The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-05
ENDING THE BIG WILL SUIT.
ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS or DOLLARS
ON THE WITNESS STAND.
William TT. Vanderbilt Denying what Ofher
Witnesses a. We Asserted-Thc Asper-ions
upon Mrs Vanderbilt All Withdrawn.

Tho Vanderbilt will case was closed yes
tcrdoy, saving only the decision. Judge Ra-
PABLO. the first witness. testified that before his
election to the Court Of Appeals he drew up
several wills and codicils for Commodore VAN
derbilt. will that he drew up for the Commo-
dorc in 1870 had four codicils. which were
added in 1871. 1872. 1873. and 1874. 1t gave to
Mrs. Vanderbilt. according to n contract made
before marriage 100000 she. in consideration
of such bcquest releasing her right Of dover.
II gave to her further the house Mt 10 Washing
ton place with the furniture therein, and a
span OF horses and two carriages. To the
daughters the will gave almost idcnticay the
same as the will in dispute. that Of 1875 II
gives to Cornelius Vanderbilt 100000 in
United States bonds to be placed in the
hands Of trustees for his maintenance. which Is
the provision. precisely. made in the will that is
contested. To the wife Of Cornelius j. Wander
blt tho will gives the Connecticut farm and
$4,000 in Government bonds to revert to her
sisters upon her death. The first codci makes
u slight change in the bequest TO Mrs Wander
hlt, and the second revokes the bequest to Mrs.
in aii the papers appertainins. VIM. II. Wander Ter
bill IL named M the sole resduary legatee.
Mr.. Clinton arose at the conclusion Of tho
reading oi that viii, and offered in evidence an
other. mnde in February. 1869. aud the witness
ldentifled this Will also as having been drawn
codicils attached. was almost idcnticnlly the
same rs the will OF 1870 Cornelius j. Wander
ON was allowed 10y y nc interest on $2OO.O00.
ing the will should forfeit his or her legacy.
VIM. ". Vanderbilt was made by this will also
sole residuury legatcc
Another will was then offered dated in July.
1865. This was in nearly all points the same as
the willis preceding. VARYING only in that Cor
nelius j. Vanderbilt WIS allowed by 1t the spe-
cific sum OF 50 600 year. A clause in this will
provided that in case either OF the daughters
from the joint trust fund secured 10 them. the
same consisting Of 500 900 10 each.
II the present will" said tho Surrogate,
had contained this clause this case would
have been finished long ago.
BY this will, also. VIM. II. Vanderbilt was
made sole residuary egatee, and 1t was stipu-
lated that nil who contested tho will should be
deprived Of their legacics
Judge ,Bapallo went on 70 testify that he had
drawn also four or five other wills. dating all
the way from 1856 to 1sGs; that they were all
materially the same as those offered. and TINT
the first one WIS drawn from n draft OF pre-
vious will shown to him, which WAS. in all ma
teral points. the same rs those that had been
shown. The witness testified also that no to
the timo Of the death OF tho Commodore's son
George, the latter was always named in associa-
ton with William u. as, residuary legatee. the
two 10 divide equally. In all the earlier wills
for Cornelius j. Vanderbilt
VIM. II. Vanderbilt WAS called to the stand
shortly after the noon recess. In regard TO the
contested will u his father. he testified that he
first saw the wi on the sth OF January. 1877.
knowledge OF lis contents In regard To- lillian
Stoddard, who had testified in the present ease
the witness test fled that ho first saw her nj The
time She appeared as witness in the court lie
did not 70 With her to the Continental Hotel in
Scptember. 1874. nor talk with her in WASTING
ton square The witness also testified that hn
had never seen previous 10 their nnpearnnce In
the court or talked with nj any time MARY /.
Stone. Ahby Carleton. and Esther King. All
this was i'm direct contradiction Of the testimony
OF these witnesses. The witness further dental
remarks attributed to him by Cornelius ] Vnn-
derbilt relating TO his father Ue denied further
that he had ever said TO Mr.. Allen that his
fathcr was certain 10 fall into the hands Of some
wonian md that he vas nTenarad to fnrnisb
tho woman
Mr. Lords cross examination of this witne 50
was very mild Mr.. Vanderbilt said in the
course OF II That he had never talked with his
father about his will but that the Commodoro
had sometimes mentioned " that paper" by
which witness understood the will The Wit
ness had expected II the money did come to him
that II would come In trust and tho Commodore
had often remark cd upon the necessity of Keep
ing 1t in tho family. When playing cards. too
the Commodore had said laughingly Billy
you'd better look out for those fellows. they re
..,...u. I.ur Qol.Y.n The witness neveI heard
- ~ Nsl, uSil 4's SPT'
ness. Then the Commodore impressed il upon
the witness that there was n great RESPONSE
liity resting on him. and said that IL he would
do Just what that paper said he would be all
cussed any Of ihe other children with his father.
and that his father never told him what pro-
Vanderbilt The witness said also that pre-