth avenue and Filty-seventh
street from man named John Devinc; witness had
resumed her acquaintance with Bennng alter he
came out Of Stale Prison, but declined answer
whether she had not lived with MIN since that time
MIR. Clinton said no proposed 70 prove that witness
never was the wife OF Dr. Sioddard but at the very
time sne referred to In nor testimony she nving
with Bonnina The Surrogate decided that he wit
ness had the privilege OF refusing to answer. Mr..
Lord rose to explain. ais not this an unmtigated
putrages CRED Mr. C!nton, "ior counsel TO be giving
bints TO the witress?" The Surrogate ordered both
gentlemen to take their seats.
sToDDARD.
with how many men have you lived as mis-
tress 7" asked Mr. Clinton. A. decline 10 answer;
you may blacken my character, but you can't make
out what 1 testify 10 a lie
d age that you were not In Illicit relations with some
mauf A. don't think that is any OF your business
Witness could not remember the name OF tho
magistrate who married her 10 DIR. s,oddsrd.
A lady here stood VI IN court and recognize ed
known DR.. Stoddard when no was about eighteen
pears old aftor her marriage found out that he had
smother wife; the Doctor told her It was all right;
that he would get some papers 10 make II all right
witness entered his house and dd houseworK for the
amiiy; alter she left there went TO rooms
Bridge street. Poughkeepsie wners ne was keeping
touse with ner
@ Did you have Illicit rotations with him at that
Alter 1870 witness lived In Now York as Mrs stod-
lard with tho Doctor, who acknowledged her as his
vile. She mentioned a Mr. William Horne and q
Sidow Indy named Hamilton as having known hcr AZ
mis- ZINE.
THE REDIaKcr KxAarsArIoS
This concluded the cross-cxamination and Mr.. Lord
look up the redirect questioning. At her marriage
with Dr. StoddaTd he mad given Der u wedding ring:
aud the s'Liihsn Stoddard" was cngraved In IL;
TINS ring witness now wears on hcr finger; the
court Mr. Lord offered TO prove all these staeme MIS-
by evidence. us tending TO show that DR.. Stoodard
bad persuaded the witness TO live with him, that
Eho did IN good faith believing herself TO be mar
ried to bim he persuaded her that was all right
The Surrogate-It Is as II nau put in plea TO an
indicmcnt Tor larceny that some one persuaded him
TO steal
Mr. Lord--Abraham never stole, and he had Two
wives. rhey talk Of spirituallsm on tho other
ps positive belio but these things these marriages.
these relations, 20 hand IN hand with Spirituasm,
aud stoddarl was n great high prizes among them
These people believe 10 Is all right Ions as love
hallows the UNION, as thoy say. The only question 10
whether she ~ telling the truth
Mi. Choate--She swore on Friday without qualth-
cation that she was DR.. S,oddards wife. Now she
admits that three years alter she went TO his house
a. an employs and found he had vile aud children
She was committing wiiiul perjury.
Judge Blacg--They don't prove she has committed
any perjury. but claim that she Is unworthy OF BELIEF
because she violated some OF Inc rues aid down by
by Diana OF the kpbcsiana (Laughter.1 According
10 MT Lofd's view hers was q technical offence
How much influence would the TACT that tue
arst wio was not technically divorced have on the
mind OF one woman out OIL q million A similar
went occurred IN tho life OF General jackson lie
supposed his wife had been divorced IRON her first
u.baud but u turned out that there irregu-
isry entering the decree and they had TO DO mar
ried over again.
A LBGAL TILT
Just Mt This moment the surrogate declared recess
OF hall an hour, but Mr. Choate arose and asked the
Surrogate place the witness IN custody OF nm oncer
during the recess secure her In tho alter