The sun., 1897-01-20
WAS VAN RYN DRUGGED?
4 FORMER PARKHURsT SOCIETY
AGENT KILLED ny A ELL.

HIS Gold Watch, Hins, and Money Missing
when He Was Fouad Dying In n Strange
Uouse-Parkhu-st People Think ne
Was tho Victim OF Knockout Drops.
The officers of the Parkhurst society believe
that Martin H. Van Ryn. who until quite re-
Gently. was an agent Of the society. and who
died on Sunday in St. vincents Hospital Of the
effects Of fall on the previous Sunday. was
drugged with Knockout drops and robbed
before he fell. Van Ryn lived with his wife at
3l6 West 142d street, and had been a trusted
employee OF the society for about two years and
half. He resigned q few months ago to take
charge OF sopo private detective work under q
recommendation from the society officers. He
left homo on Saturday morning a week ago,
telling his wifo that he was going down to the
Bowery to collect bill OF $50. He had his
gold watch and wore n valuable and curious
dark garnet ring when he went AWAY. He was
also supplied with money. His wife did not see
him again until she found him unconscious at
St. vincents Hospital.
Van Ryn was found by n policeman about 10
o'clock on the following morning in the hall of
an old fashioned house at 125 Charles street.
He had staggered up to tho third floor, and
there had bufed and lurched forward, striking
his forehead over the left eye with great vio-
lencc against the jamb OF n closed door. The
tenants heard the fall and lifted Van Ryn to his
feet. He was In dazed condition. and, al
though he could talk. could not tell why hc was
In the house. The tenants sent to the Charles
street station and Van Ryn walked to the sta
tion with policeman. Sergeant Tierney tried
to get from him some intelligent: account OF
himself. but failed He thought Van Ryn was
Intoxicated. but called an ambulance which
removed him to the hospital. where he never
again recovered full possession Of his senses,
ana never gave any clear account of where he
had gone after ho left home TO collect the bill
due him.
1t wasn't until his wife arrived Mt the hospital
that II was learned that tho patients gold
watch and garnet ring were missing. All tho
money he had was a nickel. The surgeon dis
vessels In tho back of his brain. lie died OF
conclusion :of the brain. His body was buried
yesterday IN Cypress Hills Cemetery.
Acting Superintendent Burr OF the Parkhurst
society and the detective Of the Charles street
station have been trying to trace Van Ryns
movements on Saturday and Sunday. but with
yut much success. Mr.. Burr believes that Van
Kyn went over to Hobvken where he u ed to
lived to visit some friends. lie was at en-. tims
night clerk Rt BOwery hotel, but he does not
appear TO have been there on Saturday. Tho
reason he and tho other society officers behave
that lie is a victim OF Knockout drops is that he
never drank to excess. and would not have been
Ilkely to have been robbed while sober. Mr..
Burr believes that. while under the influence
or the knock out drops. Van Ryn wandered
into the Charles street house under the i'm pres
sion that he was really In his own home In the
Annexed District. Van Ryn WAS an agent for
life insurance company in Paterson. y. j.. be-
OF weli-to-do brewer at The Hague Holland
He was well educated. was n llnguist and had
been all over tho world. His age was A. years
Snperintsndent Burr said yesterday that one
the German nobility. He received letters from
her regularly.