New-York tribune., 1900-06-24
SUES THE VANDERBILTS.
BROOKLYN LAWYER SEEKS FEES
UNDER TLENIENT OF A CLAII
AGAINST THE COMMODORE

An action has been begun In the Supreme Court
by William F. Rande of Brooklyn a lawyer,
against William *. Vanderbilt. individually and
executor Of the estate of Cornelius Vanderbilt;
Frederick w. Vanderbilt George w Vanderbilt
and the other Vanderbilt heirs and against SEN
ator Chauncey NJ. Depew and others as executors
of the estate of Cornelius Vanderbilt, recover
professional fees amounting to $500 William H
A Brown Is also made party the suit as sd-
minstrator Of the estate of William II. Brown
In 1896 Mr.. Randel was the attorney for William
II. A. Brown. who began action against the
executors and heirs of the estate of Commodore
Cornelius Vanderbilt to recover claim amount
ing to 100000. Mr.. Brown made an agreement
with Mr. Rande TO pay him $4,5cO in certain
tngencies, and put it in writing and the latter
served copy Of the agreement the defendants.
The Nanderbilts in 1897 settled the claim with
Brown for $4,000. Mr. Randel Il is alleged having
no knowledge of the transaction. Mt Ra1del seeks
to have the Vanderbilts pay the fees under the
agreement which. he contends, constitutes d en
any amount for which the suit might be settled
1t is alleged by the defence that before the settle
rent Thornwell Mutually was substituted as a.tor-
ney for Brown. and that Mr.. Randel out of
the case.
Mr.. Rande at his aome in Fifty
seVenth-st., near Thirteenth-ave., Brooklyn last
evening, by Tribune reTgrter ffe said that tile
suit had grown out of proceeding which he had
instituted against the executors and heirs of the
estate of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt on be-
half of William H A. Brown as admins ira to; of
the estate of William H Brown.
In lS4S according to Mr.. RandeI William H
Brown, who was the builder of the yacht America
ran line of steamers from San Francisco to the
West Coast Of Panama. Commodore Vanderbilt
ran similar line from this city to the
OF the lsthmus Under an agreement entered into
between them, Brown. whose line large
as that of Commodore Vanderbilt, agreed TO con
struct four additional vessels to accommodate the
traffic. Commodore Vanderbilt promised TO obtain
and did obtain, a contract for the carving of mails
over the two lines After this had been IN opera
tion some time, Brown became embarrassed and
was obliged to borrow 5000 900 from the Commodore
giving him his notes therefor. He secured the notes
by turning over the income of his line of
and by giving TO the Commodore a conditional bill
OF sale for four Of the vessels After this Brown
never received any money from the lines, although
the profits large and his debt had been paid
many times Mr.. Randel says
IN 1896 Mr.. Randel brought the action. asking for
SZtnOU for Mr.. Browns vessel and his profits.
some time afterWard. account of disagree
ment he withdrew from the case. but fled with
the attorneys for the Vanderbilts notice that he
had lien for $3.50 any settlement that might
be made by them with the plaintiff. A settlement
OF the case was finally effected between Brown and
the Eanderbiits Brown receiving $4,000 in full for
ms claim. This settlement made without
gard TO MI Randel,s notice Of lien, he says. and
he has not Yet received anything for his services
and has accordingly brought suit.
dar this week