The New York herald., 1878-10-12
THE GHOST OF JIM FISK.


COMMODORE vANDERBILr's ooNFAB WITH sPrR-
ITs-A FIRM BELIEVER IN CLAIRvoYANcy.
The usual crowd assembled in the Surrogate's Court
yesterday 10 attend the Vanderbilt will contest The
proceedings we're tame, and the absence OF Judge
Jers Black and Mr. Choate during the morning hour
tetrscted from the interest in the case Several w.t.
were called, but their testimony excluded
the ground that related 10 time TOO from
the execution OF the instrument under probate.
TALK WITH SPIRITS.
Mrs Helen s. Clark testified that In ls7a she was
present at conversation between the Commodore and
Charles Foster the spiritualistic medium IN house
in Twenty-nintb street; thero were several other
persons present, but she dare not mention their
names; at the meeting the Commodore consulted
with several spirits through tho medium, Foster. by
means OF little bits Of paper, on which writing was
inscrbea; he consulted with the shade OF Jim Fisk
concerning srocks the returned to The Com.
modores questions about stocks were not, 80 the
Commodore said, in accordance with his views, but
said he, "Wo will wait and see;n the Commodore
wrote question concerning certain legal document
belonging to witness; James Fisk, through Foster,
said IL had been destroyed, and he named
the person who had destroyed II; during
the seance the Commodore wrote the following
IN essage :-"My dear vile: Can you communicate
with me? 2" the answer was returned ~ am hero
and will communicate with you;" the Commodore
asked certain things concerning his chidren we're
true, the answer came back that they were not;
witness could not remember tue exact questions;
she had spoken 10 the Commodore before TINS
seance concerning Spiritualism and he had advised
her TO TO Foster; sho she could mol AFFORD the
fee, whereupon he volunteered to take her and de-
fray all expenses; ho spoke OF Slade, Maggie Kane,
one OF the Bennett family aud others; he also men,
uoped, she remembered. that some considered Siau0
better than Foster
Witness also mad u conversation with tho Commo-
dorc her house the subject vi Spritualism; he
asked her II believed that the she heard
At the Foster seancc were IRON her father; sue said
she did not; mat uuess sue her father she
would not believe: subsequent 10 the interview the
Commodore told ner ne Lud received great benefit
from the laying on or hands asked witness II the
spirits controlled her hands; she SAID she thought
not ana then quoted the Bible to prove that
had the power through spirits TO cure; he also
spoke OF heaven tho angels aud MS hope IN
a future state; he said lnat the messages through
Foster, whether true or not, had given him great
comfort.
HIS BELIEY IN oLAIRvoYANcE.
DR.. Bodenhemer recalled. offer by Mr.
Lord 10 prove certain remarks OF the Commodore
concerning his belief in cairvoyance. Mr. Clinton
objected to the testimony. ON tho ground that tho
time to which u related too remote from tho
making OF tns will. having reference TO Mpy 1876.
The objection was sustained and tue Doctor excused
Simllar Offers through Mr.. W. VI. Ben
and Mrs. Jennie Danforth, aud to the
forth was put on the stand under an offer TO prove
that the told her about one year alter the
execution OF she Will that ne had converssd with MS
wile he told tnaL he thought the viii unjust
one, that William should mol nave all the prop
erty; that his wife told MIN ne should not alter III
that iam would do all that was just for the other
children when ne was gone; that, in any event, he
should such time tho being then very III be
thinking OF business Objection made TO THIS 0tor
on the ground OF remotensss, and u was sustained
4 The next witness called was iiam Horn. who
tiied that he knew Dr.. Stodard he hired rooms from
me az No. varlck place. .For wuich purpose aud
Tor whom did he nire them 2" asked Mr.. Lord. Obsc-
ton made TO this question, and. alter long ar
gunent, the Surrogate uissllowsd Mr.. Lord said
he wished to prove by tbis witness that as early
1872 1873 DR.. Stodard and Mrs. Stodard lived with
.nd vtf0 anhi rtnnh hair onsla
the witness stepped aside and the adjourned
until Tuesday morning. NJ Ten O'Clock.