Year: 1879

was generally not loud and his manner matter
examined by Mr.. Choate in rebuttal of evidence
already given. That gentleman read. sentence by
sentence, Mrs. Lillian Stoddards testimony regard
ing the alleged attempt of William H. to influence
his father by pretended spiritual mmunicatons
Every word OF it. so far as know. replied Witness


Mrs. stoddard had testified that she and her hus-
band met William H. at the Metropolitan Hotel, and
he gave her husband roll OF bills. They were to so
TO the Commodore's Office and say that they had
message FROM his deceased wife that he should make
William II. was to come in and DR.. stoddard was to
say that he was the SON he had seen in his dream
Q. Is that true? A. There amt word true in any
part of it with which am connected


'NorHING OF THE KIND TOOK PLACE.


Mrs. stoddard had further testified that the pro-
gramme was carried out and that the Commodore
had said "You shall have all. Billy" q. Is that
true? A. never was present at any such conversa-
on or interviews nothing of the kind took place in
my presence or to my knowledge.


Q. Did you see the woman calling herself Mary L.
Stone? A. did.


@. Where did You first see her? A. In this court
room.


Q. meant to have asked if you ever had any con-
versation with DR.. Stoddafd? A. do not know that
! saw such man.


Mrs Stone testified that she applied to the Com
modore for help. was refused, and on going away
William II. told her to go back next day and say to
his father that the spirits had sent message through
her to leave the property to him. O. What say
to that interview ? A. never saw the woman be-
fore this trial. and therefore could not have had such
interview; ii is all false.


Mrs Stone further testified that she carried out
which size declined


o. Did that take place A. l never had seen the
woman sir, and therefore it could not have taken
place; never saw the woman until saw her here
in court.


saw her before this trial, to my knowledge.


''No SUCH CONVERSATION.


Mrs. Carlton testified that she overheard a CONVEX
sation in which William II. told his father that all
the girls and Cornell wished him dead


Q. What do you say to thatl A. No such conver-
versation took place and have said to my
father that any OF the children hated him or wished
him dead


o. Did YOU see the woman Esther King? A. Inever
her to my knowledge except in this court ROOM
She had testified to overhearing conversation be-
tween the Commodore and William H. in which the
latter said that all the girls and Cornell wished him
dead; the Commodore replied, Il know all that"
William II. then left and the Commodore said
THAT IS William, my son, my only child; all the
others hate me-"


Q. What do you say to that-I mean far as it re-
lates to anything that took place i'll presence?
A. No such conversation took place; my father never
mentioned the will to me in his lite.


Q. Did you ever say anything to your father derog-
atory of your sisters or your brother Cornelius?
A. never have and / never have heard them say
anything of the kind which am reported as having
told him.


Cornelius Vanderbilt had testified that ut the time
he incarcerated and got out a writ of habeas
corpus William had told him that he had better with
draw his motion as his father would disinhert him.
He replied that he did not care whether his father
disinherted him not; that the nominal charge on
family wanted to cover it up on the ground of in
sanity. Cornelius said that he would rather be





O. Now. Mr. Vanderbilt, what do you say to that
statement? A. never have taken any part in my
life in any proceeding of any kind against my
brother Cornelius; not in court at that time;
l was my farm and knew nothing about it; may
have had q conversation with him in some other
place and told him what was generally thought. but


WOULD INTERFERE.


O. When your mother placed in DR.. Nc
Donald's charge, had you anything to do with that?
A. had nothing to do with that; never in my
life interfered in the affairs OF my father and do not
think any others did; he head of the house.


witness stated that William II. said that the Com
modors was n 6opnd to have % % MS way ana he had
own interest at stake. and il he expressed any
opposition, he would only provoke the old mans
bound to fall under the influence of some woman,
and that William H. was bound to secure the appoint


O. will ask you, Mr.. Vanderbilt what is your
recollection about this occurrence A. never heard
OF my father threatening to break up his family and
60 to Europe; far as my having said that my
father was bound to be under the influence OF some
woman and that meant to control that appoint
ment the witness has certainly drawn on his imag-
nation; never said anything of the kind; the lady
that went there to visit my sister, and was in the
my wife; she had been in the habit Of visiting Mrs.
Clark, then young lady. ct my fathers house; the
first knowledge that had that she at my fathers
was when either myself or my wife came up from
Staten Island and found her at my house visiting my
sister


Q. You did not name her or procure her to be got
there? A. did not any one that knows my father
knows there is no doubt about that


Q. You never said 1t would hurt your interest to
oppose your father or that you would secure any
such appointment? A. No; it would have hurt me
il l had undertaken to do anything of that kind.


q. Did you ever have any judgments or executions
against your A. Never, sir; never in my life.


Mr. Clinton here said that he had question to ask
Judge Rapallo He inquired as to the story OF Cor
nelus' appearances in court when he was brought
out of the Boomingdale Asylum on a writ of habeas
corpus. The Judge, who was in the court room,
replied that he recollected seeing Cornelius the
occasion, but that William II. was not present and
that Judge Rapallo had said nothing to Cornelius


THE CROSS EXAMINATION.


Mr.. Lord here took up the cross-examination of
William II. Vanderbilt. Witness again stated that
Carlton or Esther King before their appearance In the
trial.


@. Do you recollect saying anything to Mr.. Allen
about your mother going to some asylum A.
Things of that kind always talked of i'll family
they could not have happened without being talked
of; but as to interfering with my fathers views,
did not interfere with hlm In any way. shape
ner.


q. Do you know whether your mother went will
ingly A. I believe she did; it was always under
stood so.


Q. Do I understand you to say that during the
time you were your farm III Staten Island you
had no judgments against you? A. never had. sir;
i never had any such conversation with Mr.. Thorne;
after Mr. Thorne had testified sent down to Rich
mond county to. the County Clerk and got u state
mcnt to that effect, had it shown to Mr. Thorno,
and asked him to come up here and deny what
he had said, and he would not do 1t;
would like to make an explanation; about the
year 1856 commenced making some extensive I'M
provements On my house and grounds; my father
never gave me any money from the time he lifted my
farm for me until 1864, when he gave large in-
come OF real estate in New York city. for he knew
that could not then support myself as he wished
mo; in 1866. when l made these improve
/ expectod-about $4,000 than / had;
gentleman lived with me and my family at that
borrowed it was this The gentleman that lived
with me very intimate friend OF my fathers;
before borrowed it told HIM to go to father and
If he could not let me have 1t. and father
would not let me have it; - says.
"No," says he. damn him, let him mort
gage his farm" On that 1 went down
to my neighbor and borrowed the money
and paid it TO this gentleman; had borrowed the
money of this gentleman who went to my father;
borrowed 1T of my neuyhbor on two years credit;
subsequently father took me out riding day and
told me that had mortgage ON my farm. that