Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-27
SPIRITS IN COURT. Mrs. Peppers Husband Identi-
 fes Bright Eyes, Photo.
GHOST ADVISED HIM TO MARRY.
Wealthy BrookIynite Tells How He Got Messages From the Other World-An Estate of $6O,-
 900 Tt Issue.

WOrld-An Estate or $0O,-
 900 Tt Issue.
 NEW YORK, Aug. 27. A photo graph of and letter from the boy spirit, Little Bright Eyes" the conf dant and side partner of Rev. May S. Pepper, were introduced at the lunacy hearing in Brooklyn of the wealthy lumberman Edward Ward Vanderbilt brought by his daughter, brother and sister to have him declared incompe- tent to manage his property, which is valued at $60,0O0.
 The photograph showed boy in gar ments such as those worn by acrobats. Mir. Vanderbilt said he recognized it as the spirit Little Bright Eyes" He admitted that he had bought 1t of Mrs. Pepper for $5 before he married her.
 He said that he had had many mes- sages from his dead wife which were always in the handwriting of Mrs. Pepper or a Mir. Temple, but which he said came through Little Bright Eyes"
 The room was crowded to the doors when the hearing opened, all being anxious to see Mrs. Mary Ann Scan nell Pepper Vanderbilt, former "bish- op'' of the First Spiritualistic church at Bedford avenue and Madison street. Brooklyn. The bride of two months. however, was not on hand, process servers being unable to find her. It is said that she has gone abroad.
 A sheriff's jury of eighteen wns quickly chosen, and Henry Rosenberg, attorney for Miss Minerva Vanderbilt daughter, made the opening address.
 ''We intend to show that Mrs. Pep per's only object in marrying this old man was to swindle him out of his property said MT. Rosenberg. That she has nearly succeeded in doing so we will show"
 Mir Vanderbilt said he had given Mrs. Pepper before marriage a house valued at S4,000 and few days after another worth $8000.
 What was the consideration?' asked Lawyer Rosenberg.
 "One dollar," replied the aged man.
 Anything else" asked the lawyer.
 "Yes, valuable considerations"
 "Such as what?"
 "Her companionship. She agreed to marry me-
 Mir. Vanderbilt said that he owned two large farms on Long Island, but declared that he had given neither of them to his wife.
 The aged lumberman met the ques- tions put to him coolly and confidently, and more than once provoked laugh by his replies.
 He told how he had seen mediums, aided by spirits, move tables, etc. Thus, he said, they made their pres ence known.
 '.The unknown manifests, itself by gifts of healing prophecy and in other ways. If our brain cells. are in good condition we have better realization of the unknown" he said.
 Spirits make their presence and de- sires known by knocks he declared.
 How many knocksY asked MT. Rosenberg
 "onc means mo- three yes and two 'in doubt. 1"
 "Did you love your wifeT
 "Yes, she died in my arms"
 "Did she die in spirit?"
 'No, she is with me all the time. I love her just as much as ever"
 "why did you marry again if your first wife is alive?"
 For companionship. My first wife willed 1t so."
 "Through Little Bright Eyesr"
 q guess SO"
 Mir. Vanderbilt also testified that through Mrs. Pepper and Mir. Temple he had received many messages from Thundercloud, a dead Shinnecock Indian.
 Weren't the messages from Thun- dercloud in the Indian language?' he was asked.
 No, in English"
 Didn't it seem strange to you that an Indian who never knew the English tongue should write in EnglishT'
 Mir. Vanderbilt said 1t didn't.
 Mir. Vanderbilt admitted that he had been to fake seances. but said he had never been called on.
 Its funny" he said. but I must be a Jonah, for they always passed me by"