The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-16
VANDERBILYS DOLLARS
The Great Litigation Continued
Before the Surrogate.
A FRIENDS TESTIMONY.
and PecuIiarties OF the
Dead Railroad King.

tho Vanderbilt will case yesterday, neither was
Judge Comstock OF the other side The court room
was crowded ana a great deal OF interest was mant
tested In tho testimony While nothing which seemed
to bear directly on tho question Of tho Commodoret
sanity was elected the evidence was OF decidedly
amusing character ana many traits and pcculiarstios
Of tho deceased railway king were brought out
After the hearing court was over the Surrogate,
counsel on either sdc aud two stcnosraphers' VIII
.lliam II. Vanderbilt proceeded TO the homo Of Mrs
C. V. Cross, wife OF the Commodore's grandson ano
took her testimony she was unable 10 attend
IN court. She stated that the Commodore had made
her II testameniary promise, which had not been
Kept Thence the party went 10 the residence Of
Mrs. James NJ. Cross, daughter OF tho deccdont, but
she was so M that tho physician would not permit
her TO be examined 80
Acall was next made upon Mrs b. B. Allen, another
daugne OF the cstator. IL was stipulated by coun'
sci the testimony should DO ta%on as II de benz
esse to be road at tho next hearing and to b
subject 10 objections either sioe Mrs. Aliens tes-
timony was similar to that Of her SISTER Mrs. Crosa
THE TESTIMONY
Peter yombalicr, OF No 3o4 Third avenue. Custom
House broker OF deeds, said his son
rerogo Peter left this city tor Havana assistant
pursor OF the Niagara ten days ago. THIS son was
formerly clork tho Post OGlcc, but resigned two
years ago. Mr.. Lord remarked that the young man
in question the ono who had pcrsonatcd Cornelius
j. Vanderbilt ut hotels and questionable resorts.
They had endcavored to subpoena upon him.
but had not succeeded, as he always cluded them
MIR. Lord said he wished 10 provo that tho young man
had lott Post Office against his fathers wishes.
aud that although he had boon in receipt Of only SIS
a week he suddenly camo into possession Of large
sums OF money and lived very extravagantly. The
testimony was not admitted.
Witness testified that his son was acquainted with
Mr.. Hernandez Andreas, wealthy gentleman, aud
had accompanied him TO New Orleans and Saratoga.
Mr. Lord asked tho witness whether HIS would
come back III tho Niagara, and received the reply
"Probaply no will the ship Is oniy seven years Old"
AN OLD FRIEND OF THE COMMODORE
Mr.. jacob J. Van telt, an elderly but vigorous gem
toman, with gray nan and whskcrs, and Of decide,
eddy imperfect hearng, wus next called and examined.
by Mr. Lord. He testihed that he lived at No. 10 West
THIRTEEN street; had lived this city thirty.lveT
yoars aud had been acquainted with the COMMODORE
nty years; from Tue time OF Mr. Van felt's arrival IN
TINS CITY nc mad dealings WITH tho Colnmo-
dore-seng him SHIP timber--aud up 70 1870 mad
been on social terms with him. Witnoss told
a great many stories OF his transactions aud convor.
satous with Commodore Vanderbilt Before starting
with his family Tor Europe IN tho North STAR In
Sill OOO, 900, ana better invested than any
other SllO00, 900 in the United States; II Is worth
twenty-five per cent year." about ABOUT; 1858 wit w.t.
modOre what he was gong 10 do with ms property,
anything happsnedY 81 have large family
was Inc reply none of them were braught up
do any thing they viii all have plenty lucy i've
ON tho interest OF what leave them" On another
the money would 60 faster than he had mado It.
GENEROUS LOANS.
Witness used frequently 10 borrow money IRON the
Commodore who never refused him request Tor .
loan; sometimes witness gave note, but frequently
did not; occasion he owed tho Commodore
$685. 900 borrowed money ana the latter took
dcucs OF the indebtedness; witness proposed TO give
thing Should happen to YOU ana turned o.. a rogue
might cheat your heirs out OF good deal of noncy
n. ' tnousns a minute aud said, "Wei, If i die and
you $l00 600. mover say darned word to any.
