The sun., 1907-08-31
VANDERBILT'S BUSINESS HEAD
IT'S A GOOD ONE, say SEVERAL
WITNESSES FOR DEFENCE.
Mr. stnI or Saphank Tells How CIeverly
tine Alleged incompetent Managed
Ills Farm -Latter's Business Associates
Never Heard Him Talk Of spirits.


Edward Ward Vanderbilt had his day
yesterday before the lunacy commission
which has been appointed at his daughters
request TO decide whether he ia incom-
peteut in view of his belief in tho spirit
Bright Eyes. and other agencies employed
by hs spiritualstic wife, Mrs. May $.
Pepper-V Va ncerbilt Aside from a brief
cross-examination OF Caroline Boynton
Darrell. who told stories on Thursday about
Mrs. Vanderbilts past. the evidence taken
yesterday was given by witnesses called
by the alleged incompetent to prove his
sanity.
These witnesses with the exception Of
William Still. manager OF Mr.. Vanderbilt's
farm at Yaphank. l.. l.. and Municipal
Court Justice Ferguson Of Brooklyn. whose
farm adjoins Vanderbilt's. were all men who
have had dealings in the lumber business
with Mr.. Vanderbilt. In the opinion Of all
these witnesses Mr.. Vanderbilt is sane.
The stories printed Thursday afternoon
about the mysterious woman In blue.'
before her identity became known. brought
TO the court room woman dressed In purple
who wanted everybody to understand that
she was just as mysterious as the next
woman. She hadn't been subpenaed by
either side. but she was anxious to be called
as witness. She was willing to testify
for Mrs. Pepper or against her. She wasn't
prejudiced, she said. When none OF the
lawyers in the case was convinced that
she could be of assistance. she said she
was Minnie Fisher. Brooklyn .spiritualist.
She went away disappointed when the
hearing adjourned.
Caroline Boynton Darrell was called to
the stand when the hearing opened. She
said she had never been a chorus girl or a
vaudeville actress, although she sang once
in one of Mascagni's operas at Lansing,
Mich. She studied music abroad she said.
Miss Darrell said she had written two
letters to Bright Eyes when she was living
in Washington square in 1905. She first
met Mr.. Vanderbilt when she sat beside
him at one of Mrs. Peppers seances. Ex-
Judge Griffing, who cross-examned her,
tried TO get her to say that she had told Mr..
Vanderbilt she was Mrs Peppers physi-
clan, but she denied saying 30. On redi-
rect examination she was asked what she
had told Mr.. Vanderbilt that led to the
question as to whether she had posed as
Mrs. Peppers physician.
Il told him that Mrs. Pepper was subject
TO fanting spells and that always carried
her medicines and administered them
"Our case is closed, said Lawyer Rosen-
berg. for the petitioner.
Lawyer Sturgis for Mr. Vanderbilt argued
at length for the dismissal of the petition.
Commissioner Ketcham denied the motion
and said in behalf of the commission: We
are inclined TO let the case go to the jury"
William Still of Yaphank was called for
as soon as Lawyer Sturgis had made his
tn ha Mr
ambled To the witness stand in a leisurely
way. buttoning his coat as he went. His
examination was scarcely under way be-
fore he commenced to yawn. Later he
yawned audibly and answered questions
at the same time
You needn't mind being so tired, Mr..
Still. observed Commissioner Ketcham.
Mr.. Still Of Yaphank then braced up and
appeared bright and fresh for q time.
Much Of his direct testimony had to do
with horse trades made by Mr.. Vanderbilt
in which he came out on top and how Mr..
Vanderbilt told him to whtewash the trunks
Of the apple trees. When Lawyer Rosen-
berg started the cross-examination he
said:
Did you ever hear Mr.. Vanderbilt speak
of Bright Eyes?"
Well" drawled the witness, I guess
did
He said he didn't know Bright Eyes from
Adam and never asked Mr.. Vanderbilt
about the spirit.
Now. how about this Charley horse?"
the lawyer asked, concerning a famous
defunct steed which Mr.. Vanderbilt said he
had presented 10 Bright Eyes.
81 knew him well" said Mr.. Still. The
witness said that the faithful animal
dropped dead in the harness when he was
ploughing and was buried without cere-
mony in lot back OF the barn. He said he
heard Mr.. Vanderbilt say that Bright Eyes
called Charley her horse, and often saw Mrs.
Pepper drive the animal. MIR. Vanderbilt
bought a team after Charley died and
Mrs. Pepper drove IL when she was at the
farm.
Ever hear Thunder Clouds name spoken
by Mr.. Vanderbilt" the lawyer asked. re-
ferring TO one Of the Indian spirits asso-
ciated with Bright Eyes.
Yes"
What did he say?"
Don't recall"
know who Thunder Cloud was2"
Never saw the man"
Mr.. Still said he had never heard Of Bright
Eyes Red Light, or Little White Rose. and
nearly fell out OF the witness chair when
he was suddenly asked il he knew anything
about the Vedanta philosophy. He couldn't
tell win" Mr.. Vanderbilt had bought the
Charley horse from, but thought it was
one Of the Smiths Of Smithtown.
The witness said he remembered once
when the "old pig" on the Vanderbilt farm
was taken i'll with indigestion after eating
up the little pigs. He said he didn't re-
member whether Mrs Pepper administered
love potions or vibrations to the sick SOW.
Mr.. Still told how he had named his
youngest daughter Caroline after Miss
Darrell at the suggestion OF Mrs. Pepper.
He said he had shipped generous quantities
Of apples fowl and vegetables to Mrs.
Pepper. He said he went TO one Of Mrs
Peppers seances with Mr.. Vanderbilt and
enjoyed himself, although he didn't know
what il was all about.
Municipal Justice Cornelius Ferguson
of Bath Beach was called and said he had
talked frequently with Mr.. Vanderbilt
and had taken his advice on farm matters
with good results. He never heard MIR.
Vanderbilt speak OF Bright Eyes, he said.
William Smith Of Smithtown, a surveyor,
said he had talked with Mr.. Vanderbilt on
matters relating to his farm and believed
he was sane. He never heard the alleged
! incompetent say anything about spiritual
ism.
Frank W Pierce. Frank j. Parke and
James j. MacAIahon. who had dealings
with Mr.. Vanderbilt in the lumber business.
said they considered him perfectly sane on
business matters. but hadn't discussed
sprtuaiism with him.
Mr.. MacMahon's testimony freshened
up the proceedings considerably. for ne
let Lawyer Rosenberg know right at the
start that if some lawyers knew an much
as he (AIacMahon) did they wouldn't be
said that he went out of the lumber busi-
the Metropolitan Surety Company.
What do you do now?" the lawyer ask ed
him.
no aronpI ;nanr;n1 oontraaton. ,,,h,