The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-21
John pa. Van Rensselaer,,
Prominent New York Man,
Is Placed Under Arrest.
DEMANDED MONEY!
TO 60 i'm BUSINESS
Uttered Dire Predictions and De
clared That He Was Not in
Hult1ov to Be cTrifled With
Admits Writing Remark
able Letter Now in
Hands Of Police.
Hands Of Police.

- tYEW YORK, July f20.-John "A. Van
Rensselaer,, son OF Mrs. John
sl@N King Van Rensselaer, and a
j member Of one OF New York's :
Oldest families, was taken into
custody tonight on charge OF at
tempted extortion, The arrest was made
on adyices from Chief OF Police Crow
ley, Of Newport, r. l., who received a
complaint from Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
that her, son had written letter
atening4 her bodily harm unless she
provided him with funds.
Threatened to XIII Her.
Mr.. Van Rensselaer,, who Is thirty
four years old. and married, Is con-
nected with local brokerage house
and when he returned to his home to-
lnight,slc was placed under arrest by
detectives who produced the letter al
legged to have been written by him to
his mother. The detectives and Lieu
tenant Mapnion, before whom Van
Rensselaer, was taken in the police
station, declare that the young man
admitted he had written the letter,
which Is without any conventional be-
postscript Is unsigned. The letter
reads:
81 have JUST seen Lawrence Lee, and
l QIn given ~ luuCEbAuAA AHot yOu WI
pay thirty dollars per month for my
board II will go one hundred miles
from New York, md that must have
your. written consent to leave the place
thnt you may select.
..Did 1t ever occur to you that / have
an absolute remainder interest in Aunt
Frances estate, securities, and that
by blowing your hend OFF, that my wife
would have mn income sufficient to
support hcrf
..I will take that course II necessary,
and you ON my hend Will rest tile con-
sequences. (Thaw is still alives may
he Xviii he'd
s,....In nj cnse, my swifes GoS bless her
don't.
!I have seen many dlsaRree nta
md much suffering In my life, and
must say that most Of 1t IL due to
you, selfish peacock, whose name In
these times amounts to nothing, and
who Is almost. IL not entirely, forgot
ten, In circles once tread.
.I am now In no humor to be trifletl
with, and I wish to go on record that
I Will take action on sight, unless
some thing is done Mt once. You gave
Harold $4,000 and trip to Europe.
What have T had for being honest:
..I want you to raise ON that fancy
name of yours $4,000 for me. II you
,nre such n great lady make good, II
not keep out of my sight. can raise
cash enough yet, to so to you wherever
you are, and have a good name.''
Van Rensselaer, was later taken to
police headquarters. and the police OF
Is now residing. were notified Of the
arrest. The prisoner made Inquiries
regarding bail. and spoke vaguely OF
man named Lee who would be glad
to furnish 1t.
Van Rensselaer, will be carefully OBJ
served by the police: Admitting to
Lieutenant Mannion that he had writ
ten the letter, the prisoner. according
to the police. made the following sta te-
ment regarding the demand on his
Il gave her $1,000 when she was on
her uppers, and now 4 wanted 1000 to
go into the brokerage business. When
ivan wanted. Ma1 Up % to 100000 This friend's 5
mother wanted to get into the Colo
inial Danes of America. OF which my
iblaekballed meshaa MaS her. herns'''0si' ~
soon after that. went to this
friend again for another loan, but he
told me If my mother was too good
to associate with his mother, he guess
ed his money was too good for me-"
"a Van Rensselaer, is son Of j ohm King
Van Ranssel laer, and grandson Of
Brigadier- General Henry Bell Van
Rensselaer,. aide-de-camp to Major
General Winfield Scott. The Van
Rensselaers are descendants Of Colonel
Jeremiah Van Ransselaer, who was a
member Of the Colonial Assembly In
this State and its Speaker In 1864 Van
Rensselaer, was twice married. having
divorced his first wife.