The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-03 00:00:00

SENDING A THREATENING LETTER.

Captain Tomkhur Henri PhiErne Christian Godfried
Van der Hoeven was brought before Mr. Knox, the
sitting magistrate at Marlborongh,stmet Police-court,
London, on Saturday, charged with sending a letter
to Mr. Adrian Hope, of 74, Portland.plasse, demand-
, ing money with menaces. Mr. Metcalfe (for the
: prosecution) said—l have the honour to appear for the
prosecution, and I propose now to give • short outline
of the circumstances which have led to the present
proceedings. The Meson. Hope were entitled to a
large property under the will of a relative. Previously
this relative made a will leaving his property to the
father of the prisoner; but he subsequently revoked
this will. The Messrs. Hope, anxious not to deprive
the Van der Hoeven family of all the property, and
acting at the same time from charitable motives, were
desirous of making some arrangement, but the attempt
failed. Legal proceedings were taken by the prisoner's
father, but the proceedings were not successful. and
in 1862 they ceased—the claim of Messrs. Hope being
subetantiated. Since that time the matter had
dropped, but it was revived in the present year, when
Mr. Adrian Hope received several letters, and among
them a letter of which the following is • translation
of a part :

Albemarle Hotel, Oct. 15.

: have justreceived through your solicitors the intelli-
gence that itis useless to continueturther the correspondence
respecting the Boebeck matter. After having led me to
suppose for nearly four months that an arrangement would
be come to with me they inform me that it has now become im-
possible, because I cannot arrange a matter with Miss E J.
hope, which In no way costoerro me. What an argument You
have not, Mr, chosen to negotiate directly with me In this
family affair as ought to have been done between gentlemen.
I have followed your advice in putting myself in comment-
Cott 111 with these people, who, looking at everything in this
world In the light of business are unacquainted, as it would
appear, with than, shades of honour which should distin-
guish perilous of our social position, and I knew beforehand
that this question, compromising as It is, would not be
terminated honourably in such • way. The suit at law,
therefore, must be recommenced, while I will at the same
make use of every means to obtain my rights and bring the
affair to a close. But, Sir, between us two the matter must
also he terminated personally. Not only have you Insulted
me ty refusing to receive me at your house, although I am
a member of • noble family at the least as honourable as
your own, but there is something beyond You are of wee;
you can therefore settle your affairs alone without readering
an account of your action, to any one you do not require
to be guided by people who do not understand honour or
probity ; you are muter of your actions, and can cons*.
quently follow the noble impulses which exists in the heart
of every man of honour without consulting • soul If you
do not follow them, or if you do not possess them, listen to
what I tell you. A eon who 'can and who will not repair
the grave faults committed by ht. father : a young man In
the outset of We who can but will not re-establish his name,
which is compromised, because he has to pay • handful of
gold for a debt if honour, that son, that yours man, Is not
worthy to bear the name of gentleman, and should not be
treated as one. If, Sir, you ao not admit the truth of what
I have just said by terminating in an honourable way this
compromising affair, I warn you hereby, that sooner or
later, here or on the Continent, or In • public place, or In •
drawing-room, no matter in what society, I will consider
you as such (sic) by Insulting you in the manner you deserve,
and will compel you to give me satin} action, utiless you are
desirous of being ranked upon the list of dutards. After
which, should it be necessary, three brother., one of whom
will, in the course of a few days, be placed in the Embassy
In London, perfectly acquainted with all the laws of honour,
will take my place, and will be happy to be able to avenge
their worthy father, who has been the dupe In so ignoble
a way of your family. My resolution is Irrevocably taken.
Reflect' Already, on the !nth of Angina. I warned
your solicitors of the disastrous coneequences which would
ensue if the matter ware not arranged amicably.
If, however, they have been acting in this affair without
having consulted you iu everythlig which has taken place,
or II you shall have determined to do your duty by ter-
minating this affair honourably with me, I will then be the
lint to retract the words I have just written; but, In such
case, do not allow yourself to be restrained by a false shame,
ylel.l to that noble feeling and you will find in me a man of
honour, who will prove to you that It is not merely the
money, but also the mode of acting which will determine
the affair. In this case, of having to treat directly with
yourself, between gentlemen and count., I would be satisfied
with one-half the sum I claim through the solicitors
17 0001 This, therefore, Is my last proposal. I can do no
more. If you do not accept it, I shall carry out my plans. 1
swear It on the tomb of my worthy father and upon everything
which is deer to me in this world. Hatred and revenge
will take the place of the patience and delicacy I have
hitherto observed. Although my departure was fixed for
to-day, I will remain till Thursday evening. I will not exe-
cute my project., and I am ready at any moment to give you
brilliant satisfaction, If you desire It lily address Is the
Allemarle Hotel, where you can write me till Thnrday.
I have the honour, Sir, to be your obedient servant.
II V. D. HOErEn.
Now, nothing can be more clear (continued Mr.
Metcalfe) that in this letter there is a distinct demand
for 17.000/. In the letter the prisoner swears on the
"tomb of his worthy father" to do certain things. It
is clear there is a menace, and that the object of the
prisoner is to extort compliance with his demands.
The proceedings were taken under the 40th section of
the Consolidated Statutes. All that the plaintiff, Mr.
Adrian Hope, wiahes for is protection against the de-
fendant ; that the defendant be restrained from put-
ting his threats into execution. That is our cam.
Some evidence wse then taken to corroborate the
above after which Mr. Lewis adareseed use sorgiel...Se
on behalf of the defendant, who was eventually ad-
mitted to bail himself in a bond for 1,0001., and two
sureties in 5004 each.