New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-22


the decedent were also gwen. Mr. Clinton made Oh
effort to introduce the testimony Of Robert L. Cra"-
ford to dsprove the evidence Of the visits of William
II. Vanderbilt u Miss Crawford, at No. 20 Fourth
ST., but this was ruled out. William Turnbull tesr-
fed TO an expression OF opinion By the Commodore
in regard to Cornelius J. Vanderbilt.
ADAY OF INTERESTING TESTIMONY.
No one, not even Judge COmstock, grew
sleepy IN the surrogates COURTROOM yesterday The
proceedings were Of a striking character The test
mony OF eI-Judge James Spencer on the cross-eTan-
nation was peculiar. as 1t consisted mainly
OF the narration OF conversations between
the Commodore and tue witness that ordinarily
IN courts are considered privileged communications
Il showed something Of the Commodore's indlYidua'
plans and methods during me Erie war" The evidence
offered TO given by Robert L. Crawford, the brother
OF the Comnodores widow, also extraordinary II
was an o- TO prove by at the time his sister
was alleged TO living IN FOurhst and 10 be reeev
ing Tie visits Of william II. Vanderbilt before her mar
rage to the Commodore she actually Ia Alabama OF
Canada
The conversation Judge Spencer said that he had
with Commodore Vanderbilt was In 1865 al the 'iule
that he and Judge RapaO were employed counsel IN
railroad matters. The Commodore told the witness that
he had better William II. AT the Harlem Offices, ana
IA freely with hun that he might understand all about
the subject Of railroads. lie spoke OF NJ. Rapalo a.
Rap" and said he was quiet, rcserVed man VINO
didn't tala freely even with him on business matters.
The next convcrsatiou Judge spencer said. he would
prefer give 1t entirely confidential about
Erie Railway affairs.
Judge Comstock-The witness "a entitled to this PRIV
1ege.
The surrogate overred The objection and the witness
then gave running account OF his interviews this
subject with the Commodore. " I remember" he said
that the Commodore hold me that the Erie Railway
COMPANY as conducted BY Daniel Drew ard others. was
serious trouble 10 them all He went 20 say that the
Erle stock was football the market; that they had
affected other railroad stocks by their operations IN
the eight and passenger market that they mad vlo-
lated their charter and that they ought 70 De wound up
The whole manag cement ought to he changed This he
lad determined 20 do and he said he wanted to IN.
dertakc tie work He desired TO have the question
tested In the courts whether they had been heecinc
honest people. He would send me man who would
tel Us al! about H. He SAID ne wanted Rap and MY
self 10 DO ths as rcpreseued him and hc bad conf
dence IL u.s.
sTRArAGEM N THT ERIE WAR.
The witness then grouped all the subsequent eouver
.tioD, he nat with the Commodore before lie became
Judge OF tie superior Court IN the Fall OK 1863
went 10 the Commodore SAID Judge Spencer, week
after taxing deposit on the subject Of me Erie
Road. He asked TO detail 70 him all the evidence
had collected; lie wanted 10 know II IL was
sufficient as the bass FOR bill
told him yes, and that was about to
begin tine action. Gould l get an injunction to pro
vent tn voting certain stocks shat had been
hyPo'Aec~,cGF to'I HIN l cOuld ION i'ny yuo-t,
Would tue Judges hold II would llcy 'aca.t
ID" told him that no Judge would ytcde II y
ptrte. and We had eyitcLc' mat cou'ul DC over
cOme before aLy lar JUICE. he ea.d A. 4lEHl
20 ahead. Toll NE what security y0u WANT
and make your hui Although the Commodole
owned Ere stock The acton vas begun IN ne name
OF some other person. saw him several times after
