New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09
A SUIT FOR TWO MILLIONS.
BROUGHT AGAINST THE ESTATE OF THE
FIRST CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

ACTION ARISES OUT OF CERTAIN ALLEGED
RELATIONS IN THE STEAMSHIP BusI-
NESS BETWEEN HIS FATHER
AND THE OLD COMMODORE.
According to William f. Randall. lawyer. OF
No. ia Nassau-st.. suit is to be brought imme-
diately against the estate Of Commodore Cor
nelius Vanderbilt for $2.G0O.OO0. Mr.. Randall said
yesterday that application for letters Of admins
tration would be made in the Surrogate's Court
tomorrow by william II. A. Brown. Of Chicago.
who is the claimant in the proposed suit. which.
It is alleged arises out of business relations which
once existed between Commodore Vanderbilt and
Browns father.
The history OF the case as stated by Brown,
through his attorney is as follows: Early In the
spring OF 1851 william II. Brown owned three
fourths OF the steamship Pacific. the whole or the
steamships Independence and Sea Bird which
were at that time on their way to California The
heavy expense OF running the steamships caused
Brown to become financially embarrassed. and he
borrowed $4,000 in cash from Commodore Wander
bit. and $4,000 Of the Central New-Jersey Rail-
road Company's notes, giving bill Of sale of the
steamships to Vanderbilt as security This money
was To bc paid back by the earnings OF the steam
ships
reached san Francisco they began running be-
tween that port and san Juan del Sur. on the Pa
cinc Coast. connecting with Commodore Wander
hllt's steamers running to Ncw-York. This was
i'm compliance by Brown with his contract with
Vanderbilt establishing on Browns part the new
Nicara qua route. Dr. Isaac c. Smith was sent as
an agent to san Francisco by Brown and Wander
bilt The new line ran steamships twice n month
between New-Y0rk and san Francisco. The new
route it is claimed was six seven days shorter
than the Panama route, and the profits were said
TO be enormous amoununs to $4S0O0O the first
year Dr Smith the agent. 1t is alleged. sent all
the receipts to Cornelius Vanderbilt. even before
any of Browns notes held 10y Vanderbilt became
due 1t IS also con,ended that Brown could never
get settlement with the Commodore Finally
according to the story. the Nicaragua Transit
Company was founded and Vanderbilt trans
ferred his tide to the steamships 10 Robert Schuy-
lcr VINO then sold them to the Nicaragua Transit
Company. II is contended that this company was
virtually owned by Commodore Vanderbilt. and
that his transactions with Schuyler were merely
to get a clearer utle 10 the steamships. They
were valued at 100000 or 100000.
Brown died suddenly in 1855. his son
alleges Just as he about 10 bring
suit for settlement against Commodore
Vanderbilt Brown left estate or ABOUT
ss0oOc) 70 his widow When she died some
years later she left it all 10 her son Arthur who
uow ly-s In Bridgeport. Conn william H.. a
Brown. VINO now proposes to sue the Ndhder-
bits brought suit against his brother Tor
share OF their mothers estate. The case was
decided against nm in bridgeport last Ihu:s-
dav. Mr. Randal appeared for him. and has ap-
pciod the case all
The Vandcrbllts do rot appear to be at all
bothered by the prospect Of the suit
Mr. Randall. when seen by Tribune reporter
last nl,ht Al his home, No. 26S Hart-st, bfooh-
lvn SAID tnat he mad been In conference WIN
Anderson Rowland & Murray In relation 10 'he
suit and was informed that they coud ma no
,r,r. ~ Commodore NandcrbIlts alleged IN
ac,todupss t. 'hc Browns There nave pe'h 10
efforts made - effect compromise -
vr Randll said that the Vanderbilt lawyers
tried 10 get him TO show the evidence ol p,,', p,Do
r.ll hv brown but h. did not do 50 any iurtler
.h., +, submit L. them copy 81 me agree,
,,,.nt entered into by Commodore Nah',f olt al' d
Hr,yn t. found tho Nicaragua steamship i-'"e'
This document 10 4 matter OF record ,.t.
Nr Randall believes that with ue p'V'n IN IN
IL, ',,,,f - this record and the proof thAt brown
r',1, the steamships the burden ot PROOF VIII
-ca, upon the defendants. A,. I,
r.f,r. the letters 4 administration. WHICH -
d.. necessary - take out as a irrllih'i,1,i 80
n bringing the suit against the Nduu,n , oo, ,
IN. oct.d upon bonds IN the sum 81 'toVVo0' ''07'
Gee filed .,o,. ,ba, arrange
ut. vr.r. being made with one OF the ''iS
-, ,,,n,nies to furnish these bonds H'
,l, sail that his client Brown. was " "a IN ~. "
rnt.,ro and i'm receipt OF large l"coI'ie ~,
.l ~, M, was by no means the s'apeso"' '
,,,... had trled to make him OUT