The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-21
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
JOHN A. VAN RENSSELAER, IS UN. DER ARREST.
The Charge of Asfemnfed Exfortlon Was Made nw fEis MetaseR. Who ss Now mk MaxppUrd--A
 Px0minemx Family.

New York, July 20.--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 tonight on a charge of attempted extortion.
 The arrest was made on advices from Chief of Police Crowley of Newport, R l., who received a complaint from Mrs. Van Rennsalaer that her son had written c letter threatening her bod fly harm unless she provided him with funds. Van Renssaelaer is 34 years old and married. He is connected with e local brokerage house and when he returned to his home tonight he was placed under arrest by detectives, who produced the letter alleged to have. been written by Van Reunselear to his mother The letter is without any conventional beginning or ending. and the postscript Is unsigned. The letter reads:
 q have just seen Lawrence Lee and am given to understand you will pay $50 per month for my board if will
 go 800 miles from New York. and that I must have your written consent to leave the place that you may select.
 Did 1t ever occur to you that have an absolute remainder interest in Aunt Frances's estates security and that by blowing your head of my wife would have an income sufficient to sup
 T will take that course if necessary and upon my head will rest the con- sequence. Thaw is still alive. maybe
 'In any case my wife. God bless her. will benefit by your demise. even If I don't.
 "I have seen many disagreements and much suffering in my life, and I must say that most of it is due to you a selfish peacock. whose name iR these times amounts to nothing, and who is almost, If not entirely, forgotteo m circles once strod.
 ..I am now in no humor to be trihed with and wish to go on record that I will take action on sight unless some thing Is done at once. You gave liar old 86, 900 and trip to Europe what have I had for being honest?
 "J. A. Van Renssalaer."
 q want you to raise on that fancy name of yours $5,000 for me. If you are such a great lady. make good; if not keep out of my sight. can raise cash enough yet to go to you wherever you are and I have good name
 Van Renssalaer was later taken to police headquarters and the police of Newport, where Mrs. Van Renssalaer is now residing, were notified of the arrest The prisoner made inquiries regarding bail and spoke vaguely or 4 man named Lee, who would be glad to furnish it. Van Rensselaer, will be caretlIly observed by the police Ad- hitting to Lieutenant Mannion that ne had written the letter, Van Renssalaer according to the police made the toi- lowing statement regarding the mat ter:
 T gave her a thousand dollars when she was on her uppers. and now l wanted i've thousand to go into the hrokerage business. When was in husiness before I had a good friend who used to loan me any amount l wanted up to a couple of hundred thousand This friends mother wanted "a get into the Colonial Danes or America, of which my mother was member but my mother blackballed her. Then soon after that went to this friend again for another loan but he told me if my mother was too good l to associate with his mother, he guess" ed his money was too good for me Van Renssalaer Is a son Of John King Van Renssalaer, and grandson or | Rriraiter General Henry Bell van l Tsenssalaer, aide de camp to Major l General Winfield Scott. The Van Rens- saIaers are descendants from Col Jer- l emiah Van Renssalaer, who was member of the Colonial Assembly in this State and its Speaker in 1864. Van Renssalaer was twice married, having divorced from his first wife.