Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-07-24
VAN RENSSELAER,
MAY Be INSANE
YOUTH WHO THREATENED DIST1N-
GUISHED MOTHER rs SENT
TO HOSPITAL.
BLACKMAlL CHARGE is MADE.
He Wants $4,000 and Says if He Blows
Mothers Head Off He May Still
Live to Get It.
PARENT IS CALLED A PEACOCK"

NEW YORK, July 21.-Threatened by
lately sent him $1,000, Mrs. John King
Van Rensselaer,, once social arbiter OF
New York society and a member of one
# its oldest and most exclusive families,
out now living in retirement at Newport,
yesterday caused the arrest in this city
IF her son, John A. Van Rensselaer,.
After spending a night in the Tombs,
Van Rensselaer, was today taken before
Magistrate Corrigan on the charge OF
threatening to do his mother bodily harm.
A. Russell Peabody represented Van
Rensselaer, at the hearing. After dis
.ussing the case with the magistrate, Mr..
Peabody said he did not believe there
would be a question of bail, but one of
medical observation. He added that he
was not appearing in the case as an at
:orney, but as a lifelong friend of Mr..
Van Rensselaer,. Van Rensselaer, was
committed to the psycopathic ward at
Belleview hospital for observation.
Calls Mother Peacock"
In causing the arrest of her son, Mrs.
Van Rensselaer, placed in the hands of
the police a letter from the young man,
which is bitter arraignment of his
mothers mode of life and Of the system
of society which prevails in New York 9
400" The letter reads:
I have just seen Lawrence Lee, and L
am given to understand that you Will pay
$50 per month for my board If l will go 3OO
miles from New York, and that l must have
your written consent to leave the place
that you may select.
Did it ever occur to you that l have an
absolute remainder interest in Aunt Fran
ces' estates securities, and that by blowing
your head off my wife would have an III
come sufficient to support her?
Speaks of Harry Thaw.
1 will take that course if necessary and
upon my head will rest the consequences.
(Thaw is still alive, maybe Will be- -,
In my case my wife, God bless her, Will
benefit by your demise, even II l don't.
| have seen many diSagreements and much
suffering in my life and l must say that
most of it is due to f you ts selfish pea
to nothing, and who is almost, if not en-
tirely forgotten, in circles once tread.
am now in no humor to be trlfi led, with vi
and | wish to go on record that L Will take
action on sight, unless something is done
at once. You gave Harold $1,000 and a
trip to Europe. What have had for being
honest? J. A VAN RENSSELAER,.
l want you to raise on that fancy name
of yours $1,000 for me. If you are such a
great lady, make good; if not, keep out OF
nv sight l can raise cash enough yet TO
go to you wherever you are and have
4 good name.
Prisoner Makes Statement.
Admitting to Lieut.. Manion that he
had written the letter, Van Rensselaer,,
according to the police, made the follow
ing statement regarding the demand on
his mother:
Il gave her $1,000 when she was on
her uppers, and now l wanted $1,000 to
60 into the brokerage business. When
I was in business before l had good
friend who used to loan me any amount
l wanted up to a couple of hundred
thousand. This friends mother wanted
to get into the Colonial Danes of Amer
lea, of which my mother was member,
but my mother blackballed her. Then
soon after that I went to this friend
again for another loan, but he told me II
my mother was too good to associate
with his mother, he guessed his money
was too good for me-