The daily gazette., 1878-11-21
J! Judge Black Drawn Out.
MRS; Crawford's Marriage In
/ commodore VanderbiIt.
ANliMATlHo THAT MONEY LUREp
HER TO GIVE HER HAND To A MAN
FIFTY YEARS HER SENIOR
OTHER THINGS THAT MIR.
CHOATE REPEII.ED.

Don't talk to me about what ia
customary" ex-Judge Black said con-
temptuously, iu the Vanderbilt will case
yesterday morning, when Mr.. Clinton
called Bishop Mc'ryeire and proposed
to begin the testimony for the proponent.
"Why don't they open the case and
give US some Of their defence Is It
fair togo on this way and not give us a
statement Of the case they propose to
maze out ?" But Mr.. Clinton said "Ob.
no: we don't propose to waste any time
In speechmaking."
b shop Fl. N. McTyeire of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church testified that his
vile and the Commodore's vile were
daughters Of half sisters, and that he
was Ill in the Commodore's house about
three weeks in February and March,
1873, most of the time confined to bis
bed that the Commodore frequently
visited him in his room, and had con-
versations principally, at first, on the
subject OF the disease with which both
were afflicted. "We talked" the Bishop
continued" about horses, preachers,
railroads, the Church Of the Strangers,
and other things" Then the Bishop
told the story Of his talks with the Com
modore about the establishment of the
University of Nashville, and gave the
details suggested as to the formation OF
the college, the purchase OF grounds, and
the establishment of the Board of Trus-
tees, with himself at the head. The
Commodore had no faith in boards, and
wanted the Bishop to take charge of the
university. The Commodore was very
particular to place all the power in the
Bishops hands.
There was futter among the pro-
ponent's counsel when Mr.. Lord ap-
preached the question of the Bishops
knowledge Of the Commodore's second
wife. Mr.. Lord asked !.
What was her name when the Commo-
dore married her p
"Frank Armstrong Crawford"
"Was her name ever Elliott ?"
II object" said Mr.. Clinton.
81 am advised that the witness knows
not only that her name was Elliott, but
that Elliott, was living at the time she
married the Commodore" said Mr..
Lord.
Here ex-Judge Black followed 1t up
with the citation OF a case in which a
will was set aside on account of the
relation of the principal legatee,
woman, to the testation, with whom
she was living as his wife, although not
married.
Judge Black urged earnestly that the
testimony was admissible to show the
exact relation OF Miss Crawford to the
family OF Commodore Vanderbilt. lie
said "there was enmity against her ON
the part of the Commodore's daughters
which produced a GORE, ,ponding bitter
ness of feeling on her part. All that is
so perfectly natural that it seems but to
be stated for the Court to understand
1t. and 1t is certainly true. There was
however, one exception in the family.
" illiam II. Vanderbilt approved the
marriage, encouraged it,probably brought
it about, and continued after the marriage
to be on terms the most friendly with
her-as friendly as if she had not done
to the family that most horrible injury
of marrying an old man in his dotage
for his money, making him ridiculous in
the eyes of the whole world. Now that
10 what we want should be shown-the
relations between these parties, the
daughters on one side, and William ii.
Vanderbilt toward the second wife of
the Commodore. But the aggravation
is immense if it appears that this mar
riage was not only most imprudent
one, calculated to offend to the last de-
gree every feeling that the daughters
could have, but, If in addition to that
it was unlawful. If we show that we
make out a case. Surely that shows
that she was not person to be put there,
and that any influence which she exerted
was altogether wrong and undue. We
want TO show the circumstances of the
marriage all through, and this aggrava-
tion thai her former husband was living
at the time the marriage took place.
That would be a justifica iona full and
sufficient reason why the daughters with
held from her the respect that such a
relation as that, if it bad been lawful and
pI oper and reasonable, would have
entitled her to. l think that is SO, al
though my thoughts have been struggling
for expression. have been compelled
to restrain myself from utterng 1t all.
Though have bungled it, Hope your
Honor will understand me-"
81 understand the point" the Surro.
gate said. - ii, ,.s
condnct toward the father and mother, "
Judge Black resumed, 81 mean the step
mot6er-for what was done by the
daughters undoubtedly in large meas
urs caused this heartless will to be made
If it is charged upon us that this all
followed because we were not on good
terms with the stepmother, and that was
| one of the reasons given by Commodore
| Vanderbilt himself, and manifostly had
a strong effect upon his own mind In
causing him to feel a sort OF bitterness
towurd the other members OF his family,
ali Iexcept William-If that is to be
CHARGED upon us as fault of ours, we
ought to be permitted to show an the
circumstances In justification OF IT."
The Surrogate-The query is whether
7 can SIT here and determine whether the
daughters were prejudiced against the
Commodore, wisely or unwisely, justly
~ nn;ustlv Suppose this woman did