The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
MRS. PEPPER HEARD
Medium TeStifieS in Wander
bilt Lunacy Case.
TELLS OF FORMER WEDDING
Lawyer Tries to Prove Certificate
Forgery and Alleges Woman Is
Bigamist-She "Never Met" Bright
Eyes, hut believes spirit Controls
Her while She Is I'm Trance.


New York, Sept 5.-Mrs. May S. Pepper
Vanderbilt made her appearance for the
first time to-day in proceedings brought
TO have Edward Ward Vanderbilt ad
Judged insane because he willed her much
Of his property and made her sole execu-
trix Of his estate long before he had
married her, acting under the advice Of
Mrs Peppers alleged spiritual control.
Bright Eyes.
The medium drove to court In a cab
with law clerk and Miss CaroIena Lib
bey. Of Wakefield. Mass. with whom size
has been travelling around New England.
and at whose home she was staying until
the testimony OF Miss Caroline BOyntOn
Darrell brought the name Of Fred NJ
Libbey, at one time a suitor OF Mrs. Pep
per's, into the case. According to Miss
Darrell. Mrs. Pepper didn't care as much
for Iibbey as she did for j. Edward Al
len, OF Providence, and every time Libbey
called on her she had Bright Eyes direct
her thoughts TO Allen.
Her Hair Is Different,
only those who knew the medium were
able 10 appreciate the fact that she has
laid aside the peroxide wig she used to
wear and bought a new one Of darker
color The wig suited her tailor-made suit
Of dark material very well She wore
white shirt waist and black hat. with
white trimming and flowers. She had
general air Of prosperity about her. and
looked healthy.
During all the forenoon session while
other witnesses were being heard. she sat
near her husband and appeared 10 take
little interest In the proceedings. Counsel
for Miss Vanderbilt waited PATIENTLY for
the respondents lawyers TO call her 70
the stand, prefeTring 10 have their seanCe
with her on crOss-eXaminat!On. Just be-
fore the close Of the morning session
Lawyer Grifilng announced that ne
wouldn't can her, and an adjournment
was taken until afternoon. when she was
called to the stand by Lawyer Rosen-
berg
When the medium went 20 the stand
she appeared calm, and brought out
bespangled fan which she used vigorously.
She gave her name as Mary Scannell
Pepper-Vanderbilt. and said she was en-
gagged as pastor Of the Spiritual church
in Brooklyn.
Tells Her Life story.
In answer 20 questions concs ming her
early history, Mrs. Pepper Tanderbilt
said.
I as born IN Mansfield, Mass. May "A,
1867. residing there for a while, and then
returning 10 Mansfield after my mothers
death. I was married 10 George ". Pep
per on November 3, 1889, at his home in
Third avenue. New York. but I do not
remember the number. or whether II was
up town or down town. I was married
by justice OF the peace named Clancy.
One witness was Harriet Gladding. an
aunt by adoption. who resided In Rhode
Island She passed away last November.
Another witness was Mr. Hart"
Have you d marriage ceTtifcate?'
asked Lawyer Rosenberg.
Mrs. Pepper-VaudeTbilt said she had.
and a paper was handed over by Mr.
Vanderbilts lawyer. The paper looked
to be a business letterhead.
Did you see that certificate made out2'
mo. I first say Il when IL was handed
10 me after the marriage
Lawyer Rosenberg saic he intended TO
prove that the paper was forged.
Did you ever sign a paper swearing
that you never married Mr.. Pepper"
Lawyer Sturgis. for the respondent. OBJ
jeCted 10 the question. and Il was sus-
tanned.
Lawyer Alleges BiEamy.
at the time you were married, did
you know that Mr.. Pepper had a wife
living?"
No" said the witness. emphaucaIly.
Lawyer Rosenberg tried to ask other
questions along this line, and when OBJ
jections to them were sustained, he said
he wanted to show that Mrs. Vanderbilt
was a bigamist.
The medium said that Mr.. Vanderbilt
had often visited camp meetings where
she was presiding. and said that ]. Ed
ward Allen, Of Providence. and a DR..
Hiddin had attended some Of these meet
ings, but Fred Libbey had not
do you know Bright Eyes?" asked
Lawyer Rosenberg
'J can't say I ever met her"
Mrs. Pepper said she first heard Of the
spirit" In 1885 and then changed her
answer 10 1855.
What Is Bright Eyes?'
Bright Eyes is supposed TO be an in
dividual who existed in this world and
passed over 10 another plane Of life She
uses my organism as other spirits use
other mOrtals in the spirituaiistic field"
Bright Eyes First Appearance.
The mej;;ap was asked how she first
came to hear Of Bright Eyes. and she
explained the occasion in this way:
Il was at q table-tipping exhibition
with a number Of friends. Suddenly I
went into an unconscious state, the table
moved. and the spirit said certain things
TO ME. Others who were there told me
when I became conscious that the spirit
said its name was Bright Eyes"
Lawyer Rosenberg asked the medium
if she were able TO go under the control
of Bright Eyes regularly. She said she
had been in communication with the
spirit regularly for the past three years.
except for about seven months in all.
How do you know when you are under
the spirits control?" asked Commissioner
Ketcham.
People tell me so afterward"
You have no personal knowledge then
of ever having been under the control OF
departed Spirits?" said the commissioner.
No"
A lot OF questions were put TO Mrs.
Pepper concerning her method Of read
ing letters at her meetings, but they
didn't bring out much except that the
medium never knew what was in the let
ters. some OF which were sealed and some
not.
Mrs. Pepperss examination was ed-