Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-23
v%ANDERBIITs WILL.
Dramatic Scene on the erOss-Examina.
tiOn Of Bishop MoTyelre.

' anuefDllt trlai tuesday. blSnOp
McTyeire, cross-examined, was asked
whether he knew that the commo-
dore's wife had a husband still living,
by the name Of Elliott. Vanderbilt's
counsel objected. Then Judge Black,
rising and speaking slowly, and under
evident embarrassment, said This
is not a tritling matter. Here is a man
eighty years old, marrying a woman
fifty years his Junior, who came here a
stranger, after separating from a hus-
band who is still living. That there
should have been bitterness felt to-
ward this woman by the commodore's
daughters, some of whom were already
grandmothers, and that this feeling
should have turned the heart of the
father against them are natural results.
But there was one exception in the
family William II. Vanderbilt en-
couraged the marriage, and continued
to show as much regard for the woman
as though she had not done the in
jury Ofmarrying the commodore in his
dotage. But the aggravation is inn
mense, if, in addition to showing the
distress and hatred that this marriage
caused, we show that it was unlawful,
and that, therefore, whatever mhu-
ence Mrs. Vanderbilt exerted was UNI
due.
There are words struggling for ut
terance here" continued Mr.. Black,
much moved. Il am compelled to
restrain, and | suppose | have made a
bungle of it but your honor must
understand what | mean-that a stran-
ger should sell herself to this old man
for his money, taking advantage of
that weakness of his nature, is not a
reason why a will made under such
circumstances should be allowed to
stand"
Judge Black sat down and buried
his flushed face in his hands.
MIR. Choate said the record of the
court, showing Mrs. Vanderbilt was
legally separated from her husband,
could be produced if necessary. The
surrogate sustained the objection.
The scene in court during the above
argument was remarkable. Mrs. lac
Bau went over and sat down by the
lawyers desk where she could look
Judge Black in the face. There she
watched him closely while he was
talking, only occasionally casting her
eyes toward William II. Vanderbilt.
The latter appeard affected for the first
time during the progress of the case.
Counsel and all interested in the case
seemed much excited.
Cincinnati Enquirer SpeciaI.l
The proponents in the Vanderbilt
will business opened their case to-day.
with Bishop McTyeire, Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, South, as a
witness. Tie gave some refreshing
evidence about the old commodore
hat was amusingly characteristic of
the man. He met the commodore
first in 1870, and gives the converse
ton he had with him as follows
"One day while visiting me he asked,
How much is land worth about Nash
ville-land that is suitable for a col
Ilege2' / answered, About $1,000 an
acre He asked if there was a suita-
bic site for a college. told himthere
were several. He asked me in case he
should found a college if | would take
charge Of it, and give up my Office in
the church. | told him | could not.
He asked how much | received from
my Office. ] told him $1,000 a year.
He said he had men in his employ
whom he paid $4,000 a year. / said
that, although / could not take charge
of the teaching department, there was
nothing incompatible with my being
president of the board of trustees, and
that | would gladly fill that position
for nothing. oh, no, said he, j
never let any one work for me fol
nothing. He then asked me what, in
my opinion, a university was. He
said if it were a steamship he would
know all about it, but that this uni.
yersity business was something new tC
him. just before | left for the Soutl
the commodore asked me if OWED
anything. / told him we had a lane
note for about 5000. l told him thil
was what we were short on tn,
amount, $4,000, which the citizens o
Nashville had agreed to raise. HI
said We need borrow no trouble OF
that score, and that the note woulc
soon be taken up. He asked me how
much interest we were paying. / tol,
him ten per cent, the legal rate of in
terest in that State. "Ten per cent? ,
he exclaimed. Bishop" said he,
you go on in that way down there
am afraid you will get in trouble.
He then went out upon the piazza an,
walked up and down, saying to him
self Ten per cent?" Soon he cam
in, liz = fresh cigar, handing me one
and took a seat at my side, Y Bishop.
said he, +" don't you know that ther
are very few businesses that ca
afford TO pay ten per cent? Suppos
three men start in life with $1,000
each. Let the first man Invest his i
, a good business. Let the second inves
his IN a good business. Let the thir
man lend his money to the other two q
ten per cent, and in twenty years h
will hayo all tho money lie the
said What do you mean, Bishol
by using my money to pay ten pc
cent. INTEREST,"" | told him that iui
as soon as | got back to Nashville
would draw on him for the amour
Mr.. Clinton asked: Did he ohie,
( to that?" The witness replied "Ol
no; it seemed perfectly satisfactory
Rooc1,ap ou.H uiItov