The New York herald., 1878-10-23
WAS VANDERBILT INSANE?

THE EFFORT TO PROVE THAT THE COMMODORE
WAS NOT OF SOUND MIND-INDULGINa IN
PERSONALITIES.
Tho great will trial continued In tho Surrogates
Court yesterday. In addition TO tho usual attend
ancc Of celebrated persons Mr.. Augustus Scncl,
didate for Mayor, and Rev. DR.. Deems the Commo-
doros religious adviser, were on hand. Only expert
testimony was taken, and the day was marked by q
tho part Of the contestants, who, sl re-
fusng 10 dvulgc tho names OF their witnesses, OBJ
TAI ned leave 10 continue their case.
Dr. Pctzoid, the export on mental diseases. whose
examination cut short by Adjournment on Friday
last was recalled. To tho nrst question put ny Mr..
Lord Mr.. Comstock obj cctcd on the ground that IL
was absurd and improper Mr.. Lord said that coun.
sol only degraded himself by using such adjeoiivss
Here tho Court attempted to propose form IN which
the objectionable question might bo put, but Mr..
Coms,ock objected tho Court suggesting questions
10 tho other side. Mr. Lord about to
explain matters when Mr. Comstock said,
with somo aspcrty, that no could say
something that would cnectually close Mr.. Lords
mouth. With equal feeling Mr. Lord responded that
II closing mouths wcro IN order ho would say somc-
thing about the past that would close Mr. Comsock'
mouth 10 short order. Tho Surrogate lamcnted that
no nad useessly spont SO much timo Ia endcavoring
to bring counsel to consideration Of professional
etiquette. They wore so .sniny" with each other,
Court and with everybody In fact, that he found
IL difcu to maintain order Ho ordered coun-
sci 10 drop personalities and 60 with The case.
CAUSES OF HrPoCnoNDRIA
Dr. Petzod mado some slight alterations 10 his pre-
vious testimony ana Mr. Lord continued ms examine
ton. The question as 10 Tue Doctors position on the
question OF insanity was ruled out and tue next
question: what change in man's lifc tends TO pro-
duco hypocnondrlap only answered alter a
thirty minutes discussion a TO It's admissbillty.
Wmnrss said that formerly 1t was be,icved that
a would produce hvDOCnOudrta. but the
doctrine now was that cnaneo from dni-
cult 10 an oasy avocation would DO suncent
impulses we're Increased by mania. After supposing
that all tho mental and physical conditions said 10
Doctor said he was insane man in January, 1919.
number Of long, Hypothetical questions were put 70
the Doctor. he was not crosscxamlncd, aud affairs
came 10 staudstli owing the ruling oi The Court
n the stiug that II tho for tbo contestants
DO further continued they mus. gvo tho names
OF tnc,r vii aud state what proposed 10
snow by them Counsel Tor tho contestants asked
time consult, and alter consultation produced tho
following unidavid from Mrs. Mary A. La Bau, tho
principal contestant
SAM.Lxss WITNESSES.
Tho Surrogate announced himself ready TO bear
counsel. and Sir. Ethan Aiien proceeded 10 road the
i0ownR:-
suRaocArr's couar-Is RE vAsprnprLr WILL
sworn, since tine aidavits maao by William
"a nor s she the
suaded that would DO utterly unsafe to maze puoc tue
That she has many Witnesses not yet examined whose
testimony SHE u advised and believes materia what
cannot DO doing great injustice That
has proceeded 10 introduce her this
fapidy ns circumstances and Just regnru tor her
would Uepouent she fully b
eyes efforts beeu made in OF
proponcnt TO keep witnesses IRON which Ia
have bccn successa aud III tho the
Witnesses given she believes they
will bo exposed similar efforts, aud dcponcnt
strained withhold their from the proponen and
his agents, aud should give such she bccvcs
an unfair advantage will be taken. MAtY 4. la BaU.
before Ocsopsr ~, A. D. iSiS-JonN Il. LORD
| Notary Pubic. New lork city.
Alter tho reading of tho affidavit Mr. Lord said that
the respectfully requested that the order
relating TO tnoir Witnesses should be modIncd as fol
lows:-t1) That the names aud nationality should bt
dscIosed 10 tho Surrogate to olher person oI
| persons; t2) thnt iDasmuch as evidence AS 10 The
behc oi tho deceased In spruaism had but rccenil,
been admitted the order suall not apply TO wtuessc
10 prove sucn belief II tho Surrogate were SATISFIED
that they crcdiDie Witnesses; (3) tnat thc 6rdc
should NOS apply 70 such tesmony ss would load ths