The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-20
GLAD HE WAS ARRESTED.
VAN LANKENBDRG SAYS HB WAS
TIRED ELUDING OFFICERS

Surprised at His Boarding House in
Jacksonville He Submits Gracefully
to the Arrest-The Embezzler Tells
the Story Of His Downfall and How
He Cleverly Hoodwinked Savannah's
Detectives-Gone Back TO St. Louis
to Stand Ills Trial-Eis Wife Accom-
pauies Him.
R. W. Van Lankenberg, the ST. Louis
embezzler who was captured in Jackson
vile Saturday night by Detective Morgan,
left for st. Louis yesterday in charge Of Mr..
Z. G. Gwinner. one Of the officers Of the oil
company which was defrauded by the young
man. He consented to go without a
reQuistion as he said he was tired lodging
around the country trying to escape the
law. Van Lankenberg's wife, who was
with him when he was arrested. accom-
panied him back TO st. Louis, where she
will probably be soon separated from her
criminal husband by the courts.
Detective Wetherhorn arrested Van
Lankenberg in boarding house,
where he thought he was safe from
harms way, and was laughing in his sleeve
at the manner In which he had hood Twin ed
Savannah's officers. His back was turned
to Detective Wetherhorn at the time Of his
arrest, and when the young man felt tap
on his shoulder, and the remark, 81 want
you," 1t was the first intimation he had that
an officer was around.
GLAD TO BE ARRESTED.
Van Lnnkenberg, however, graceful lily
submitted to arrest, and replied: "Well,
am glad of 1t after all knew this thing
was bound to occur some time, and the
| sooner get back and take my medicine
the better it will be for NO."
On the way to Savannah Van Lanken>
| berg got quite communicative with De-
tective Wetherhorn and told him all about
| his embezzlement, and how he had escaped
| from his boarding house here while officers
were guarding it waiting for his appear
ance.
The young man said gambling was the
cause Of his downfall. He lost his own saw
ings at the card table and then took little
of the company's money to try to recover
his cash. Luck was against him and he
lost. Van Lankenberg continued his pilfer-
ing, hoping each time that he would be
| able TO win enough to make good his
defslcation, but when 1t ran up to $4,000
and be realized his dishonesty was about to
be discovered he skipped.
HOW HE oUrwIrTED THE OFFICERS.
Van Lankenberg said he was told Detect
| i've Hanley was after him, and saw the
officer the day he went into the city ex-
| change to consult Mayor McDonough about
his arrest. He went TO his boarding house
| on Liberty street to think over plan of
| escape and while discussing In his mind
| several schemes of evading capture he
looked out of his window and saw Detect
| i've Hanley and several other men waiting
| for him. de at once changed his closhes
and hat, shaved himself and walked
| boldly out the door and passed
the officers unchallenged, after which he
| hurried to the Savannah, Florida and West
ern and boarded the train for jacksonville
Van Lankenberg said he intended at that
time to admit his identity and quietly SUR
render if Detective Hanley had penetrated
| his disguise.
-Four days from the time Mr.. GwInner
| placed the case in Detective Wetherhorne's
bands that officer captured the embezzler.
The detective got $500 reward for his clever
| work.