NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC-L Archives

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Subject: [NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC] Van Alstyne, Harrington, Gemmill, Rawlins,Gibbs, Flynn, Marr
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:44:29 EDT

Wednesday August 5,2009Troy Record Article 100yearsago Thursday, Aug. 5,
1909
“A coroner’s inquest is held today in Cohoes to determine exactly the
manner and, if possible, the cause of Richard H. Van Alstyne’s suicide at the
Island Park Golf Club last week, The Record reports.Van Alstyne, a former
county supervisor and county clerk, shot himself to death at the Island Park
clubhouse on July 28, following an erratic round of solo golf. He was the
senior partner of the Van Alstyne and Harrington insurance firm. A. W.
Harrington, Van Alstyne’s partner, tells the inquest that “he knew of no
motive [related to business] that would cause Mr. Van Alstyne to commit suicide.”
W. L. Van Alstyne, Richard’s brother, testifies that Richard was in good
spirits the evening before his death, and had not discussed business or
health problems. He discloses, however, that Richard had left letters for him
and their brother that were more revealing.“The letters were mostly of a
personal nature, and the witness would not state what the contents were,” our
reporter notes, “He, however, admitted that all of the letters led them to
believe that their brother had contemplated committing suicide.”Richard
apparently began finalizing his plan on July 26, when he purchased a revolver
from G. W. Gemmill’s sporting goods store. W. L. Van Alstyne testifies that
Richard never carried a revolver before then, though it’s unclear whether
W. L. realized on Tuesday that Richard was carrying the gun.Once on the
island on the morning of the 28th, Richard didn’t want friends or family to
know he was there. Golf pro Harry Rawlins testifies that he was making a
phone call to Van Alstyne & Harrington when Richard tapped on his shoulder and
told him not to mention his presence. Steward Frank Gibbs testifies that
Richard instructed him to deny he was there if anyone called for him. Richard
explained the request by saying he wasn’t feeling well, Gibbs relates.The
most disturbing testimony comes from Rawlins. He found Van Alstyne’s body
in the clubhouse, in a room Rawlins uses as his bedroom. He testifies that
Van Alstyne entered the room before he went out on the links, while Rawlins
was shaving. “What kind of game are you playing?” Rawlins asked. It isn’t
clear whether he wanted to know what kind of golf Van Alstyne intended to
play, or what he was doing in Rawlins’s room.“I’ll soon be playing a better
game than you,” Van Alstyne reportedly answered. Golf club employees were
instructed to keep an eye on Van Alstyne during his subsequent round, but
relaxed their scrutiny by the time he returned to the clubhouse. Rawlins was
in his workshop when Van Alstyne shot himself once in his left breast."

Photo of the day Troy Record Thursday July 12 2009 1974 Retired
Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St Paul and Minneapolis Dioceses,who was a former
Albany priest and former bishop of Layfayette, La
Photo of the day Troy Record Thursday July 14 2009 1947 John
Marr,William press in Menands
Photo of the day Troy Record Thursday July 15 2009 1948 Jack and
Dennis Marr taken on Stow Ave

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