Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-07-13
CONFESSION OF l.. n. YANGORDER,
Now in the Ohio Penitentiary.
He ExOnerates Geo. w. and Vim. p.
VanGOrder.

He ExOnerates Geo. w. and VIM. p.
VanGOrder.
The Man with ''FaIse WhIskers and Goggles
OHIO STATE PRISON,
COLUMBUS, june 5, 1870.
Hon. JUDGE PILLARS, TI6in, Seneca
County, Ohio-Dear Sir: The dictates of
a troubled conscience and misery of a
sinful course, urge upon me, as a duty
to myself and justice to others, to make
to you a confession of the facts connected
with the circumstances upon which you
thought it your duty to punish myself
and my brother George W., and cousin
William p. VanGorder, in this prison,
charged with the crime of arson.
Neither Court nor community are in
possession of a correct understanding of
the case; for the facts, until now, have
been successfully concealed within my
own breast; and 1 have, until this late
hour, thought 1 would rather suffer tor
ture than betray my secrets. But the
veil which has so long disguised my
crime and its cause, has at length been
rent my sinews of iron have become
like those of a child, and nothing less
than what 1 have suffered would have
softened so hard a heart as mine-and
not even that, unless accompanied by a
firm resolution to abandon my sinful
course.
Having a desire TO correct any misap-
p~rehension my friends may have con-
corning my proceedings and situation, it
will be necessary to go back to the time
L imprudently exchanged a well cult
waited and productive farm with nv
brother-in-law, j.. H. Dewitt, for a stock
of goods, and trace their history down to
the time I first stained my character and
conscience with crime.
In the absence of experience, 1 Thought
a large stock would be more apt to lead to
success. I purchased largely on credit,
during the high prices. The decline in
the markets and dullness OF the times
left my goods unsold, while my credit
ors were threatening to close my store.
The fear of being forced to a large sacri-
flee led me to get the store insured at the
office Of Col. Shannon, of P~errysburgh;
but for some cause unknown to me, the
company withdrew their policy, and L
was compelled to abandon my scheme
until a more favorable opportunity.
then borrowed of my brother George
thirty-five hundred dollars belonging to
his wife, giving him, as security, a part
nership interest. With this aid 1 was
relieved for a time, and purchased an
additional stock, having paid off my old
claims and contracted new ones. But a
few months passed before 1 was again
embarrassed, and, in an evil hour, 1
resolved to use my brother George as
the instrument by which 1 might carry
out the scheme which 1 had contem-
plated and abandoned so shortly before.
To do this successfully, 1 proposed a sale
of convenience, under pretence that if 1
could prevent my creditors from dis
tressing me for a few months longer, 1
could pay all my liabilities. Ithen urged
George to become the ostensible owner,
and to hold the goods in trust, giving me
the privilege to continue business under
his name.
After a proper exchange of papers, 1
made a proposition to J, H. Dewitt to
furnish means and reference and 60 East
and purchase TO the amount of five thou
sand dollars, which he accepted, and
went to Sandusky City to see a Mr.. Bar
ney, who had done a large business in
New York but for some reason Dewitt
failed in securing his reference.
1 then made a proposition to George
that 1 would give him two hundred dol
lars if he would furnish endorsers that
would enable me to make a purchase of
four or five thousand dollars in his
name; and it was for the payment of
this bonus thatI sent him those goods,
by express, to Warren.
Having selected the goods at A. Z.
Andrews, Warren, Ohio, 1 then made an
arrangement to receive fictitious receipts
of Edward Andrews, to show to my
neighbor merchants, that 1 had made a
purchase of nearly nine thousand dol
lars; and 1 left fifty dollars with George
to give him as a bonus.
My next step was to get an insurance
on building and contents. I made appIi-
cation at the Office of Col. Shannon, Of
Perrysburgh, taking George with me, to
sign the necessary papers, he depending
on my representations, and little know
ing their contents OF design.
Having succeeded in obtaining the
policy of insurance, I Immediately solic-
tied John Halderman, by letter, to assist
in removing some of the finest goods,
under pretence that 1 had made applica-
ton in bankruptcy. He came at once,
and, with his usual dissipated habits,
conducted himself so indiscreetly, (even
while he was ingeniously disguised with
false whiskers and goggles, and acting in
the capacity of a s~tock-buyer,) as to lead
to the suspicion that his business was
not legitimate.
Not wishing to endanger the property
of my neighbors, 1 selected a cold, still
and bright moonlight night in January,
and with my own hands placed a lighted
candle near a quantity of cotton batting,
in my judgment, would require
about two hours to take fire, and left the
store for the last time.
The report that j.. II. Dewitt set it on
fire is as unjust as it is untrue. And
cousin William is innocent of this crime
not a living soul but myself having
any knowledge that the store would be
burned, nor BY what means it took fire.
As soon as possible, after the fire, 1
sent George word that the store was
burned, and for him to come and make
the statements as to loss. He came, but
said he knew nothing about the value or
amounts, and could say nothing. I told
him 1 would instruct him what to tell
agent, (Mr. Hosmer,) and 1 dictated
his answers to the questions and inqui-
ries, which were reduced to writing, and
testifiedt to by George as to the best of his
knowledge. And thus was he led into
into this difficulty unwittingly, and left
m~aster-dupe and victim, and censuredby
q large circle of friends as being the insti-
gator of a crime of which he had no