New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-06
CORONER WILL PROBE
DEATH OF VAN SCHA|CK
Circumstances Are peculiar
Enough to Make Inquest
Necessary, He Says.

Convinced the incidents which pre-
ceded the death of Singleton Van
Schalck. a wealthy resident of Pelham.
warranted official action, Coroner W.
II. Livingston, Of New Rochelle, said
Yesterday thorough investigation
into the suspicious circumstances would
be made
II am certain" said Or. Livingston
last night. that the circumstances are
peculiar enough 90 make cOroner's in
quest necessary. I am not satisfied
that Mr.. Van Schaick died from cere-
bral meningitis. or alcoholism as was
stated in the death certificate.
After consultation with Assistant
District Attorney Weeks of West
chester County yesterday. two men
from his office have been detailed to
make the investigation. have not de
cidcd yet Just what form the inquiry
will take, but it is probable, unless de-
cided proof should be offered 10 offset
il. that the body of Mr.. Van Schaick
VIII ll' tAlUilfu anu fii h'h'f''F 'A'''N'''
Tomorrow | am going 10 White Plains
again to arrange the details of the in
vestigation and TO learn what legal
steps are necessary to have the body
exhumed."
Chloral poisoning and the deleterious
effects of bromides and d!gitalis are al
legged in an affidavit which is the basis
of the Coroner's action. This affidavit
was i ade by Francis J. Tietsort. for
mer newspaper man, of No. 23O West
Goth street. who was "A guest at the
Van Schaick home at the time Of the
latters death.
The affidavit briefly alleges that Mr.
Van Schaick, who admittedly was ad-
dicted to heavy drinking. had taken a
drink containing chloral on July 3, from
the effects OF which he died on July l3,
after a period OF violent convulsions
and delirium tremens. Mr.. Tietsort
elaborated on this affidavit last night
"The period during which ! was a
euest at the Van Schaick residence y
he said. was one continuous round Of
Measure. or drinking. The first, thing
that arrested my attention was the fact
TINT the names of Joseph J. Ecclesine.
tho private secretary to Van Schaick,
and Van Schaick's wife were invariably
mentioned together by all the guests
"The second thing that caught my
oil tho tinp |
there not a single drink, and scores
were served, was ever served except
bv the private secretary. The drinks
were invariably mixed in the pantry
and brought either TO the drawing
room or out on the veranda, by the
private secretary.
"One evening Van Schaick called me
into his study and put this proposition
to mo. He asked what | thought of a
man who was in the habit of writing
love letters to Mrs. Van Schaick. He
produced from a private compartment
of his desk two letters. torn apart, but
pjeced together These, he explained
had been found in fragments by his
fourteen year-old daughter Violet. who
pieced them together and brought them
10 him.
II read these two letters, ardent love
letters. signed, Joe One phrase par
ticularly. caught my attention. The
writer asked Mrs. Van Schaick. to
whom the letters were addressed. how
long this thing was going To last, and
went on to breathe fervent protesta-
tions of love.
THE day after the funeral, Ecclesine
"a