Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-20
THE VANDERBILT WILL.
Share of Cornelius May Revert TO
the Family mt His Death.
lNeW York HeraldD

What there can be in the will left by
Cornelius Vanderbilt that caused the fam
lily and the executors to decide to sum-
mon home Alfred Vanderbilt from Japan
before offering it for probate is a ques>
ton which has aroused the keenest Gu
riOsity among the friends of the family
who are not in the secret Of what the
document contains. All kinds of guesses
have been made TO account Tor the sum-
mons TO the second son. and practically
the whole range of possibilities has been
covered.
All that is known definitely about the
will is that it provides for Cornelius VAN
derblt, Jr., as we'll as for the other chill
dren. Whether Mr.. Vanderbilt abandon
ed the plan followed by the two previous
generations since the fortune was amass-
ed and divided his wealth equally among
his children, or whether he gave one son
u larger share than the others is not
known, and none of the persons who are
familiar with the will can be induced 10
say.
1t was rumored yesterday that Mr..
Vanderbilt had provided literally for the
eldest son, but that he had stipulated
that upon his death the Inheritance
should revert to the family, thus giving
him only a life interest in the bequest 1t
was impossible either to confirm il or to
obtain denial Of this report. although
it is not generally credited-in fact, it
was denied by an intimate friend of the
family.
Gossip, assuming that the report was
true, proceeded to account for Alfred
Nanderbilts return on the theory that his
elder brother was unwilling to receive a
bequest on the terms mentioned, and that
he had asked for a conference OF all the
heirs in order TO bring about some other
arrangement by mutual consent. AS a
life interest could mean only that tho in
heritance of the oldest son had been left
in trust for him, without giving him alb
sOlute control of IT or Of any of the inter
ests which the Vanderbilt wealth repre-
sents, the conclusion was drawn that AL
fred eventually is 10 take his fathers
place in the management OF affairs.
1t has been settled by those persons
who have been specializing on the con-
tents of the will that Cornelius Wander
bilt. Jr. at the most can have no greater
share of the fortune than his brothers
Another point that tends to the same
conclusion is the fact that the vacancy
in the Board OF Directors OF the New
York Central railroad Will not be filled
at the meeting of the board to-day. but
will be deferred until after the return OF
the second son. II is inferred that ii Cor
nelius Vanderbilt. Jr., We're to occupy
his fathers position there would be no
reason for postponing the election.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., came to this
city from Newport yesterday morning,
and went to his own home, in Fifth ave-
rue. He has not been 10 the Grand Cen
trail Station TO attend 10 his duties since
his fathers death. 1t is the plan of the
entire family 20 return 10 Newport before
the end of the. week. but upon what day
has not yet been decided.
Richard II. Wilson was in the city yes
terday but at his house last night he
absolutely refused 10 talk Of the Van
derbilt estate or TO discuss the contents
OF the will. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Jr., is Mr. Wilson's daughter.