The New York herald., 1879-02-05
VANDERBILT'S WILL.
The Case Resumed Before
Surrogate Calvin.
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE
Some Men Who Believed in the CommOdOrt's
Good Sense and Sanity.

vim yesterday. william H. Vanderbilt occupied
seat immediately behind his counsel. Messrs Henry
L. Clinton Joseph H. Choate and ex-Judge Comstock.
He watched the proceedings closely. and frequently
made suggestions to his lawyers Mrs. LIE Bau sat
near her counsel Mr.. Scott Lord. as did also her
brother, Cornelius j. Vanderbilt. Mr.. Jacob vander-
bilt. brother of the Commodore. was also present
during the forenoon session.
Zenas C. Priest. division superintendent Of the
New York Central Railroad, testified that the 29th
of January, 1872. he had conversation with the
Commodore. who spoke OF his Cornelius. and
said that he had trouble with hm that he had fur
nished him with good deal of money. which was
lost In gambling; ne also said that when he advised
one of his children and his advice not needed he
let them CO. and when he did let them go it for
good; every time the witness the Commodore
the latter spoke about William H.. and asked him
chow Billy got along" and whether he would mako
good railroad man; the witness had told him that
he thought he would. Mr.. Priest allowed to go
without being crossexamined.
. James Tillinghast next sworn and testified
that he was the General Superintendent of the New
York Central Railroad, and had held that position
since 1863; in 1873 he had conversation with the
Commodore in regard to how the business of the
roads was to be conducted after the Commodore's
death; the Commodore told him that William H.
would have control of the roads then and that mat
ters would go along in good shape; after the con-
solidation of the roads in 1862 when William H.
made Vice President, the Commodore gave instruc-
tions that all orders should come through him; he
said that william H. IS management of the road was
meeting entirely with his own yiows; the actions
of the Commodore were rational up TO the time of
his death.
THE COMMODORE IN CANADA.
During the cross examination by Mr.. Lord the witt
ness, on being asked how he came to be at the Com
modores wedding in London, Canada, replied that
the Commodore lad asked him to 60. The witness
counsel, as follows:-When the Commodore sent for
me to Saratoga he said. 1--WE want to go over
railway carriage he would like to 90 to Canada in
not to attract attentions the Commodore said
nothing that occasion that would lead to think7
he going TO London for the purpose OF marrying
Miss Crawford; the reason why knew that it was
the the Commodore was going to London when he said
were over there.
Q. What people? A. Mrs. Crawford and her
daughter.
Q. How did you know they were there9 A. Because
had furnished the that took them there under
the Commodore's directions.
@. When did the Commodore tell you he was going
to marry Miss Crawford? A. He never told me SO.
@. Did you know, when those ladies' went on q
special train to Canada that the Commodore in
tending to go there and marry Miss Crawford? OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Clinton and objection sustained.
O. Where did the Commodore set out from when
he to Canada be married? A. He started from
Saratoga. and met him. by previous arrangement.
at Albany with special car nearly q month after
Miss Crawford and her mother went to Canada.
Q: Did he ever give you any reason tor marrying
''HE CALLED FRANK"
Q. By what name did he usually call the lady he
married when speaking OF her? A. He usually called
Q. Did you ever hear him speak of her as Mrs.
Q. Did you know that she married woman
and tina. her husbands name was Elliott? A. did
O. Had you never seen Mr. Elliott? A. No.
O. Did you have any previous acquaintance with
the lady the Commodore married. A; ! had beer been
Q. BY what name was she introduced? A. There
was name given they were introduced rs relatives
| Q. who introduced you? A. The Commodore
@. What did he say when he introduced your A.
Q. And you considered this sufficient to warrant
| you in speaking to them afterward? A. did.
The witness further testifed:-It was some time in
june 1869. and not 1868. and before Mrs. Vanderbilt
died. that introduced to the two ladies Mag
ara; afterward met the ladies in the evening and
talked with them; also conversed with them the
| following morning, when we rode to Buffalo on the
same car; don't know that addressed them by any
name; afterward learned their name by hearing it
and seeing it their baggage; the baggage marked
Crawford; do not recollect the the clergy
man who performed the marriage ceremony.
Mr. Clinton here informed Mr.. Lord that the ofci-
ating clergyman was Rev. William Briggs
Witness-That is the name; / now recollect It.
'I sEE-I TOO MUCH"
The Surrogate-Had you any knowledge that tho
Commodore was going to London for the purpose OF
witness suspected so from circumstance that
happened in the June previous; the Commodore
thought had an idea of what was about to take
place. and asked me how knew that he going
to be married: said to him. "why in riding twen-
ty-sx miles from Niagara TO Duialo you came aud
told me three times that those ladies' relatives
of yours he then remarked. II see; said too
To Mr.. Lord-On arriving in London Mr. schell
and went after clergyman. and that was the first
positive evidence l had that tho Commodore
going to be married; it not made public in
London that the marriage was going to take place
william C. wetmorc, lawyer was next called. He
testified that he had had business relations with the
Commodore during many years of his life and that
hair hput sd 10 avis In uu IN
1873 or 1874; in conversations with the Commodore
the deceased told the witness that he had made ample
provision IN case he should BE- called away to have
his William H., carry out the railroad busi
ness on the same plan that he lthe Commodore) had
pursued. The witness said that during the
tons he had had with the Commodore the latters
views and answers to questions were always clear
and direct
Ex-Governor Morgan testife cd that he had known
the Commodore during his lifetime and had had bus
mess transactions with him; in 1875 the Commo-
dore and he had conversation about loan which
the Western Union Telegraph Company were about to
negotiaie the witness was director of that CONS
pany and the Commodore ON the occasion referred To
at rs said he would subscribe for $100000 worth Of
the stock. but after some further conversation asked
the witness to put him down for $5O0,000 all the
and conversations of the Commodore impressed
the witness as being perfectly rationale the witness
had never observed the slightest change in his mental
capacity.
Ex-Governor HOFFMAN testified that he had been
acquainted with the deceased during his lifetime,
and had met him socially several times at the house
OF MIR. Horace Clark at Saratoga and elsewhere Tho
witness related portions of conversation he had had
with thc Commodore at Saratoga III tho summer ,f
1875. IL related to Horace r. Clark whose death the
witness had alluded to. On being asked to describe
well he could the mental traits and Character
istics of the Commodore. from the conversation no
had with him in 1915. Ex-Governor Hoffman replied
follows He impressed me with being clear
headed. sensible, observing man-that s sll can say
about him.
The cross-examination of cx- Governor Holman By
Mr.. Lord brief and unimportant
An adjournment was ordered until to-day.
THE LIFE-SAVIN(3 SOCIETY