The San Francisco call., 1908-07-21
VAN RENSSELAER,
MAKES THREATS
TOKILL MOTHER
Member of New YOrk's Oldest
Family Is Arrested for
ExtOrtiOn
Writes Letter to Parent in
Which He Demands $4,000
or Her Death
Prisoner Admits Crime Charged
and Promises to Cause
Further Scandal

NEW YORK. July 2o.-John A
Van Rensselaer,, SON of Mrs. John
King Van Rensselaer,, and member
of one of New York's Oldest families
was taken into custody tonight on a
charge OF attempted extortion. The
arrest was made on advices from
Chief of Police Crowley Of Newport.
L. l., who received complaint from
Mrs Van Rensselaer, that her son had
written letter threatening her with
bodily harm unless she provided him
with funds. Van Rensselaer, is "a
years old and married
Van Rensselaer, is connected with
local brokerage house and when ha
returned to his home tonight he was
placed under arrest by detectives, who
produced the letter alleged to have
been written by Van Rensselaer, to his
mother. The detectives and Lieutenant
Mannion, before whom Van Rensselaer,
was brought in the police station, said
that the young man declared that he
had written the letter, which is with
out any conventional beginning or end
ing. and of which the postscript Is un-
signed.
SENDS THREAT To MOTHER a
The letter reads:
have Just seen Lawrence Lee and given
TO understand that you VIII pay $50 per month
Ier my ooard n | VIII go 800 niles from New
York and that l must have your written con-
sent to leave the place that you may select
Did II eTer occur to you that have an abso-
securities and that BY blowing your head on
my wife would have an income sufficient TO
I win take that course IL necessary and upon
my head VIII rest the consequences (Thaw is
still alive. maybe 1 win be-
benefit by your death. even il I do not.
have seen many disagreements and much sue-
OF IT Is due to you selfish peacock. whose
name in these times amounts 20 nothing. and
who is almost. if not entirely. forgotten in
I am now in no humor to be trfned with.
and wish 70 20 record that I will take
once. You gave Harold $1,000 and a trip to
Europe. What have I had for being honests
r. A. VAN RENSSELAER,
want you to raise on that fancy name OF
yours $1,000 for II you such a great
lady. make good; il not. keep out Of my sight.
can raise cash enough yet to go to You wher-
ever you are. and I have a good name.
EXPLAINS THE DEMAND
Van Rensselaer, was taken later to
police headquarters, and the police Of
Newport, where Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
is now residing, were notified of the ar
rest The prisoner made inquiries re-
garding bail and spoke vaguely OF a
man named Lee, who would be glad to
furnish it. Van Rensselaer, will be
carefully observed by the police. Ad-
hitting to Lieutenant Mannion that he
had written the letter. Van Rensselaer,,
according to the police. made the fol-
lowing statement regarding the demand
on his mother:
Il gave her $1,000 when she was on
her uppers, and now L wanted $4,000 to
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 mother wanted
to get into the Colonial Danes OF
America, of which my mother was a.
member, but my mother blackballed
her. Then soon after that I went to
this friend again for another loan, but
he told me if my mother was too good
to associate with his mother he
guessed his money was too good
kor me-"
Van Rensselaer, is a son OF John
King Van Rensselaer, and grandson OF
Brigadier General Henry 3. Van
Rensselaer,, aide de camp to Major Cen
eraI Winfield Scott. The Van Renssel-
aers are descendants from Colonel Jere-
miah Van Rensselaer,, who was a mem-
Der of the colonial assembly In this
state Young Van Rensselaer, was twice
married, having divorced his first wife.