New-York tribune., 1878-07-04
EXAMINATION AND ARGUMENT.


EXAMINATION AND ARGUMENT.
The last session of the Vanderbilt will case
before the Summer vacation held yesterday. Every
body concerned seemed relieved when 1t announced
that the adjourned until September 20. The
heat has made recent sessions very rksOme 10
the Surrogate witnesses and counsel The attendance
in court, however nearly large as usual yester
day Several ladies' were present, among them Mrs. E.
Fletcher Bishop the entertaining witness OF last week.
and Mrs. La Bau, the contestant.
Dr. F. H. Hamilton was cross-examined by Mr.. Clin-
ton. Much time was expended upOn the consideration
OF the long hypothetical question put TO the witness by
Mr. Lord on Friday which involved large part Of tho
issues in the case. Mr. Clinton also put Hypothetical
question, In which he assumed that the son. COrneuus
who was practically dsinherlted was eanDier d anu
been made that he had been an inmate OF lnsaue ay
would the legacy left by the decedent to that ind
cate unsOundness OF mGG: The witness answered tht
the fact that such an irresponsible son was NOT prop
ery cared for evidence of poor Judgment ana ul
natural feeling OF father toward SON. Dr. Hamlton
did not think that under the circumstances SlVVVSU S
year was sufficient; perhaps $4,000 might be- sup
pose" asked Mr. clinton that the post SGtem :, e1@ ann
duce insanity and the man himself IN MS ifetme gave
OF those indications OF weakness OF nind 70 !Iose
about him. would you not give the greater weiSnt 70
the characteristics of the man while alive as PROOF 0 his
Mr. ciiHton~IIow much should man leave his daugh-
tiers in order to indicate soundness OF mind !" A.
Something like their reasonable antlcipatiOns'
Q.-And all who differ from you are A.-Are en-
titled to their opinion. lLaughter.l . ...., ..,-,
ANNOt necessarily.
o|Do you think, with strong healthy husbands, who
have accumulated property, that half million gwen TO
their wives would be sufficient for them 70 get along
Alt would be for % 1e 3er h dtSer STcS i
oCWouId three millions to each daughter indicate
good Judgment Al think that would be reasona-
Bic sun ,-,,.., .,...,,o, . ,,s,o.,
tion would have resulted in the depreciation OF tne
property 60 per cent in six months spsa
ness Of mDdi Ayes, If he had no good reason 10 De-
ON redirect examination Mr.. Lord asked Suppose
property of $1OO,OO0O00 and au invalid son Win deots
and which debt tesatOr had agreed to provide Tor IN
his wil which he did not do, what CONDITION OF nlnd
a auctuating mind prejudiced against his son. and
lack OF natural affection -, -,..... ,-o.
taken up Mr. Clinton said that at the opening OF the
Summer session Of the case the nsc
the propOnen defed them TO tue proof aud dd not wish
TO put anything in their way but such indulgence nal
never been granted before any court as had been
given to the contestant. Although 1t was hard to SIT IN
side to close their case before vacation would be great
injustice. The prOponent had right to know Wnat Ease
be would have to meet. Unless the SURROGATE aPphed
the rules in ordinary 1t would be Impossible 10
finish the during bls term Of ONCE o,,.,,o,od
would say in regard TO Mr.. Redburn answered
Mr. Lord that he is suffering from intermittent fever
have seen him several times and he is utterly unable
appear but his physician is cOnhdent hat ne can DC
here on next Tuesday, II u Is tho4gnt, pest sa;d
that this was tho largest estate ever administered
upon iu America: IL was necessarily SLOW ease: II
had taken forty days. Another that Mr. CI1utOn
had IN this court OF far less Importance had taken nty
sctna trial In view of ali the circumstances they
had the right ask that their interests should not suner
in order that the trial might be shortened by lew days
Mr. Cinton-I must ask your Honor then TO give us
every wOrkingday during the remainder OF your term
of Office else it win be impossible to flush the case be-
fore the term expires, and then they will spring
upon the point that your successor VIII not nave
jurisdiction in the case, and so 1t will go on forever
The surrOgate-!f you go on in such warm weather
as this my term Of office win be very short .o
Mr. ClntOn-I ask the privilege TO show before the
adjournment that the anidavits of the conspiracy wit
nesses as presented by Mr. Lords adavs are part OF
a most Infamous blackmail operation All Of them were
written by the same man. and he lawyer We haVethe
deTIt two as honest men as ever lived the
arc false There must be something more definite on
Mr. LOrd-Ii Mr.. Depew and William ii. Vanderbilt
such Immaculate men, they should be deSir0us TO
Mr.. Cnton-I atk to be allowed 70 show TO the court
by the most pl0I and MASON will never dare
present themselves IN court TO swear 70 inc tun O
their adavits BY such the yilest accusations
can be made against the best OF men,
The surrOgate-There have been hfty-hve days ap-
pointed for this case forty have been consumed In
the parties public it has had all the time that
parties before this don't postpone this case to
get the testimony OF the CONSPIRACY & nv
commission. But am OF the opinion tnat such Wit
nesses should be examined by commission There
fore, II they are to De examined ~ must oG li coIt %
Again hold that definite time must be nxed Tor CLOS
the the coSesSnt cSS and for the
dton OF pOstPonement should be ths on september 70
sent all the testimony she may have TO offer, The con-
spracy witnesses must appear and testify In court or
not at all on October 8, IL, 10, 16, 1S 81 % 20 70
aud 80 the prOpouent must present ms case NO con-
spraey witness be presented whose name Is not
given. ,
MIR Lord named Redburn, Mason and Clark, and o
fourth man now in the employ Of the propOnent"
Mr. Clinton insisted knowing his name The answer
that the only reason the other side had Tor aen
tifyng hm was to educate him as witness AT TINS
Mr. Clinton was indignant. He said that he had heard
enough of the educating OF witnesses from those
who brought " trumped-up testimony INTO court Ihe
Court said that the contestants counsel must give the
name of the other witness Mr. Lord said that II was
man named Stevens, conductor on the Fourth Avenue
Railroad The court then adjourned until september ~
at 1890 O'Clock.