The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-07-24
ONE OF THE 400
UNDER ARREST
ON COMPLAINT or MOTHER WHO
RECEIVED LETTER THREAT
ENiNe HER LIFE.

NEW YORK. July 20.-John A. Van
Rensselaer,. son Of Mrs. John King Van
Rensselaer, and a member OF one OF
New Works Oldest families. was taken
into custody tonight on a charge Oh
attempted extortion. The arrest was
made on advices from Chief Of Police
crowley OF Newport, R. l., who re-
eeived a complaint from Mrs. van
Rensselaer, that her son had written
a letter threatening her bodily harm
unless she provided him with funds. !
Van Rensselaer, is "a years old anG
married.
Van Rensselaer, is connected with
local brokerage house. and when he
returned to his home tonight he was
placed under arrest by detectives
who nroduced the letter alleged to
have been written by Van Rensselaer,
tn his mother The letter is without
any conventional beginning or end
ing, and the postscript is unsigned
The letter reads;
II have just seen Lawrence Lee ana
I am given to understand that you
will nav $50 per month for my boarr
i'll will go 500 miles from New YORK
ana that l must have your written
consent to leave the place that you
may select.
Threats Of Murder.
Did it ever occur to you that
have an absolute remainder interest
in Aunt Frances estates securltles'
and that by blowing your head on my
wife would have an income sutnclent
to support her?
II will take that course if neces-
sarv. and upon my head will rest the /
consequence. (Thaw is still alive
NAV be I will be-
In any case, my wife, Goa press
her. will benefit by your demise, even
If / don't.
II have seen many disagreements
and much suffering in my HE, ana
must say that most of it is due to You
A selfish peacock, whose name IN
these times amounts to nothing ana
who is almost. if not entirely forgot
ten in circles once trod.
Il am now in no humor to be trlned
with, and l wish to go on record that
I will take action on sight unless
something is done at once. You gave
Harold $4,000 and trip to Europe |
What have | had for being honest?
IL A. VAN RENSSELAER,
II want you to raise on that fancy
name of yours $4,000 for me- If you
are such a great lady, make good; IL
not. keen out of my sight. can raise |
cash enough yet, to go TO you whereV-
err you are, and have good name.
Van Rensselaer, was later taken 10
notice headquarters and the police OF
Newport. where Mrs. Van Rensselaer, !
is now residing, were notified of the
arrest. The prisoner made inquiries
regarding bail and spoke vaguely OF
a man named Lee. who would be glad
to furnish it, Van Rensselaer, VIII De
carefully observed by the police
His Statement.
Admitting to Lieut. Mannion that
no had written the letter Van Rens-
selaer. according to the police, maze
the following statement regarding the
demand on his mother:
81 gave her thousand dollars wnen
she was on her uppers, and now
want FIVE thousand to go into the
brokerage business. When | was IN
business before | had good friend
who used to loan me any amount
wanted up to a couple OF hundred
thousand. This friends mother
wanted to get into the Colonial Danes
of America, of which my mother is
member. but my mother blackoalled
her. Then soon after that ! went 10
this friend again for another loan,
but he told me If any 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 Brig. Cen. Henry Bell Van Rens-
selaer. aide-de-camp to Mai Gen. WIN
field Scott The Van Rensselaers are
descendants from Col. Jeremiah van
Rensselaer, who was a member OF the
Colonial Assembly in this state ana
its Speaker in 1864. Van Rensselaer,
was twice married, having divorced
his first wife.
MOTHER KILLS