The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-24
Van RENSSELAER,
OPPRESSES MOTHER
Son of Famous Ancestry
Threatens to Become a
Thaw Unless Appeased.


New York, July 23.-John A. Van
Rensselaer,, son of Mrs. John King
Van Rensselaer,, and a member of one
Of New York's oldest families. was
taken into custody last night on Il
charge of attempted extortion. The ar
rest was made on advices from Chief
of Police Crowley. of Newport. r. L.,
who received a complaint from Mrs.
Van Rensselaer, hat her son had writ
ten n letter threatening her bodily harm
unless she provided him with funds.
Van Rensselaer, is "a years old and
married. Van Rensselaer, is connected
with a local brokerage house, n when
ne returned to his home last night 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 Lieut..
was brought in the police station, de-
clared that the young man stated that
he had written the letter, which is
without n conventional beginning or
ending, and of which the postscript is
unsigned. The letter reads:
I ave Just seen Lawrence Lee and ! am
geyen me to Sna der nav b eaae YOU Il i VIII Win pay aS s $S
miles from New York and that 1 must
nave your written consent to leave the
place that you may select.
DID 1t ever occur to you that I have an
absolute remainder In Aunt Frances es-
state securities and that by blowing your
head off, that my wife would have an in
come sufficient to uppor her?
1 will take that course If necessary and
upon my head will rest the consequences.
Thaw is still alive, maybe l will be.
benefit by your demise, even If I don't.
1 have seen many disagreements and
much suffering In my life and must say
cock, whose name in these times amounts
to nothing, and who Is almost, IL not en-
tirely. forgotten in circles once tread.
I am now In no humor to be trifled with
and 1 wish to go on record that 1 will take
action on sight unless something is done
at once: You gave Harold 5000 and a trip
to Europe, What have had for being
want you to raise on that fancy name
of yours 5000 for me. II you are such a
great lady make good; il not keep out of
ITO go to wherever you are and l have a
good name. -
Rensselaer, was later taken to po-
lice headquarters and the police of
Newport, where Mrs. Van Rensselaer, is
now residing. were notified of the ar
rest. The prisoner made Inquiries as
to a and spoke vaguely of a man
named Lee, who would be glad to fur
nish 1t.
Van Rensselaer, will be carefully OBJ
served by the police: Admitting to
h letter Van Rensselaer,, according to
the police, made the following state
ment regarding the demand on his
mother:
Il gave her a thousand dollars when
she was on her uppers, and now 1
want $4,000 to go into the brokerage
business. When l was in business be-
fore 1 had a good friend who used
to loan me any amount I wanted up
to a couple of hundred of 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
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 Brig. Gen. Henry Bell Van Rens-
selaer, aide de camp to Maj. Gen. Win
field Scott. The Van Rennselaers are
descendants Of 20. Jermiah Van
Rensselaer,. who was a member Of the
colonial assembly in this state and it's
speaker in 1864. Van Rensselaer, has
been twice married. having divorced
his first wife.