New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-02
THE VANDERBILT WILL.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PRoPoyENr.


MRS EVANS TIE NOVELIST, TEsTIFiEs ABOUT THE
CUMMOD0REs OPINIONS OF Ills WIFE AND
CHLDREN-HIs VIEW OF sPIRITUALIsM 40 EX-
PRESSED TO SAMUEL len EYCK
There was hearing in the Vanderbilt will
ease yesterday take the testimony Of two of the wit
ness-s for the prepayment who about % leave the
State. Tae first Of these Mgs Augusta Evans VII
SON. the author o. "Boudh," e. -. Elmo" AID other
works of fiction Her home she said, was in Mobile
Ala. She appeared TO be woman Of nervous DISPOSE
uon and had delicate features and clear complexion
She was dressed ~ deep mourning.
Mr. Lod and Judge Back both objected to her testi-
Bony unless Nf. CliBtou would Indicate what be in
tended to prove The Surrogate allowed the txamtna
ton when NJ. Clinton stated that the witness would
narrate conversation With the Commodore preyousto
the making Of the codic TO shO@ his mental couciton
aud his relations with his children.
Mrs. Wilson said that she visited Commodore Wander
bilt and his wife IN june 1875, and the morning Of
June %, he took her for ride. When asked 10 give
conversation that passed between herself and tho ~
moiore that Occasion, the witness, IN iOw q, ~
voice gave tie following testimony, with scarcely
interruption:
After we had driven through the Park ard NJ Harlem
Lane, the Commodore pointed out 10 me villa which
be said no had given ~ Miss Hawlcy, account Of
engagement which be sad had existed between her and
his son George. After he had shown the villa De
spoke Of the WHICH OF his children had
caused him He said that he had had great deal of
trouble with his Cornelius; that william H. Wander
bilt was the only OF his children who Of
pride and him that he Cornelius j. had
many years before contracted matrimonial engage
ment md he said that he had gone personally TO the
Young lady dssuade her from marrying Cornelius j.
because he said lie thought that probably she
Tying him IN expectation Of fortune while
In fact he did not intend 10 leave him any for
tune. The more money Cornelius ]. had to spend he
said, the more harm he would do; he resolved 20
leave Cornelius j. comfortable but not leave him
fortune spend. He said he expected after he died
that William VI. ana williams two would perpetu.
ate the and honor Of the family; that he had
especially tested young Cornelius whom he had placed
in position where he would have fayors shown him
aud he would have show what kind OF stuff he WAS
made o. When he spoke Of young Cornelius he called
him Biilys COrneJs.' He sand that his Cornelius
had given him great that he had COMMISSION
for him.. he considered him scarcely responsible
He said that the greatest comfort ana hap
piness Of his life was derived from his
second marriage that since his wife had entered the
family she had acted mediator and pacihcator be-
tween himself and Cornelius j. when he refused 10
read letters from Cornelius and returned them 10 HIM.
Cornelius would prevail Mrs. Vanderbilt 10 read
them anu tell him what they cOntaIued sometimes
before he discovered what she doing he found her
behind his chair reading portions Of Cornchus letters
The Commodore said he told bia wife that he didn't
know Cornelius"
speaking OF his vile the COmmO lore said
beaut consistency OF is wifes hristian character had
done Ia draw him 10 religion tn all the churches;
that he had watched her consistent Christian home ife
day by day, and while H. very f0ud Dr. Deems
and admired nm and lked 10 scc him around, his wifes
beautiful Christian consistency had nnlenccd him far
more IN av0T % religion an any sermons he had ever
listened 90 In the course OF ms long life and career,
which involved tie knowledge OF great variety Of
character, he had 0ahd her the prc-t and nOlest
man tnaC Jas had ever encountered and Size had COM
mandod from hin reverence which DO other human
being ever had.
Daring the conversation the Commodore said he would
/ ffaa tho
becsse his habits were snch That hc would reduce any
woman To whom lac was married 10 penufy and he
| Tor money - gamble win
Mr. Lotd declined examine the witness, and
ii. Vanderbilt aud on the O'cock trsin started Tor her
ZONE IN Monte.
The other witness was samncl Zen Eyck. Of Denver
COL who sal0 tuat he had known Commodore Wander
bill 1855, ana lad called MN every time he
had the cy. He had also mad frequent business
engagements with hin. In the Spring OF 1874 The Wit
al the Ne York Hotel, and with sey,ga other
frenOs WHO were living there, went 10 Sade,
the Spntuaiist TIE next day he called lpOn CODmu-
dere Vanderbilt ana told him what nad seen AZ the
their s'g,t aud wien ne took il down It was covered
with Writing and other mysterious things. "Tho Com
mOdOre was writing at inc time" sad Mr.. Ten Eyck
"he loOl "a up ana sald My son, thought you had
more brains tnau 10 believe any such Id nonsonse'"
On another occasion the said visited siade
with some ladies' aud gentlemen, and told the COmmo-
dore what be had seen The Comm0dore sad that II no
e0nldnt md anything more sensible talk about he
wonld forbid him 10 come 10 see hun.
Some time Ia April 1874" continued the witne-s,"I
told the Commodore about a visit watch Cornelius j.
had made me at the New-York Hotel He told me not
10 talk about him. He didut amount anything Once
bis immense estate. lie SAID don't very well Know
II leave y to my relatives iney will scatter IT, and the
only one OF my children that think keep together
Is William"
Mr Lord said he didn't think any crOssexaminatiOn
was, aud he would not put any questions.
A little Chicago girl while sitting at the
table, short time ago. held psce Of Ia hand