Evening journal., 1907-06-12
CRY FRAUD IN
SPIRIT MARRIAGE
AppIiCat on for Probe as to
Bride rooms Sanity--SpiIiS s
to Be Summoned

NEW YORK. June 11-Rudeiy jols-
ing much of the romance out Of the
honeymoon OF the Rev May S. Pep
per- Vanderbilt and Edward W. van-
derbnt. her newly acquired and aged
husband. application was made to
Justice Maddox IN the Brooklyn SUI /
preme Court for the appointment Of a /
commission to inquire into the mena [
state OF the bridegroom.
Though spirits are not Of the flesh, |
yet they are likely to be hauled into /
court on Thursday. when argument on /
the application win be heard. and II
they are not there. then letters written
by the spirits and sent through the
mail win be submitted to the Justice.
Chances are that the bishop Of the
Spirituallstic Church. as the bride
prides in calling herself. will come IN
for q more caustic arraignment than
she received yesterday at the hands
of the petitioners in the suit.
Those who ask for the appointment
of the commission are Miss Minerva
Vanderbilt. n years old. daughter of
the bridegroom. whose spiritualistic
faith was unshaken oy the knife put
I'm his honeymoon; Sarah l.. Wander
bilt a sister. and James O. Vanderbilt,
a brother. who allege that the marri-
age OF Mrs. Pepper and Vanderbilt
was contracted through fraud prac-
ticed by the bride upon the aged bride
groom,
Il IS charged that Vanderbilt, now
! CG years old. rs Of unsound mind. and
! that Mrs. Pepper brought about TIC
/ marriage several DAYS ago through
conspiracy. Meantime the entire
estate Of Vanderbilt, valued at more
than 100000. is tied up by the court.
and though Little Bright Eyes" the
spirit through whom Mrs. Pepper
Vanderbilt has been wont to get mes-
sages from the dead, is said TO have
cashed checks. she must 60 without
cash for a few days az least. The
suit may innict hardship on Little
Bright Eyes" but she has been I'm neef
Of money before, and perhaps she VII
not mind much.
Little Bright Eyes" Il IS alleged
q PLAYED cupid and carried the messag
Z from Mama" the spirit Of Wander
n biirs first wife urging him TO MARI.
n Mrs. Pepper The spiritualistic we'd
% ding bells scarcely had ceased ringin
o and the couple had hardly becom
4 comfortably ensconced in their ne'
a home. No. 5S7 ST Marks place, Brooa
lyn. when the relatives Of Vanderbilt
y stepped forward TO interrupt thehoney
Al moon They said they had an eve
q vanderbilt's welfare and his PROPERTY
l. with the petition two letters froi
Europe. one written by Little Brigl
al Ewes" and the other by Mamma
u were filed. The first letter Shove
i, that Bright Eyes was worryin
- about high prices over there and nee'
r. ed cash with which TO return to me-
n, Vanderbilt
u The petition fled through Max
20 Arnstein. alleges that Vanderbilt
III under the control Of Mrs. Pepper
=, spiritualist, who saws she IS IN co
stant communication with the dea
o., that Vanderbilt has been so domlnae
ID. by her that he has disposed of pa
n, Of his property on advice she receiv
~ from the spirit world and Is about
dispose OF the rest.
~ The petition says that Vanderbilt D
NJ. lieves in the spirit letters which.
Mrs Pepper The petition denounc
y, Mrs Pepper "as a woman OF a
"a scrupulous habits. fraud and an a
' ventures" II alleges that Nand'
bilt made a will in her favor befC
IN his marriage and purchased the hot
No. 5S7 St. Marks place for her.
1t alleges that Vanderbilt sent chee
70 Bright Eyes" and says that acti
no under the advice of Bright Eye
Vanderbilt refused to give his daua
ter any allowance and that the dauf
ter is now a subject of charity
The lawyers for the defense ash
for an adjournment Of the case fol
week to prepare for the argument. Z
counsel for the petitioners, howey
70 insisted that the only questions at
- sue were the jurisdiction Of the Co
and whether the case warranted
appointment Of a commission. F'ina
let, Justice Maddox agreed to delay
case until Thursday.