New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-07
,SEEKS LOVE LETTERS
IN VAN SCHA|CK CASE
Prosecutor Starts Search for
Missives He Believes May
Furnish Criminal Motive.
BODY MAY BE EXHUMED
Investigation Into Cause OF
Mans Death to Go On De-
spite Final Decision of
the Coroner.

One the basis that love letters may have
furnished criminal motive, F. r.
| Weeks. Assistant District Attorney OF
Westchester County. yesterday said he
would run down to the end the circum-
stances Of the death OF Singleton Van
Schaick. the rich broker. who died at his
| home at Pelham July 10. TIE affidavit In
which the mention OF love letters was
made Is in the hands of the District Az"
torney's office and all day county de-
tectives Investigated the case.
81 intend to do everything possible to
get at every end OF the matter" said
Mr.. Weeks. Whatever NAV have been
the habits OF the dead man in regard TO
drinking, the fact that suspicious circum-
stances were introduced makes II impera-
tive for this Office to follow the case IN
every way.
This morning, after a consultation
with Coroner w. II. Livingston, of New
| Rochelle in the course of which no
showed me the prescriptions calling Tor
choral and other drugs given to van
Setback. I assigned County Detective
| Cook to the case
I'm addition TO the detectives investiga-
ton. Coroner Livingston, / understand
and Chief Marks. Of the Pelham pohce
force. made a long examination into the
| affairs OF the Van Schaick household this
afternoon. Every person in the house
who could have known anything ABOUT
the mans death was questioned closely.
II understand that the love letters Writ
ten 70 Mrs. Van Setback were given 10
John Van Schaick, the dead man
brother. at Huntington. Long lsland' oy
Miss Violet Van Schaick. who touho
then, in a waste basket. We VIII re-
cover these letters and II they are as
has been described they Will be important
evidence.
I'VE have not yet decided whether or
not TO have the body. which Is IN ooulh
Orange. y. j., exhumed. II II IS we
will first have TO get an order from the
supreme Court because Of its burial IN
another state.
"t,pon the report OF the investigation
made nv the county detective. independ-
emf Of the Coroner's investigation, VIII
depend the action Of this office. But the
r,o,,er will not be allowed to drop untih
we are certain OF the cause OF death
Coroner Livingston, much lncehseo a1
the annoyance" 10 which he had oeeh
subjected since the affidavit was pre-
scented for hts consideration, SAID last
riob, that he was through with the
whole dirty thing. -.
But Mr.. Weeks says he VIII coh'lhu"
~ press the investigation was sus-
gested. 49,. ~,
"r don't care anything about Mr.
Weeks" he answered. "He hasn't any
thing 20 do with me. 1t appears 10 me
/ that the entire story was perpeualeo W
some one with malicious intent
During the day Coroner Livingston e"-
au,ned Mrs. Van Schaick, Miss Nloiel
Van Setback. Joseph J. Ecclesine' van
scba,ck's secretary: Or. Newell, Dr. NC
c,ira the maid and the chauffeur. Both
mr. Newell and DR.. Mcclure. the coro-
- cold agreed that Van Schaick died
from cerebral meningitis
urs Van Schaick. continued the Cor
-. ,o,d willingly OF her husbands death
ard at the same time denied Indignantly
that she had received any love letters
quart Of Scotch whskey daily was 'no
estimate she placed on her husod''u
consumption OF liquor.
I'VE kept open house TOT our
sbo said 1T was just like one happy
FAMILY. That man Tietsort who maze 'He
a@dav,t. is an migrate to do what ne mas
dome after the kindness my hus0ahu
showed him" - os
Assistant District Attorney Weeks was
,-.o-,,ad later In the day that the Cor
oner had decided to, discontinue HIS
vestigation. =. rs"
THAT will make no dinerehce 70
Mr.. Weeks replied. we are 80
o, g., The ne,ghborhood TO learn II any
drugs were sent 10 the Van sehaioN hv'"'
,n addition TO those DR.. Newell oruereu
III any arrests are necessary We WI.
NOT have TO wait until the grand jury
meets. A coroners warrant VIII De SUI