The New York herald., 1878-11-02
DEFENDING THE Will.
Additional Evidence Introduced by
William Il. Vanderbilt.
THE AUTHOR OF EST. ELMO"
What the Commodore Told Her About
HIS Wife and Children.

According 10 agreement made on Wednesday be.
tween counsel In the Vanderbilt will case the pro-
ponents were allowed yesterday to examine two wit
nesses their side OF order. The nrss Of these
was Augusta Evans, author Of s.SI Elmo" She was
dressed 10 deep mourning. entered leaning
ON ths arm OF William H. Vanderbilt
An AuTHoREss THE STAND.
Witness 10 answer 10 questions said that her name
was Augusta Evans Wilson; that she was known TO
the public as Augusta }. Evans tho aulhoress. Her
nrst lew answers were very indistno SO Mr. Clinton
suggested tnat II would DO well II she removed nor
VEIL a suggestion with which shs cnesriuly CON-
piled.
Tho question, ''wsrs you acquainted with mrs.
Commodore Vanderbii,r objected 10 by Mr.
Lord. who said he desired before The witnoss pro.
ceedsd to cross-examinc her as 70 her intention to
leave town. In answer TO his questions she said that
she expected 20 leave town the Ave r. NJ train for
her home Mr.. Cnton's question then allowed
ana witness answered that she mad known Mrs. Van
derbiit Tor twenty-five years.
''Were you acquainted with the Commodore In his
HfetimeY" asked Ar. Clinton.
eyes, sir, l became acquainted with him through
his wife; visited them in the year 1876 arriving
here June II and leaving the city tho following
Saturday; met the Commodor before he married his
second wife, In 1888; had several conversations with
him In 1878. one very long one; this during q
drive In Central PARK; he drove me out In . buggy
behind pair OF horses he wished me to sse."
Ar Ciinton-You may state that conversation or
such parts Of as relate TO his familyI mean his
children.
Ex-Judgs Black objected on the ground that couu.
sci should frat state what he expected TO prove by
the witness testimony otherwise no could not judge
whether u was omiss ble or
Mr.. Oiinton replied that he expected to show tho
the relations Of the Commodore 80 his family, and
second u was near enough to the codic to show the
C0mmodors's mental condition
the CoAMoDoRE's CHILDREN,
ErA Wiieen was allowed 10 con tlnus :-"Aftsr driv
Ing through the Park and up Harlem lane he
drove mo around TO show mo villa which he
the engagement which he said nad existed between
her and MS son George; when showing me the villa
he spoke Of Tho sorrow wnich some Of them mad
deal OF trouble with his soE Cornelius; that
the only one Of bis children who had always been
source OF pride and contortto him was his Will
lam h. Vanderbilt; that many years before his son
Cornelius J. had contracted matrimonial engage.
ment, and that ne tine Commodofc) had gone 10 ih
young lady personally 10 dissuAdc her Ing
MIN, Tor he Thought probably she was marrying ID
expectation Of fortune, while he did uos insena 10
leave him his fortune; he said tho money Cor
nelius had 10 spend the more harm no would do; ne
resolved, he said, to leave Csrnelius comioriabs
at his death, but no. 10 give HIM
fortune spend; ho said that no expected alter he
was sono william Il. and his Two sons would psrpe.u.
ate the name and honor oil tho family that be had
specially tested young Cornsiius, whom he had placed
in a position where he would DO tried and no avor
would be shown him, he could ascertain wnat sort
OF stuff he was made OIL"
Mr. Ciin.on-ro whom did no feier as young Cor.
MrA Wilsen-Hc said, s'Biiiy's CornsIius.n
MORE ABOUT coRNKLIu&
Mr Clinton-What DID no say further concerning
Mrs. wiison-Hs said mis- son Cornelius had given
him great sorrow, but that ne had compassion for
him. as no consdsrsd MIN scarcely responsible; he
SAID that tho creates. comfort and happiness OF hts
his vile, since she entered me family, had been a
mediator and paci0cator between himself and Corne.
i,u. wnsa he rsiussd 70 read letters from corns.
prevail Mrs Vanderbilt TO read them and tell the
Commodore Of their contents; sometimes standing
behind his chair she would road him portions hts
sons letters be he discovered what was doing
and In every way had strongly sndssvorsd to bring
about harmony IN the family; the Commodore said
he told hrs wife he not know CornsIiua
BkrTKR THAN PREACHING.
The Commodore SAID that The beautiful cOnsiste ency
OF HIS wifes Christian character mad done more 70
draw him 20 religion than all The churches ne had
ever been In or ali The sermons that mad ever been
delivere he had watched her consistent Christian
home life day by day, and while he was very iond OF
DR.. Deems and admired him and liked TO see him
around his wis's Ch ristan character had In need
him far more than any sermons he had ever lsiensd
TO- In the course OF his long lite aud career. wncn
ter. he had found her the pureat and nobest woman
he had ever encountered aud she had commanded
ever had. af4
"Anyth,ng further during the conversa,ioni" :"
Mrs. wson--Hc said be would bs sorry to see any
worthy woman marry CornsiiusJ. becauss his habis
to whom be was married, and ne added forcibiy-
N. Lord-'I move 70 strike that out" Motion
sustained.
witness continusd-rhat ne would take the clothes
of womsn's back 10 pawn tncm ior money 70
gamble.
After q short consultation Ne. Lord and Judge
Black decided not TO cross-exanine the witucsG
"pANNKD NONSENSE"
Mr.. samuel Ten Eyck, Of Colorado was also sworn
for tho propousn,s He had ad . convsrsalion with
the Comm odorc concerning Spiritualsfn In 1874 and
had told him about visit ne had paid TO Slade told
him the things Slade mad done; the Commodore
writing At the tims, but putting down his pen, he
looked at witness and said, my son, thought you
unr m hAa nal
such damned nonsense" witness did not continue
the conversation further, as he bad too much
reverence foe the IN whose presence ne was;
two subsequent to this interview witness went
ain 10 Slsde thereafter inadvertently spoke
OF In the Com modore's hearing; the Commodore
told him that II he couh not mud something else TO
talk about he would have 70 request him call
again IN this conversation IN 1874 witness asked the
point blank what he Intended TO do with
his great fortune: he answered that no hardly knew
but he only had faith IN william II. Vanderbilt to
keep u togeshsn There waa crosse n mi nasion
NEIL DOUGHERIY'S WILL
Nail Don bsrNv ~satehv ana sraantrir nId nsch