The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-07-23
Threatened TO
KILL HIS MOTHER
lOhD Van RGllSeIasT Arrested
For Attempted EItOTtIOn.
SENT THREATENING LETTER

Member Of One Of New York's Oldest
Families Demanded Money From
Parent or He Would Blow Her Head
or On sieht-says Thsw Is stu
Alive and Maybe Will Be"-Wsnts
Her 10 Raise $4,000 On Her Fancy
Name, and If Not to Keep Out of
His Sight.
New York. July 21-John 4. Van
Rensselaer,. son Of Mrs. John King
Van Rensselaer,. and member Of one
Of New York's Oldest families. was
taken into custody on a charge OF at
tempted eNtortion. The arrest was
made on advices from Chief OF Police
Crowley. OF Newport r. l.. who re-
ccived n complaint from Mrs. Van
Rensselaer, that her son had written a
letter threatening her bodily harm un-
less she provided him with funds. Van
Rensselaer, IS thirty four years old and
married
Van Rensselaer, is connected with
local brohcrage house. and when be
returned to his home he was placed
under arrest by detectives. who pro
duced The letter alleged to have been
written by Van Rensselaer, to his
mother. Tho young man stated that
he had written the letter. which IS
without any conventional beginning or
ending. and of which the postscript is
unsigned The letter reads.
II have just seen Lawrence Lee. and
am given 10 understand that you will
| pay $50 per month FOR my board IL
will go 300 miles from New York. and
! that I must have your written consent
to leave the place that you may sc.
| lcct
Did it ever occur 10 YOU that have
an absolute remainder interest in Aunt
Frances estates securities. and that
by blowing your head on. that my wife
would have an income sufficient TO sup
port her?
Il viii take that course n necessary
and upon my head will rest the conse-
qucnccs. (Thaw is still alive maybe
Will bc).
In any case. my wife. God bless
her. viii benefit by your demise. even
II I don't
Il have seen many disagreements
and much suffering in my life. and
must say that most OF it is due 10 you.
= selfish peacock. whose name in these
times amounts to nothing. and who is
almost, II not entirely, forgotten in
circles once tread.
i am now in no humor to be triaed
with. and ! wish 10 go oa record that
/ Will take action on sight unless
something IS done at once. You gave
Harold $4,000 and a trip 70 Europe.
What have had for being honest?
y. a. RENSSELAER,
Il want you 10 raise on that fancy
name of yours $4,000 for me- II you
are such a great lady. make good: II
not. keep out Of my sight. | can raise
cash eaough yet TO go to you wherever
you are. and have a good name"
Van Rensselaer, made the following
statement regarding the demand on
his mother:
Il gave her $1,000 when she was or
her uppers, and now | wanted $4,000 70
go into the brokerage business. When
was IN business before had a good
friend, who used TO loan me any
amount I wanted up to a couple of
hundred thousand This friends moth
er wanted to get into the Colonial
Danes of America, of which my moth |
er was a member, but my mother
black-bailed her Then, soon after that, |
l went TO this frieud again for another |
loan. but he told me IL my mother was |
too good TO associate with his mother. |
he guessed his money was too good |
for me-"
Van Rensselaer, is a son of John |
King Van Rensselaer, and grandson |
of Brigadier General Henry Bell Van |
Rensselaer, aide-de-cnmp 20 Major !
General Winfield Scott The Van |
Rensselaers are descendants from Col |
onel Jermias Van Rensselaer,. who was
a member of the colonial assembly in |
this state. and its speaker in 1864