Wa-ds IL tnis matter u3t the papers we're all IN my
hands Then he told me 10 lock mp the papers IN safe
keep the KEY and let 10 one see them or nave copies
until received nis Instructions. BE didn't want me 10
the SAFE that other people had access TO- followed
The ncxi tine "a " the Commodore" continued the
witness. 81 20 Lls house WITH Tie c1mpeint and
1 b i - .e I'M, atD for sor2a TINE T5e Ere
war was then fairly opened and several suits in
progress Senator Pierce had of,rcd uou IN the
ana some oth.r railroads The Commodore s"nt FOR ne,
and came told me must &c TO Albany al once ana
there 10 reprcreut cur roads IL iliS mater ~
knew. He mad list II them and asged me 7eTldtim
what I knew OF them. lie sad that he was Going 10
write couddcu,al letters addr, .sed to difs. M
friends ID Albany 20 tLat tLtY sAGu.C LuC"
NAT Teprcentrd HIM 3er,SqHaiy y 1 iaesG n mat
must be met nov. Here Is the opportunity 10 la'c rs
vlo'. u.lr.er laid before the people a' 90 really - lie
Sonc Of them were 20 senator Pierce or Ne Nad he dHn
know nul. H. asAed NJ hon wanted 10 hep ne
l4enI ned Horace J.. S.srh, ons. Re- o1"H3' alN
Nj Lord-Nou don't an To say that Charles OConor
ne Titnes--Oe no. sir. only % the letters was
addressed L. senator; that was 20 M la Bau. the
Others 20 -iias Is. Dui.her, CAduhcey ". pclew ana
siduot Falrcl.d. l dldn't rec the Commodore agan
Of 1859 lie told ttat he was cut of
II, but was eth interested IN its progress. he
lid hat tie began ur the anHulmeut " the Eric
charter the thing TO bring II to clo-e-Thy d'dn
do something win tAai suit "a D-.'es 20 an 40
follow the COmmodore's advice but there didn't mncH
Intervis W. with the Commodore after The witness left
the bench we're heu gwen under protest but they were
undressing.
A LIVELY SCENE N COURT.
One OF the animated scenes that has occurred IN
the case flr several months followed. when Robert J.
t5rd tie bro her " The CoumoGOre- widow, was
called TO the stand. Mr. Clinton had gone 10 further
than 10 Inquire II tie witness where his
sister vas d 1863, when he 7as stopped
By an objection, aAi .Sed 10 state what
ue intended 10 show by the witness H. said De pro
po.d 10 di,prove the stories tod by Elizabeth Camp
bau and Flora Lyon aud to show that n tho spring
and summer Of 500 when they testified the widow VI
Commodore Vanderbilt living ~ No 20 Iourthst"
ami WAS there visited by william II. Wander
bit, she was actually Living N Noble Al
that she remained there until June, l-o9' ana
then went London. Canada, where she remained
mr the marriage as ceehdted IL AugH't not na' M,
been "a N""-1 OK during tldt 'inr. NV, 7'L' -
clinton with great velemenc", " II IN executing tDe
blt'keu Oh" character Of pure Christian woman, We
should be allowed At least to d-pro'e The cyldence ley
thar this aly- brother, her natural proif'" ~ lhh
TINE anu now should be tho one to show Vac lastly VI
SANDERS " desire present lll7 t~shlu"uF
a. aUr link IA the chain Of testimony that shall show
that the conspiracy they have all gcd 10 exist on As
side really Is upon Tie other side
Hr Lord answered mat a. he witnesses named were
not allowed give tne main part OF their TESTIMONY
tbcv could not Ue cOntradicted upon an immdtcl'aI
ponr: and even II he witnesses bad mis- AIKEN tue year
l-69 Tor sGS, 10 was not material question Heh!
/ Clinton" Mr Lord exclaimed. q" has the glory OF
standing alone 10 his position OF Directing 20 the test
mony OF pure women, ana then. when 10 u excluded
standing up here and With COwaIdce Gsssliing them az
lrriurrr-.' .,-
Mr. Choafe who appeared 20 be the only ~ tie
co1u.cl who could pre-cTve his GOODNESS and eQuanmtJ
rr.a.uted few Uict arguments materially ~