Dody about II; there Will be moro loft than they'll
want"
$40 you moan that, Commodoros" said Mr.. Van
PcL
s'Yos, l do mean it," was the reply. SWELL" re.
spomdcd other, 81 would not wish your death for
all Tho money YOU have got, Commodore; but hope
snail owe you 100000 when you ac"
q How did the account stand between you whom he
diedS A. Ito owed mo So.
The laughter that followed this remark was so LOUD
that the Surrogate warned tho spectators not 10 smile
SO audiDly. Mr. Van Pot proceeded with his ,esti-
mony He told The story OF u transaction between
himself and the Commodore involving a horse. IL
seemed that witness had very handsome mare which
howsver. to pay oniy s., 600 while the owner askod
So, 000 One morning. said the witness, went ~
his house. ana he sent word for me TO come up TO his
room wnen had just got out Of bod "Hello," says
hs, "your'e alter something or you would not come
so damuod early; what do you want?'
MODEST REQUESTS.
Says iI:--"ConmodOrc, want S2l, O00." "Tne hell
YOU 10 he said." swell, H." lie into the
amount. Says he, ~ don't lend money TO everybody
this wuy whon are sou going to pay mes' says. -!
tSon was going oil, ana ho says, ''wc, You had bot
tor let me have that mare. says l. .Give mo my price
give ' You that" Says he shall tell You what you
had better do 20 Says l. YES" SWELL" says he "yOu
.a rss ner to o
at you ever want 10 part with her Will you send her
back TO mes" Eyes" he says ~ Will" IAN right"
SAID, ssl'Il her tomorrow morning" seot her
the next morning. anu he sent me check Tor mo
amount had asked; sent IL back again; mot him
tho OF Two or three days and he says ivan,
why dovil don't you keep that check sent your"
l told him | made better bargain. thought;
ua,n. well saia /, "you always told mo If got tho
bes. of any bargain must keep and never lot up on
it."
Ono day the Commodore told witness that he should
have u house and lot and $l00, QUO Witness COZ.
Yss do mean he saa Says commodors.
WHOM nun | 10 have t?n swell" says he, "ater am
gouO Is time enough Tor you to have H." He sa.d,
swan, you dono several things Tor me that
would not trust anybody else TO do
matter saying ''You recollecs what told you about
tho house ana money!" says YES; but suppose
YOU syo me Tue v house ana lot now. and let The
might before you do - saiu, you had better let
nave now" mo hs s.,S ~ WIN . ax u so tina.
the 100000 now aud 'Iet tho house co."
mo" ne said, n won't do either; you WIN
likely will, Commodore says care you going t0
leave in your wiIiy' ii will hx Il SO that you
said, "You will always recoiect what promised
you 20 Yes says, will rccoliect nat you prom.
Iscd Commodore; VIII never forgot That !; tho
last time recolIcct HIS speaking of It 1864
1865; he SAID, "You shall have home and 500, OOO;
tnats enough Tor you anyhow; !" about that the
Commodore asked me what the best thing to
invest his money 10 then; says l, "Why don't you
Improve your staten Island property p? He said 'rhe
titles aran'L worth damn says l. 'ComLnodore, l
didn't know you bought any property you didnt
got good titles ior; swell, he said, al dian't give
much for IL
ABOUT FRIEND
MIR. Van Pclt sa'd there was great change In the
Commodore's bearing toward him after certain po.
good terms. Mr. Lord offered TO show that about thai
umo Commodore Vanderbilt requested Mr. Van
Pelt TO pauy lady to her homo from his ofco;
that he did und lett ut her door, and never saw
her again until ono month before the Comtnodorof
death, when they met his olfce whittier both had
gone 10 inquire about his health; that mr.. van felf
then learned that after he TOOK the lady nome some
body told The Commodore gross ialsehod III regard
10 tue matter that the Commodore expressed his IN
dignaton, but That IN all those years, although