The evening world., 1891-04-18
LAST EDITION.
Vanderbilt Cash At STAKE.
4 the Old Commodore's Grand
Daughter Being Viotimized2
;be and DIR. Keeney Make State
ments Denying EVIL Influences.


,ga,nst Mrs. sophia Vanderbilt Morse, the
ayori,e granddaughter OF old Commodore
,anderbilL is bringing to light curious facts
regard to an important branch Of the VAN
!erbilt family.
The peculiar thing about the case is the
,sarges which are made as to the relations be-
ween Mrs. Vanderbilt Morse and her family
md Or. b. NJ. Keeney, OF this city.
They say that the doctor has great deal OF
influence over Mrs. Morse and that since she
zane to New York 10 live under his care the
big income which she formerly had has some
how or other mysteriously disappeared.
The income to which she was entitled under
the provisions made for her by the Commo-
aore's will was about SIG, 900. The grocers now
,ay that they cannot get at Mra Morse and
that they have learned that she has confessed
an Indebtedness of $50, 900 to DIR. Keeney.
Both Mrs Morse and DR.. Keeney have been
seen and questioned in regard to these charges,
and they both Indignantly deny that there Ia
any truth in them.
Mrs. Morse declares that she il not prisoner
or under the influence of DR.. Keeney IN any
way. She now lives in a handsomely fur
nished modern house at 81 Convent avenue, in
Harlem.
Of her Indebtedness to Eneelke & Co. is only
t275, and the reason why this has not been
paid is that when her husband died in 1885 he
left great many debts. which she had been
paying of ever since.
More than s25, 900 was paid in this way. The
Will of her mother, Mrs. Cross, is still in litga-
ton, and this, Mrs Morse says, had taken q
great deal Of money to maintain.
$1,000. 900 IN DISPUTE.
Mrs. Cross received 81, 600, 600 under CON-
modore Vanderbilt's will, as she was his
favorite daughter. The money cannot be dis
tributed until the contest which was instituted
by Mrs. Morse's brothers, Cornelius Wander
blit Gross, Of East Forty-seoond street, and
Norman F. Cross, of 55 West Twenty-sixth
street, has been determined.
1t 10 believed that the only FUND from which
Mrs. Morse and her daughter, Mra Gre
Mintou, und son, Howard Morse, who Il now
In the West, derive their support Ii the s250 0OO
which was left in trust for Mrs. Morse by the
old Commodore.
The lady also denies the charge that she has
been separated from her daughter and son
through the influence OF Dr. Keeney. The
grocers say that part Of the money which they
claim from the Commodore's granddaughter
was loaned to her and Mira Minton when they
lived at Tarrytown.
Mrs. Morse admits that she owed the grocers
S. 200 at the time Of her husbands death, but
says that by reducing her expenses and living
economically she has paid It all up excepting
the balance of $27b. which, she says she ten
dered to the firm. but they refused to accept 1t
as payment in full.
DR. KEENHY NEAR NEIaHBoR.
DR.. Keeney is equally emphatic In his denial
Of the charge that he is exercising any control
or restraint over Mrs. Morse. He lives at 200
Edgeoombe avenue, which is very near Mrs
Morse's house.
One Of the papers produced in evidence by
the grocers' drm In the proceedings they have
Instituted in the courts at Yonkers lsa letter
which they say they received from DR.. Keeney
and which is dated Feb. 2O 1891.
1t asks for twenty days extension of time, as
Mrs. Morse was positively without funds, and
ne was trying to insure her life IN order to
raise some money on the policy.
This letter, Dr. Keeney says, was written by
MIN more than two years ago, and at that time
Mrs. Morse had no money. He says he has
only acted as her friend and physician during
all this time. and has frequently loaned her
AT the present time, he says, SO far as he
knows, she owes no one except the grocers'
nrm, and she is prepared to pay their bill II
they will accept the balance which she claims
Is due.
lie declared that she Is not squandering her
money, but has been applying all she can spare
zine payment of her debts. Instead OF rent
Ing her one Of his houses, as alleged, for $3 900
ayear, he let her have 1t for 5000
Dr. Keeney declares that he has never Kept
MIA Morse and her daughter, Mrs. Minton.
apart. and the fact IL they visit each other fre-
suentiy. He says he has never had power Of
attorney from MrA Morse to collect her income
Hom the Trust Company. where her funds are
Kept and says he has nos seen any of the
eroeers' people in four Year,.
As showing the influence when DR.. Keeney
alleged TO possess over Mrs. Morse, the
erocers say that Mrs. Morse once told them
mat letter which they had received from
her after she came to New York, telling them
give her daughter, Mrs Minton, NO more
oredit at their store, had been written BY her
under compulsion at DR.. Keeney's dictation,
ana told them not to mind it.
What Mr. Engelke is trying to md out he
nays Is how Mira Morse is spending her income
~
sue hsa not been receiving IL, for the past three
years.
me only reason he has to suppose she has
n0' ''ce'Ved 1t. Is that whenever ne has tried
ge' ms blll paid he has always been in-
''med thar she had no money. When he
zane 10 Gting his suit he could not ind Mrs.
a'oFse TO serve her with the summons, and had
~ee' an orier from Judue DyEman permitting
"'ni 10 nail 1t on The door of her house.
WHERE Is GRACE MINToNf
Nrs' hinton has been living In retire meut
W some lime past. She 10 Mra Morse's eldest
S"''' ahd Tour years ago her elopement with
O'ee Minton, her mothers coachman
sa"s a great sensat,on In Tarrytown, ana
'"'''e" Hes N"nterhilt relatives deeply.
0'e oas NOT lived with her husband for a
;'ai past ana h" is now the attendant In the
s,. So gallery OF N" Assembly Cnambsr In the
S'A'e Capitol al Albany.
-. reporter OF The EVENING WORLD called
@''A OOrpsiiuA Vanderbilt Gross aI his house