New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
Van Cortlandt,
Retired Banker,
Ends His Life
Member of Famous New
York Family Was Leader
in Westchester
Friend Of President
Melancholia Believed Cause;
His Estate Amounts to
S15,OOO,O0o
Friend Of President

vo1NT klSCO. \. Y. Feb. lS.-
" hcrt b. Van Cor,landt member Of
family famous ia New York's his
,orv since It's beginning. friend of
1rc.ident Wilson and leader in
ws,.sA sster Yolitics. killed himself at
ii. bome. Guard Hill, near here, carly
,bis morning by slashing his throat
,i;h a razoF
lie Dad been dead for several hours
.,ore as body was found by his
.,;ned nurse, John Lamb. who had
Leon in his employ since he began to
suffer from melancholia some months
seo MIR Van Cortlandt was ffty-siN
wears old and a bachelor. His estate
IS said to be worth at least $4,000, 600.
For many years Mr.. Van Cortlandt
had been a leader in the activities of
Wcstchcster County. He was founder
cf the county's Democratic Club and
was it's president for several terms.
He was also president of the Vest
chester Historical Society.
Health Had Been Failing
His health had been failing for some
months. Only few weeks ago he
Lad returned FROM trip to Japan, aud
had since visited Washington and Lake
placid. On Sunday he told Lamb that
no believed it would do him good to
G, to his Westchester home for few
dsvs. He went there from New York
bv automobile. For time after his
.frival he appeared in good spirits,
sut when night came on he began TO
Be restless and told the nurse that he
Wished to talk with his minister. the
Rev. H. Aydc Prichard, rector OF the
Mount Kisco Episcopal Church.
Coroner ". ". Mills learned to-day
that during Mr.. Van Cortlandt's con
vorsation with his pastor he spoke,
apparently casually, of suicide and the
courage it required to take ones own
Nfe. The minister said that he
thought nothing of the incident at the
time.
Found With Throat Cut
Lamb told the Coroner that his en-
mover had gone up TO bed at l2:3o.
Appareutly the man disrobed and after
puttine ON his pajamas lay down for
4 tinc. Then he arose again, stripped
himself, went into the bathroom. took
down a silver handled razor winch he
had had for many years and cut ms
throat. The body was not found until
: 20 this morning. when Lamb entered
his employers room to wake him.
Mr Van Cortlandt was born to Au-
gustus and Charlotte A. Van Cort!andt
~ the old manor house which stands
IN what is now Van Cortlandt Park.
He was a lncal descendant Of Olaf
Van Cortlandt. who came to New AM
.tcrdam from Holland in 1886 and was
ore of the FIRST Mayors of the settle
lent.
Mr.. Van Cortlandt was graduated
rom Columbia in 1882. He WAS d class
mate Of Nicholas Murray Butler, now
president of the university. For some
iine he was active in Wall Street, aad
vas a member of the banking firm of
kcan. Van Cortlandt & Co. He was a
director of many corporations. includ-
ing lackawanna Steel. Southern Steel,
Toledo Railways and Light and the
trust Company of America.
He was a member Of the Order Of
the Cincinnati, the Sons OF the Kcvolu-
ton. the Society of Colonial Wars and
the Knickerbocker, Union, Manhattan.
Metropolitan. Downtown, Turf and
Field, New York Yacht and Delta Phi
clrbs He is survived by one brother.
The later Van Cortlandts inherited
the family estates through the distatf
side, the husband of the daughter OF
the house taking the name Van Cort-
landt to keep name and property to-
gether in direct line of succession.
Augustus Van Cortlandt, who became
head OF the family early in the nine
teenth century, was the son OF Henry
White and Anne Van Cortlandt, but
'ook his mothers name when the male
Inc Of succession ended.
Augustus White Van Cortlandt, being
without sons. stipulated in his will in
1882 that his brother, Henry White,
should inherit the estate. provided he
changed his name 10 Van Cortlandt,
and that otherwise his nephew, Au
sustus Van Cortlandt Ribby, should be
he heir.
Only a few months elapsed between
the deaths OF the brothers, and Angus
tus Van Cortlandt Bibby came into the
property. He was the father of Robert
b. Van Cortlandt, having changed his
name when he succeeded to the Van
Cortlandt estate Robert b. Van Cort-
landt never married.