Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-28
vANDERBILTs WILL.
Evidence Going to Show that William FL.
Con spired to Fool the Old Man.

New YORK, Sept. 27.-In the Vanderbilt will
case to-day Mrs. Lillian Stoddard, widow of DR..
Charles Stoddard, said she first met Commo-
dore Vanderbilt at a spiritualist meeting. This
caused some little discussion as to admitting
testimony as to the belief of the Commodore
in spiritualism, but it was finally admitted.
The witness then said she next met Commodore
Vanderbilt on the east side of the city, at
which DR.. Stoddard and his friends we're
present DR.. Stoddard was clarvoyant phys
ician, medium clarvoyant, and the doctor was
introduced to the Commodore as such. The
witness saw the Commodore at his Office on one
occasion. near Fonrth street, or near Meddough
street. The witness here said she knew VIM.
II. Vanderbilt and pointed to him in court. On
one occasion Mr.. Stoddard and herself met the
commodore at Fourth street party, and spoke
TO him, and after the commodore left she no
tlced there was man watching them. The
man watching them was VIM. 81. Vanderbilt
and he came back and spoke to them when the
commodore was out of sight. This was in 1874.
Mr.. Clinton objec ed to this, and Mr.. Laird said
he proposed to prove that VIM. 81. Vanderbilt
made an appointment with witness and her
husband and entered into conspiracy; that he
gave DR.. Stoddard large amount of money to
make the commodore believe he was in commu-
nication with the commodore's dead wife. and
of VIM. 81. Vanderbilt. Counsel said he would
prove that the conspiracy was carried out, and
that the will made under such pressure and
conspiracy. Another long argument took place
among the counsel.
The surrogate ruled that the evidence war
competent independent Of the question of the
commodores belief in spiritualism not. MIR
Clinton excepted. The witness continued:
The conversation was in September, 1874. in
Washington square, about IL clock A. N. VIM
H. Vanderbilt on coming up said: THAT gen.
tleman you were talking to is my father and
you are his medical clairvoyant. have been
wanting to ace you for some time. / wish tc
have a private conversation with you" We
agreed to meet him the next day at 10 O'Clock
al the Cosmopolitan hotel Chambers street
and West Broadway. and we did 80. Mr. Van
derbilt seemed surprised at my being present
but Mr.. Stoddard said that's all right Mr.
Vanderbilt said l want you to control the ole
man as you have power over him, and he be
lieves in you. l want you to influence him sc
he will think more of me. | don know abou
that, said Mr.. Stoddard. will let you know
about that tomorrow. The next day we me
him at the same place, and Mr.. Vanderbilt
handed Mr.. Stoddart roll of bills. MIR. Stod
dard counted them and said that's all right anC
satisfactory, now I am ready for business
Great laughter.)
William a. then said: 81 want you to cal
J
have a message from his dead wife, now in thu
| spirit world. Tell him the message is to maxi
his will in favor of William H., and also i'm
press on the old man that all the rest of th
| children hate him."
| Mr.. Stoddard called on the commodore mex
| day and told him as directed. 1t was ais
agreed that William II. was to come in at tn
| moment and say 81 also have message;' bu
the Stoodards not to recognize him. MY
Stoddard then went into trance. (Grea
laughter. While in the trance MI
Stoddard said there is the spirit of an elderl
lady around ne. 1t was the commodore
dear wife. Mr.. Stoddard said the spirit tol
the commodore to make his will in favor c
| William H., the only one to be de
pended on as to business, the other childre
all hated him, the commodore, and wished hi
dead. The commodore appeared to be vel
much excited and said: "William shall hay
all" He then drank a glass of water M
Stoddard then came out of the trance. an
William Fl. entered at that moment. Mr.. Sto'
dard exclaimed who is that? That is the ma
I saw in the trance. The commodore SCENE
greatly surprised, and William II. said he ia
False received spirit message.
Some two days afterward the witness ar
her sband saw the Commodore at his otfic
the commodore said that he would do az direc
ed by the spirit. and would make his will
favor of William H., and make him his gu
cessor. The Commodore repeated this sever
times. The last time witness and Mrs. Sto'
dard saw the Commodore was in July, lS7
She could not say how much was in the roll {
bills given her husband by William II. The
we're ifties, tens and fives in it. She alwa
believed there were about 1000 in the roll.