New-York tribune., 1907-09-12
"SP00K' JURY AT ODDS.
LOCKED UP FOR NIGHT.
Majority SAID To Be against the
Husband of Medium.

After seven hours deliberation the fury in the
Edward Ward Vanderbilt insanity proceedings
failed to reach verdict and locked up for
the night in the Kings County Courthouse yester-
day. At O'Clock, at the conclusion OF the sum
ming up for the petitioners. Commissioner Ketcham
delivered the charge. II is said that the majority
OF the jurymen in favor Of incompetency. three
are alleged to he for competency and will not
commit himself either way until his request for a
COPY of the petition filed by Miss Vanderbilt IS
granted.
Fx-JUdge r. NJ. GriT1ng. counsel for Mr.. Wander
bilt. concluded his summing up before the jury at
the morning session. and William G. Rosenberger,
counsel for Miss Minerva Vanderbilt addressed the
turymeu Just before the noon recess.
Mr. Crifing denounced Miss Darrell. or Darrow.
the woman in blue, and spoke scathingly Of Miss
Vanderbilt. the petitioner. referring TO her az a
'truant" He said that counsel for the petitioners
had sought all through the trial to ridicue the
spirit or Bright Eyes who was his estimation
an altogether deserving spOok Mr.. Nanderbts s1ttS
OF house and other useful things to the medium
he said. were simply what any man Of means would
do for his wife. and in justice to "a lady who
has been reviJed and nsulted here he asked the
jurors not to place too much Importance on that
part of the testimony.
After quoting from letter which Mr. Vanderbilt
wrote to the spirit Of his first wife. Judge Crit
ing asked II IT not the act Of a man Of re
markahIe intelligence" The refusal Of the woman
in blue" to give her name In court and giving
false address. Mr.. Grflng said, inclined him -
believe that she irrational
Mr. Rosenberger in his summing up TOOK
exception to many of ex-Judge Grifings REMARKS
He has told YOU" said Mr. Rosenberger that
a ma: may believe in whatever he wants To. A
Hindu woman. he says. may cast her olIo mo
the Canzes as part OF her belief But If she tried
IN throw her babe into the Hudson she would he
charged with murder I admit that Mr.. Wander
biIt Is free 10 believe that the moon IS made or
green cheese but when he gives Mrs. Pepper
Vanderbilt money TO buy 1t for herself he proves
ma
affairs The testimony of the insanity experts
Mrs Pepper and the defendant himself should
prove TO you that he IS insane"
Mr. Rosenbcrger then declared that Mrs Pep
per was A wolf In sleeps clothing and had
designed and schemed" TO bring about her mar
rlage TO the wealthy old lumber merchant
..Youu remember" he continued when Mrs
Pepper was abroad Mr.. vanderbilt wahted ~
communicate with his dead wife and went 10 d
DIT Temple and his friendly spirit Thundercloud-
Right on the heels of his dealings with Thunder
cloud he received a letter from his dead wire
through Bright Eyes and Mrs. Pepper telling
him that Thundercloud and his earthly assistant
we're not as handy at forwarding Spiritland
messages as was bright Eyes In other WoTos'
this designing woman wanted to keep Mr. van
derbilt and his money IN her control
Mr.. Rosenberger then referred to Mrs. Pepper
vanderbnt's inability to read sealed letters or 10
give any proof OF her ability in court. and asked
Mr.. Vanderbilt II anywhere there could be found
n better Illustration that she was not endowed
with occult powers
All during the session Miss Vanderbilt sat near
her counsel and was apparently unmoved by MT
Grfng's remarks Sarah L. Vanderbilt, sister
Of the defendant. and James Vanderbilt brotheF'
who are fellow petitioners with Miss Vanderbilt
remained until the return of the jurymen-
shortly after . O'Clock the Jurors came into the
courtroom and asked for Instructions They also
wanted a copy of the testimony OF Dr. Cecil Nc
Gov tho insanity expert. One OF the jurymen de-
raanded more information about Mr.. Vanderoits
transfer OF property 20 the medium. The COM
missioner was unable 10 grant any OF their re-
quests and. after nstructing them to be tolerant
with each other told them to return 20 their room
and endcavor to arrive ct some conclusion.
At 10 o'clock Commissioner Ketcham announced
an adjournment until o'clock this morning. In
the mean time n verdict is reached. It will he
sealed and handed IN to-day.