The New York herald., 1878-09-28
VANDERBILT WILL CASE.
Mrs. Lillian StOdard'S Sensational
Story to The Surrogate.
THE DOCTORS TRANCE"
His Wife Declares That w. n. Wander
bilt Paid for II.

Tpe contest In the vanderblt will case
yesterday beiore Surrogate Calvin. There was very
largo audience. Tho proponents were represented Sy
exJudge Comstock, Mr.. Clinton and Mr. Joseph
Choate, with whom Mr.. William H. Vanderbilt
and q lew Of his personal friends. Tho contestants
were represented By Mr. Scott Lord, Mr.. Allen and
Mr. Solomon. Sitting In their immediate vicinity
we're Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt Mrs. La Bau and Mrs.
Eleanor r. Bishop. Only one witness was examined
Mrs. Lihian Slodard. Tho testimony OF this wit
ness who is the widow OF DR.. Stodard,
was OF q very sensational character. The story OF
urs Stodard, summarily stated is that her husband
Has a medical ciarvoyant and attended Con nmodore
Vanderbilt About four years ago she and her nus
,and met the Commodore in Washington Park, and
dtting down. the three couvsrsed They were
watched by man. whom she recognizes now as Mr..
William H. Vanderbilt. who Joined them when the
Commodore had Left and after telling them that the
latter was his ia,hsr arranged for interview with
the Doctor on the follow ing day, at the Cosmopolitan
Hotel Mr. Vanderbilt, the witness said desired DIR.
stedard TO induce the Commodore TO believe that he
fths Doctor had had a munication from the Com
modores dead WIFE, and that she, In spirit world,
could see things moro clearly than when on ear,L,
ana that she desired the Commsdore TO make
William II. Vanderbilt his heir At this inter-
H. Vanderbilt roll OF bills amounting TO what the
wtoess believed about s., 900 on his promising
10 carry out his instructions. This was done, the
witness said, and she gave tho details OF It. She was
subjected TO a severe cross.examination by Mr. Cln-
ton, and became very much confused In giving the
dates and places OF her residence; so much SO that
tne Surrogate remarked that It was very strange
TO him that q witness VINO could remember with
great exactness conversation that took place four
vutnr
Or the persons with whom had lived IN New York
sinoe her husbands death iu 1875. The cross-ex-
animation was closed, and the redirect will CON-
menes at the next hearing Tuesday morning
PROCEEDINGS.
Mrs. Lillian Stodard The frst witness called.
She said:-l reside at Avondaie, ~ j.; havo
lived there six months; was the wife OF DR.. Stodard
he died tns spring Of 1873; was married to HIM
about sixteen years ne was medical clairvoysnt
during the last year OF his life he had some disease
that Obliged me TO be with him; /; think saw Com.
modore Vanderbilt Tor tho hrst time 1T Spiritual
meeting Boston.
Mr. Clinton objected to tho introduction OF the
.Splrituai meetlng;' but the Surrogate decided TO
receive II, the ground that MI Vanderbilts at
tendance was no proof OF his belief in sprituaiisn.
witness resumed:-I saw the Commodore next IN
Now YORK, tho east side, either In lhirty-fourh
s,rest or thirty second street, It was at a meeting;
Dr. Stodard was there; the persons wero scquaini
sncss OF Dr. Stodard; ho and MI. vanderbilt had a
convsrsatieni this was about iour years ago; Dl.
street, saw the Commodore Ut his office and also at
Fourth street, near Macdouga street. ne did not visit
ut my husbands house: used to know Mr.. William
H. Vanderbilt. and see him sitting behind Mr Gin
ton; right on the corner OF hacdoueai ana Fourth
slreets Or. Stodard ana Com modors Vanderbilt met
and they af.erward went into the PARK and sat
down; thought there was u man on the other side
and l recognize him Ms Mr.. William Vanderbilt.
Mr.. Lord asked wi.nsss " hat the oonycrsston vas.
s.s.ca What he expected the witness 70 show which
wss tnat ME. William H. Vanderbilt desired Dr.
dead wife Of the Commodore wished the Commodore
in his will make William H. Vanderbilt his heir,
by mr. william u. Vanderbilt for that purpose, ana
that Mr. Vanderbilt told the Commodore That he nad
received o spiritual commun unication from his dead
mother, IN which the same rcques. made. That,
Mr. LORD coniended, was conspiracy on the part OF
hr William H. Vanderbilt aud was, IN his (the coun-
psI's) Judgment, sdmissble.
Tue Surrogate saIa that before hearing argument he
you'd hear The witness as 10 the time when thus
alleged conversation took place. ~
witness saio :-"It was early IN tall OF 1s74that
lhis conversation took place between Mr. William H.
Vanderbilt and DR.. Stodard"
Mr.. CLINTON argued that this was only an endeavor
C side issue show that Ihe Commodore was a BE-
Mr.. Lord saia tnat what he intended to prove was
conspiracy. and that one part OF the conspiracy was
The uternnce OF q iaisehood In reference to commu
nication from the dead mother He would show by
The witness that arrangement was made Tor William
q. Vanderbilt TO enter the room where Dr. Stodard
pnd the Commodore were and that DR.. Stodard, by
previous arrangement, said, pointing to William H.
and Mr. Lord contsnded that In the entail bodily
ponutiop OF the Comm ooore then such declaration
would greatly InnusHce his mind.
Mr. Joseph Cnoate argued that such words and
rauRemepts a. spoken OF would have effect on tho
Com % odore unless he believed In Sprituasm, aud
therefore conlsndod that the introduction OF this
evidence spdcavor 10 show that tho Commo-
dors did besve In Sprituai'sm
THE TESTIMONY
The Surrogate said that ho would rule that tho tes
timony was compstent whether the Commodore be-
eved IN Spirituaiisn or not The rule In conspiracy
that unless the conspiracy was proved by one OF
The conspirators ~ the allegation OF the fact that
conspiracy was entered into, the proof was not COM
plee. s,, .
the iorepart OF september, IN Washington Park,
near the middle Of the park Mr.. Vanderpiit Joined
Com odore had leit, said "Fhat gen
ileman 10 my iather and you are the medical clair
voyant who attends him; have been wanting TO
speak to you before but l have never had an
opporiunity until now: would ike TO have
Sru wss what susprisei but said .Any time you
say will SEQ you; make It some hotei; thcy agreed
meet the Cosmopolitan Hotel the next morning;
u vas the hotel In Cham bers street and West Broad
way; the next day saw him at the Cosmopolitan
H6tei; DIR. Stodard anu myself were there; there
~m conversation between them inen
wusn Mr.. Vanderbilt came In he looked
rather surprised at seeing mo there; Or. Stodard
ma.ter;" Mr. vandsrbit then said. II want you to
tho Old man he has great belief Ia you and
you do IL; want you 10 make hun think more OF
me-, SO that can influence him :" Dr. stodard re-
piled that be did not know about tnat and that he
should have q aay for rencctoD, aud that no would
let Mr Vanderbilt know later, and an arrangement
was made wnsn they should meet again; DIR. Stodard
promised to lot Mr. Vanderbilt know the next day.
and they agreed 10 meet at tho same place and tho
same iiine they old meet there, ana when Mr. Van.
derplt came Ia DR.. Stodard said, II have thought
well OF your proposal provided you make u satisae-
tory;'' Nj vanderoiit tnen gave MIN "a roll oil bills
snd Dr. 5todard counted them over and SAID. "rhis
Will do; that is satisfactory Pm ready for busi
ness; wnat Is your propositour"
Mr.. vASDERBELr's PROPOSAL