Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-01-16
OsGooD. TIE EnRGER


The evils that wait upon 40 undue
thirst FOE gold. and the temptations which
Il exeiies. are strongly dercted N the
case Of Mr.. Osgood, who was lately ified
in New York. and sentenced 10 fourteen
years imprisonment. At hssd labSr, "a the
Sing Sing penitentiary HssIhIbiir more
over, a striking instance Of The fact. %
generally recognized IN this republican
country. that = mans merit or dsmerit
depends upon himesif, without rcga ri 60
lis connexions Those Of Osgood are Of
the best kird. lie ~ brother in Law Of
the late DE Will ClintoR. add citizen &c
net. the first minister from France TO
America. under the Directory Natural
ly too ambitious. yet variable IA his pas
sions, and forgetting the means Cor the
end, he rejected al the barriers Of pru
dence and reason. IN the most important
acts Of his life He commenced his ca
reer. by marrying his fathers chamber
maid: after which hs frll into dreputc
with his family and connexions. Embark
ed IN the profession Of the law. he was
soon found 70 be guilty OF some suspicious
4 practices in The business Of the insolVsnt
courts These however. were overlook
ed. because aot pa!pablo enough Tor con
vieiiou, nor sufficiently dangerous for
alarm.
Ills last acts Of crime. were the forge
ries OF Pension Certificates These were
accomplished in a most singular manner
i Well acquainted with American history.
I he drew mp fictitious papers relating 20
4 eertsin pensioncrs;-described the battles
N which they had hcen engaged. named
the officers under whom they had served.
and had every statement, properly and
officially Attested IL doing the. he was
sometimes reduced 10 ;he most desperate
straits lie gave the seals Of county courts
N distant parts Of the country. and divers
signatures, correctly. the possession 81
which, on his part. vas deemed exceed.
iagly mysterious. These certificates were
forwarded 10 the proper department al
Washington. and tho pensions regularly
4 paid, all Of which flowed regularly into
Z O'good's hands. The signature ofRiehard
i,ker. Of New York. had been attached
70 nearly al the certificates. and this had
been 50 efectually done by tho forger.
hat at last. whsn the correctness Of lhe
name vas Disputed. he went himself 10
The Office of M Rik-r. 80 ak The clerk
- swear thst the writing was Mr. rs -
IL wss sometime before that cenilrnsn
could decide that the signature vas MT
his own, 81 completely had u been forged.
" was however deemed rsuntcrftu II. ani
suspicion being aroused. inlormaiirn va.
sent ~ Washiaeton. nc arrhirr' were
searched. snd mass nf papers So. for
varded 10 ib' Dlsiret Attorney IT New
y ORR. every orc of Nhirh proved 20 BE- a
forgery. from Osg1od's hands
lis srfcst, itisl, and ssoienre n four.
teen years impris0nm"ut.a fc vel kn,t,n
lis - now az The SiGg S'sg penfirpi,sry
nployed " tsiioH7g Bong fsiher ~
iraciory. nc hiss been n1ggot twire II
melancholy 60 cohtr mplaie 'ueh = fsts
rlt q IS ihs true consequefs 81 sueh
,.irse, and illustrates The ducfIl esil' o
IN averwrsning passion fof money. pas
.sn whlch. VIXEN reasonable and liberal
7'Nisewouh'. bot when Crasping az,
1919. $40 every soase cootemp'ihir
,PiR hi