The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-28
COUNSEL LORDS SENSATION.
THE AMIzfNG STORY or 4 FITNESS IN
JyfE GREAT VIII CASE.
Swearing that Uer Husband, n CInirvoynnt.
was uribed by " ~. II. to give the Commo-
dcre False Message from his Dead Wife.

Swearing that Uter Husband, n CInirvoyant.
was Bribed by " ~. II. to give the Commo-
dore False Message from his Dead wife.
A stout woman, of medium height dressed
in n tight-Nttng suit Of black. with lace and
bead trimmings. twtchcd a fan nervously
when. in the Vanderbilt will case yesterday.
Mr.. Lord called Mrs. Lillian Stoddard. g. am
the widow OF Dr. Charles Anderson stoddard."
said she. after taking the stand. and live in
Avondalc n. J. My husband was u medical
clairvoyant"
Where did you SEQ Commodore Vanderbilt
nrst?"
Tho question brought Mr.. Clinton to his feet
with an objection. A long string Of arguments
was made as to whether she should bo allowed
to answer II W. II. Vanderbilt was not in the
Commodores company at the time The Sur
rogatc ruled that no conversation was to be de-
tailed at which William II. Vanderbilt was not
present. and Mr.. Lord promising that no con-
vcrsation would be given the question was ad
mtted.
first saw him mt n spiritual meeting In
Boston. Tho next time saw him was at
spiritual meeting somewhere in Twenty-sec-
ond or Twenty fourth streets. on the East side.
This was about four years ago. went there
with my husband. and while there the Com
in his office In Fourth street. used TO know
W. II. Vanderbilt by sight. Eary in the fall OF
1874 the Doctor thcr husbandl and myself met
Commodore Vanderbilt in Fourth street. near
Washington Park. We noticed u man follow
ing him. When he stopped to speak to us, the
man went in tho direction of Broadway. The
Commodore. my husband. and myself went
into the park and sat down. We had some con-
versation, and th IL Commodore went away. Soon
after the Commodorc's departure the man who
had followed him. and who proved to be Will
liam II. Vanderbilt. came up to us and asked
for n few moments conversation
Here again Mr.. Clinton and his fellow coun-
sci got on thcir feet with objections.
Mr.. Lord said that he proposed to show that
there and then between DR.. s,oddard and W. II.
Vanderbilt and in the presence Of witness.
conspiracy 10 influence the Commodore through
tho arts OF Spiritualsm to make the will he
made was set on foot.
Counsel for Mr.. Vanderbilt plainly showed
their anxiety to prevent the testimony being
taken. Mr.. Choate arose to make an argument.
his first since IN" contest hogan. but the Surro-
nm"dore make Ike a viii n. cnWid only nv make one
| IN free mind. and IL two or three u"rsons COM
bined 20 actuate thnt free mind there was no
| will. and IL WAS "a conspiracy.
| The witness continued: After Mr.. W. II.
| Vanderbilt came up to us he said. speaking TO
| llf bOCloT anu INluiluk- 10 ll'
| That man is my iathcr. understand you are
| his medical clnirvoyant | would like 10 havo
Isms nco pTvsg nv, , w snit hin
and appointed next morning ~ 10 o'clock at
the Cosmopolitan Hotel MIR. William II. Van
| derbilt met US in one of the parlors there; he
| looked surprised at seeing me there. That's
| all right said my husband shes my wife /;
she's always with me Then Mr.. Vanderbilt
said. I want YOU 10 control the old man
| through his great belief in YOU; Make him
think more Of me. so ! can influence him
| The Doctor said he'd take n day to think about
1t. and an appointment WIS made for next day
at same hour and place Next day, the Doctor
setisiactory. Mr., Vanderbilt gave him roll
over. and said. This is satisfactory. Now I'm
ready for business. What is your proposition z
MR. Geq IF 90 !? o !o' Sd
| him you have n message from his dead wife
| TINT she is in the spirit world and has clearer
knowledge Of affairs than ever before; that II
| is her desire he should make his will in my
favor, and he will make no mistake a.,
! While Mrs. Stoddard was saying this Mr..
| William II. Vanderbilt bent forward and dis
| played great interest His countenance woro
an expression, oi coniempt ,.,.
Did Mr. William II. make any further re-
quest ?"
He desired Mr.. Stoddnrd TO impress on tho
| Commodore as part of the message that all his
other children hated him and wished him dead
and Tint William r. alone loved him; M VA II IT, h.
only OF William ii. Mr. ". H. Vanderbilt then
agreed that he WAS 10 come IN while the Doctor
| was at tho Commodore'S, 5, and the Doctor was To
| act RS though meeting William II. for the first
| time. Mr.. William IA. was then 70 say that he.
too had trance wherein he received precisely
the same message as the Doctor. This was to
| be on tho next day"
Now relate what occurred next day in the
Well between II and o'clock. DR.. stoddard
and myself called at the Commodore's office.
an examination Of him. DIR. stoddard went
into trnnce-. a,
,rd arose excitedly and charged opposing
Mr.. Choate said there was laughing all
The Surrogate said he observed the audience
| laughing, and warned them that IL they re-
| pcAted II he would clear the room.
Dr. Stoddard went int, Il trance" began the
witness again. and said he saw the spirit Of
an elderly Indy around him. who. he 7aids was
! lard said and did which was substantially as
Mr. William II. had directed him to-.
when DR.. Stoddard Ind finished and come
out oi his trance. the Commodore SAID, VII
DO as the spirit wants me TO- Just then Mr..
William Fl came IN. Or. Stoddard exclaimed.
trancer The Commodore replied That il
William II my SON The latter then said he
too had had message, and he had come to tell
the Commodore Gll about it. 1t was that the
| Commodore should make him his successor
:. What did tle Commodore say TO ms =, =, ...
| Turning to his son. he said: You shall have
Mrs. stoddard described the old gentleman as
messages were given him. He called for a
glass OF water. and seemed overcome, she
dore asked the Doctor was anything, going to
happen to him. The Doctor assured him there
was not that he would live long, and that he
would haye peace after making his will Mr
William II. departed. leaving my husband and
myself behind. We went 70 the Commodore
%s&dh %Srd we "oSHy S%ays "sgo spoke Of vi Within IL M
husband died on the lst OF May. 1875. The last
.,.st1t.. in lar :