Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-10-23
ODRllOJ. sSSttl;ates;in1a)ri'r., /.
Il 5f.u[From tho Louisville CouriSr.im boE
Career OF a. Clay DsceiYer---AnO O'eT
.t.,. 81 'Erue Eale. .,, tt.f,.sf Cd

CarecF Oh - OtNy DdcelteE--- Az UISFi
Frd.V prMe Tale. DO .tigliDT M
Ina flourishng town in Iowa, not fifty
miles from jMuscatinG, there lived, at the
time OF the beginning of the late civil
war, ayoung man of arespectable family,
who, butra few months before, led 10 the
altar ain accomplished and amiable young
lady, a schoOlmate of the writer 6t Qtlils,
and the daughter otla wealthy and very
influential resident of one of the largest
river towns on the Upper Mississippi The
young man (whOse father WIS very
wealthy, and a man of gre at influence, ne
spected and loved by all who knew him,)
was engaged In business as a'railTOad
agent and commission merchant, and was
acknowledged as one of the best business
men in the place. lie had c omtorbable
home, which was made happy by his
charming bride, and his pecuniary pr0s7
poets were indeed enviable. But wnen the
first gun was fired ohnSGmter, he enlisted
in the fervice of the Union as a private,
and while his friends admired his patriot
ism, they urged him, for the sake of his.
Young wife, to remain atihOme. His busi-
ness was such as would not be materially
affected by the war, and the community
felt the loss OF valuable and respected
citizen in his departure. Their earIiesteh-
deavOrs to persuade him to remain at home
and his wile's earnest entreaties were OF
no avail. He shouldered his gum, and
im the ranks marched forth to battle.
But he was too valuable a mani to
remain long i'll the ranks, and he was soon
promoted to the rank of Second Lieuten-
ant. He served in that capacity for few.
months, commanding with great bravery
his company, in the absence OF other officers,
ili the thickest of the-battle of Shiloh; and
for his meritOrious conduct oil that occa-
sion, he was detailed to serve as Aid-de-
Camp to OneOf the Generals, and very soon
after was ordered for duty TO st. Louis,
where he served as POst-Adiutant of BEN
ton Barracks for some time; and while in
that capacity he took the first step that
leads to this account of his eyentful career,
He was, probably, led astray BY his fell
low-oiilcers, and became associated with,
and, it is believed, married a woman of ill
repute, with whom he lived, introducing
her to his friends as his wife, and hestoW-
ing every Kindness upon her'that could be
expected OF foOd husband. But he de-
serted his mistress and visited his wife, who
had returned to her fathers house when
our hero entered the army, and who was
nbW the mother of an infant girl. His
/ standing as achurch member of the Pres
byterian order, when he lett his heme, was
very good, and no one doubted his sincerity
/ in the professionsphe made. His wife, not
suspecting his unfaithfulness to her, desired
him to accompany her to the altar of bap-
tism, and their child was Daptised, he TAX
ing upon himself, before his God and in
the presence of parties who knew
something of his late course, the
most solemn obligations as to the perform
ance of his duties as parent and the OBJ
servance of the strict rules of the church.
lie also took an active part in all the re-
ligiouS meetings while at home, making
loud, long and fervent prayers, and at his
request prayer meeting was held on the
eve of his departure, at the house of his
tathef-in-aw, for his especial benefit. EX-
pressing the most, ardent affection for his
wife and child, he took his departure again
, and returned to his mistress in st. Louis.
His wife soon heard of his bad conduct, and
discarded him after trying in vain to make
him reform and return to her, and in due
time procured divorce. Soon after his re-
turn to st. Louis, he had some difficulty with
aiellow officer andtendered his resignation,
al acceptance of which he urged and finally
obtained. He then went, as hear as we can
learn, to Canada, ahd while there few
weeks won the affections of an. estimable
lady whom he would have married but for
the interference of his former friends, who
heard of the matter and gave the lady an ac-
count of him,which caused her to change her
mind. Failing in this attempt to destroy the
happiness OF an innocent girl he returned
broken hearted ~ to the United States.
. He then procured the Uniform of q soldier,
dbnned the shoulder-straps which design
ated him as a Major, and assumed the name
OF Foster. Having made himself, while in
the army, acquainted with the names of
some of the leading officers of the army,
I'D h.Ai,N H.,1
forms used by the army, as well as familiar
with the signatures. of manyof the general
officers, and being an accomplished pen
man, able to write any kind Of hand that
was necessary to accomplish his purpose,
he passed, from post to post, presenting
forged accounts and acquisitions for trans
pOrtation to paymasters and quartermas-
ters, drawing large sums of money from
the former and travelling when he pleased
at che expense of the Government, which,.
through the quartermasters, furnished the
distinguished Major transportation when-
eyer and wherever he called for it.
1t is impracticable for us to give, In this
p brief account, an idea of the extent of his
iiourneyings in the course OF q few months
while thus engaged In swindling. He visited
many of the principal cities aud Watering
places in the United States, and, of course,
phSSluR Hluotll Us ID hdJOI, anu udNlHR
o. plenty of money with which he could well
afford to be liberal, was quite favorite
among the ladies-some Of whom may read
: this. before the printers link is dry. How
Il often he was married, while Travelling as
: Major G. e. Foster, it is impossible to tell;
:, but as he appeared to have mania for
gbing to the hymeneal altar, it is fair to
d presume that he added q number of names
p to the list of his wives9a He was shrewd in
: evading the detectives, who were constant
ly on the elert for him. He frequently
conversed with officers and detectives
whom he knew to be trying to entrap him,
. but did not identify him. How and when
he was finally caught, it. is unnecessary to
state, except that his detection was aided by
avery careless and simple blunder of his
-, own.qnAn account of the whole affair was
published in the telegraphic columns OF the
idhily papers throughout the whole country
at the time. He was tried by proper authori-
4 ties, found guilty of forging, and sentenced
to eight years imprisonment, and tile pehi-
tentiary at Auburn, New York, was desig-
mated as the place of his confinement. He
Bwas an inmate in that Institution ,lor, two
years, we believe, and, through the inter-
, position of his friends, his pardon was OBJ
tained from President Lincoln.
J Again at liberty, he Went to Chicago,
. where he resumed practical and honora-
bile application of his business tact and
,shrewdness, making fair promises of refor-
niationy and gaining the. copfiqence and
J gpOd will OF all who knew him. About
G the first of, July last,y he was engaged as
b travelling agent for large business house
ID Chicago, and. started out, again acomly
mencinp the Draeticea of rdeeention His