The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-21
FINE SENSATION
 IN UPPER TENDON
John A. Van Rensselaer, Ar-
 rested on Serious Charge
TRYING 10 EXPORT MONEY
Mother of Van Rensselaer, Prefers Charge and Exhibits Peculiar Letter on Which She Causes
 the Arrest To Be Made.

New York, July 2O.-John A. Van Rens- selaer son of Mrs. John King Van Rens- selaer and a member of one of New Works oldest families, was taken into custody tonight on a charge of attempt ed extortion The arrest was made on advices from Chief of Police Crowley of Newport, R. l., who received a complaint from Mrs Van Rensselaer, that her son had written letter threatening her bod fly harm unless she provided him with funds. Van Rensselaer, is S4 years old, and married. Van Rensselaer, is con- neeted with q 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 Rensselaer, to his mother The letter is without any con- ventional beginning or ending, and the postscript is unsigned. The letter reads;
 T have just seen Lawrence Lee, and l am given to understand you will pay s30 per month for my board if I will go 300 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 I have an absolute remainder in the Aunt Fran cis' estates security and that by blowing your head off that my wife would have an income sufficient to support her?
 T will take that course if necessary, and upon my head will rest the conse- quences Thaw is still alive maybe I will be.
 Tn any case my wife, God bless her, will benefit by your demise. even if I don't
 q have seen many disagreements and much suffering in my life and must say that most of it is due to you. A selfish peacock, whose name in these times amounts to nothing, and who is almost, if not entirely, forgotten, in circles once trod.
 T am now in no humor to be trihed with, and 1 wish to go on record that I will take action on sight, unless some thing is done at once. You gave Harold $6000 and trip to Europe. What have l had for being honest? (Signed)
 U. A. VAN RENSSELAER,"
 q want you to raise on that fancy name of your $500O for me- If you are such a great lady, make good if not, keep out of my sight I can raise cash enough yet, to go to you wherever you are and have a good name"
 Van Rensselaer, was later take 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 q 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 hc ] had written the letter, Van Rensselaer,. according to the police made the foi- | lowing statement regarding the mat | ter:
 T gave her thousand dollars when she was on her uppers, and now wanted five thousand to go into the brokerage business. When I was in business before l had a good friend who used to loan me any amount I l 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 black balled 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 aSSOclate Wltn ms mother, nc l 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 Rensselaer, aide l de-camp to Mai. Gen. Winfield Scott The Van Rensselaers are descendants from Col. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, who was a member of the colonial as- sembly in this state, and it's speak CT in 1864. Van Rensselaer, was twice married, having divorced his first wife