The Washington herald., 1907-08-31

New York, Aug. S0-Edward Ward Van
derbilt had his day to-day before the
lunacy commission which has been ap-
pointed at his daughters request 10 de-
eide whether he is incompetent, in view
Of his belief in the spirit. Bright Eyes.
and other agencies employed by his
spirimalistic wife, Mrs May S. Pepper
Vanderbilt.
Aside from brief crOss-examination Of
Caroline Boynton Darrell, who told
Thursday about Mrs. Vanderbilts past
the evidence taken to-day was given by
witnesses called by the alleged incompe-
! tent 10 prove his sanity.
These witnesses, with the exception OF
William Still, manager of Mr.. Wander
bits farm az Yaphank. I. l., and Munich
pal Court Justice Ferguson, of Brooklyn,
whose farm adjoins Vanderbilt's. were
all men who have had dealings in the
lumber business with Mr.. Vanderbilt
The feature Of Farmer stills testimony
was the difficulty the commission had in
keeping him awake while he was on the
witness stand. 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 courtroom woman
dressed in purple who wanted everybody
20 understand that she was just as mys-
, teriOus as the next woman. She had not
been subpoenaed by either side, but she
was anxious to be called as witness. /
She was willing to testify for Mrs. Pep
per or against her. she was not preJu-
diced, she said. When none of the law
yeTs in the Gaze was convinced that she
could be OF assistance, she said she was
Minnie Fisher, a Brooklyn spiritualist
She went away disappointed when the
hearing adjourned
Denies Serving In Chorus.
Caroline Boynton Darrell was called TO
the stand, and the hearing opened. She |
said she had never been a chorus glrl or
a vaudeville actress, although she sang
once in one Of Mascagnfs 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 1906. She |
met Mr.. Vanderbilt when she sat be
him at one Of Mrs. Peppers !
rs. Former Judge Griffing, who /
Examined her, tried to get her 10 /
that she had told Mr. Vanderbilt !
was Mrs. Peppers physician. but she 4
nied saying so on redirect examina- /
ION, she was asked what she had told Mr. 4
Vanderbilt that led TO the question as 10 /
whether she had posed as Mrs. Pepper /
physician.
i told him that Mrs. Pepper was sub |
ject to fainting spells, and that I al +
ways carried her medicines and ad- 1
ministered them"
Our case is closed" said Lawyer
Rosenberg, for the petitioner. Miss Van /
derbilt
Witness Gets Tired.
William Stiu was called for as soon as
Lawyer Sturgis had made his opening ad-
dress to the jury. Mr.. Still ambled TO
the witness stand in a Ieisurely way, but
toning his coat as he went His examina-
ton was scarcely under way before he
commenced to yawn. Later he yawned
audibly and answered questions at the
same time.
You needn't mind being so tired, Mr..
6tll,' observed Commissioner Ketcham.
Mr.. Still, Of Yaphank, then braced up
and appeared bright and fresh for quite
a spell Much Of his direct testimony
had 10 do with horse trades made by Mr..
Vanderbilt in which he came out on TOP.
When Lawyer Rosenberg started TO
cross-examine, he said:
Did you ever hear Mr.. Vanderbilt
speak Of Bright Eyes?"
'Well,' drawled the witness, Il guess. I
dld. He said he didn't know Bright
Eyes from Adam, and never asked Alr.
Vanderbilt about the spirit.
Now, how about this Charley horse2"
the lawyer asked, concerning the famous
defunct steed which Mr. Vanderbilt said /
ne had presented to Bright Eyes.
Horse Drops Dead.
I know him well" said Mr.. Still. Tho
witness said that the faithful animal
dropped dead IN the harness when he was
plowing. and was buried without cere-
mony In lot back Of the barn. He said
he heard Mr.. Vanderbilt say that Charley
was her horse, and often saw Mrs. Pep
per drive the animal. Mr.. Vanderbilt
bought team after Charley died. and
Mrs Pepper drove it when she was at
the farm.
Ever hear Thunderclouds name
spoken By Mr.. Vanderbilt" the LAWYER
asked. referring TO one OF the Indian
spirits associated with Bright Eyes.
YES"
What did he say?"
Don't recall"
Know who Thundercloud wasY'
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 If he
knew anything about the Vedanta
philosophy. He could not tell who Mr..
vanderbilt had bought the Charley horse
from. but thought it was one OF the
Smiths, Of Smithtown
"OId Pig, Taken III.
The witness said he remembered once
when the "old pig" on the Vanderbilt I
farm was taken I'll with indigestion. He
said he did not remember whether Mrs.
Pepper administered love potions or VI
brations to the sick animal.
Mr. Still told how he had named his
youngest daughter Caroline after Miss
Darrell, the witness, at the suggestion Of
Mrs. Pepper. He said he had supplied |
generous quantities Of apples, fowl. and
vegetables to Mrs. Pepper. He said he
Went 10 one OF Mrs. Peppers seances
with Mr.. Vanderbilt and enjoyed himself. ,
although he did not know what II was all
about.
Municipal Justice Cornelius Ferguson,
OF Bath Beach, was called and said he
had talked frequently with Mr. Wander
bilt. and had taken his advice on farm
matters, with good results. He never e
heard Mr.. Vanderbilt speak Of Bright
Eyes. he said
Vyfffforo Smith - c,-,,ft1,.- 1