New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
.SUTCDEOF ". VAN SLOOTEN.
MAN OVER WHOM POLITICAL SLOGAN
OF WHO IS VAN SLOOTEN?" ORIG
MATED BLOWS OUT HIS BRAINS.

William Van Slooten, mining engineer, who
in the Kings County campaign of 1898 was the
mysterious candidate for the Senate in what
was then the Vth District and to whom was
applied the phrase, Who is Van Slooten?" blew
his brains out yesterday afternoon at mis- home,
No 81 Sidney Place. Brooklyn. With him at
the time were his wife and DR.. Laurence ]. Nor
ton. of No. 303 Henryst-, Brooklyn, who for
some time had been treating Mr. Van Slooten
fer mental disorder. Death came instantane-
ousIy.
Mr.. Van Slooten was the president of a mining
company. with Offices at No. % Wall-st. He was
born in New Orleans in 1858, his father, John
Van Slooten, being an exile from Germany. the
young man was graduated from the University
of Virginia at the age Of nineteen and then De-
gan the study Of law. He abandoned this line of
work however, and became assistant assayer IN
the New Orleans Mint Afterward he interested
himself in mining enterprises in Arizona, Col
orado and Nova Scotia. In 1881 Mr.. Van Slooten
came to Brooklyn, where he had lived ever since
In the campaign of 1898 the Democrats were
somewhat divided in what was then the Nth
Senate District and when the convention was
called to order to nominate a candidate for the
Senate no one knew whom it would be James
Kane, then leader of the Sixth Ward. and no"
Sewer Commissioner nominated William van
Slooten Few had ever heard the name, but Ire
nomination was pushed through. It was on that
night that the cry of Who is Van Siooteh.
started Il became a campaign slogan, anc was
on every ones lips. Meanwhile Mr.. Van Siooteh
preserved his secrecy. He appeared at no meet
inps kent away from the campaign headQuar-
ters and on Election Day as little was known
about him the day OF his nomination; ; Ia,
deed il was rumored that he sailed for Cuha
few days before election. o,..
The opposition to the unknown van SlootetI
was so strong that Daniel Bradley, an me- me-
re0dent Democrat was placed in nomination.
and securing a Republican Endorsement, oS-
feated Van Slooten in a district Whlch noElHa1S
was overwhelmingly Democratic. AFTER eiecuon
Van Slooten was forgotten but the cdIilPaisL
crv Of Who IS Van SIooten!" has been cropping
ont periodically ever since. II was only IN the
last campaign when Sherin-elect Gudeh Nas @
nominated by the fusionists. that thS Gty m Ta9
recalled as Mr.. Guden was unknown poiIIlCdIy
some time ago Mr. Van Slooten went 10 SouIA
America TO attend to some mining interests.
Tho climate affected his brain, and he had oeen
sick since his return. two months ago Dr NloL
Ton had been treating him with some degree
~ eIIccase and there had been no intimatIon
-bar the trouble woulc become violent. Inc
doctor visited him yesterday afternoon anu
after short talk. started 70 prepare some itieG
icine Mr. Van Slooten went 10 cApInet Looh
ont Nfauser magazine revolver, and before
Mrs Van Slooten and the doctor kne" "ndt
yvas going on the crazy man had placed the
y,I5z1Ia over his right ear and sent bullet
speeding through his brain
Mrs Van Slooten became hysterical and Dr-
Morton was busy with her for some time AT
the house last night it was said that she was
rrostrated and could not be seen.
The revolver which Mr.. Van Slooten USED was
or,a that he had brought from South America
When examined after the shooting seven loaded
cartridges were found in the magazine