New-York tribune., 1907-09-07
BISHOP" FALLS DOWN.
CAN'T READ SEALED NOTE.
Might Hare Done Better Had
Bright Eyes" Helped.

Although she SAYS she has been under spirit
control" since her fifteenth year Bishop Mary
Ann Scanaell- -Pepper-Vanderbilt admitted she could
not read tho contents or a sealed letter when she
stand yesterdays session OF the lunacy
proceedings against her husband. Edward Ward
Vanderbilt in the Kings County Court house
William {. Rosenberg. counsel for Miss Minerva
TandeTtit'- who is seeking TO have her father DE-
ciared insane. called Mrs FePper-N anderhilt TO
the stand in the morning. Ie handed TO the wit
,f.ss sealed letter. with the required initials OF
.Bfigh. Eyes tie friendly. candy consuming
horseback riding spirit on a corner. aud oha'-
icnsed the pastor the First Spiritual 'huTch 10
demonstrate her power by reading i.
I have never claimed that ! could read sealed
letters said the medium People tell mo that
read letters when 1 under the control OF
Bright Eyes
The letter. when opened after the hearing read
Dear Medy: ] am afraid that you are in pretty
Herbert Yours truly, BRIGHT Eh ES'
Poor Herbert is the name by which the elderly
Nr Vanderbilt is known 70 his spirit friends.
''Medy' is Mrs Peppers appellation
Did you not once read sealed letter from br.
Funk7" asked Mr.. Rosenberg.
Il don't remember replied Mrs Pepper-Nan-
6e-bilt- Her pulpit. explained. equipped
with a glass. chair and a telephone hut she de
MED that she had 4 capacious pocket in her rooc-
In reply TO Mr.. Rosenberg and in spite Of the oh
5ections Of her husbands counsel she said she hac
never heard Of the Mediums Blue Book which
the lawyer said he would prove she once pos
sessed. together with 4 book Of names for seance
purposes
L had about forty private seances with Mr- Van
derbilt.-' said the medium and was unconscious
st about twenty-five OF them
At this point COMMISSIONS hctCham was forced
20 remind her that she under the control OF
the law while in court. and that Bright Eyes
control must be set aside He then asked Mrs
Vanderbilt 20 prove her spiritual power before the
court and show conclJsiyely that Mr. NanderoIlt
believed in something that proved 10 him and
sane She said conditions prevented her
from giving demonstration even 10 save her
husband.
while under control" the Bishop" said she
had written a letter. signed Bright Eyes ac-
knowledging a check from Mr.. Vanderbilt Bright
Eyes continued the Bishop" places me under
control only after certain conditions have been
complied with ! summon her at will
The spirit Mrs. Pepper admitted later. never
failed TO arrive at $50 every Sunday evening when
she he'd seances AT the Aurora Grata Cathedral
and - admission was charged According 70
Mrs. Pepper-Nande-bit DR. Finkey- now In spirit
IS still practising and one occasion gave free
medical advice from spirit land 70 old Wander
biIt' through her Just TO show bright Eyes's'
wide range Of usefulness. Mrs PeppeT-Nanderbilt
told Of the spirit playing detective in the Marvin
kidnapping case Dover. Del. Commissioner
ketoha1n ther asked whether some ordinary human
being had always enjoyed the gifts OF candy. etc.
sent 10 Bright Eyes" and the witness refused TO
answer.
Charley 1Ioss,' ire animal which Ny ander-
bilt gave &c the spirits. tron brought into tae
proceedings. Mrs. Pepper said she knew the horse
anc carried his picture in her Iocket Attorney
Rosenberg then read letter from Mrs Pepper
her present husband. saying:
Bright Eyes told I could the locket
81 didn't allow it TO open and let the horse out
During the afternoon session Mrs. Pepper-Van-
oervllt gave those IN the courtroom inlzling OF
Ihe rlsors Of spiTitualistic life That Bright
Eyes might operate successfully. she said, she
had 10 fast Tor entire day and abstain from
eating meat a number Of women. supposed at
tendants her seances, threw their about
Mrs. Pepper anderbt and kissed her at the close
Of the hearing. An Adjournment taken until
Tuesday morning