The Daily Dispatch: April 15, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Suicide of Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr.

--Mr. Stephen Van Rensselaer. a well known citizen of New York, committed suicide on Monday night, in the drinking saloon No. 478 Broadway; in that city, kept by Elizabeth Hoyt. He went into the above saloon, and calling all persons present up to the bar, invited them to drink with him. When his liquor was set before him, he took from his pocket a small vial containing laudanum, and pured a quantity of the poison into his glass. He then said to his friends, ‘"this is my last drink,"’ and immediately swallowed the contents of the tumbler. A physician was speedily procured, and every remedy was applied to remove the drug from his stomach, but without success, as he expired about one o'clock. The deceased was at one time considered one of the wealthiest men in the State, owning an immense tract of land in the vicinity of Albany, in addition to his other property. He was the titular descendant of the Albany Patroons of that name, but his dissolute habits for a few years past have brought disgrace upon the entire family.