Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-21
CONFESSION OF I. N. Van eoRDER
OHIO STATE PRISON. |
COLUMBUs, June 5, 1870. I
Hon. J,ui1e Pillars, Thin ,Seneea O,uaiv. OHIO


facts, NJ I'll now, have been successfully con-
ccalcd within nv own breast, AMI have, until
this late hour, thought would rather suffer tor
ture than betray my secrets. Bu' the veil which
has so long disguised my crime and its cause
has at length been rent; my sinews Of irsn have
become like thOse of child and nothing less
than what have suffered would have s'ftcned
so ha rd a heart ms mine. and not even that un-
less accompanied by firm resolution to abln-
don my sinful course.
Having desire to correct any misanprchen-
sion my friends may have concerning my pro-
ceedings and situation. It will be necessary to
go back to the time imprudently exchanged a
well cultivated and productive farm, with my
brother-in-law, j. II. Dewitt, for n stock OF
goods, and trace their history down to the time
stained my character and conscience with
crime.
10 the absence Of experience, thought n
large stock would be more apt to lead to sue
cess, purchased largly on credit during the
high prices. The decline in the markets and
dnllness of the times left my g1ods unsold,
while my creditors were threatening IN close my
sore. The.fear Of being forced to a large sacrifice,
led me to get the store Insured at The Office Of
Colonel Shannon, Of Perrys but for some
cause unknown tn me, the Company Withdrew
their policy, and was compel ed to abandon my
scheme until more favorable opportunity.
then borrowed of my brother George. thirty
five hundred dollars, belonging to his wife, Civ
ing him as security, a partnership interest.
With this aid, was relieved for a time, and
purchased an additional stock, having paid off
my old ciames and contracted new ones. But
n few months passed before was again embar-
rassed, and in an evil hour | resolved to use nv
brother George as the instrument by which /
might carry out the sheme Which | had contem-
plated and abandoned so shortly Lefne. To do
this successfully, proposed slle uf conven-
fence, under pretcnse that if could prevent nv
creditors from distressing me for few months
/ aantd ranv nH all lt.l.f \ Al.
urged George TO become the ostensible owner,
and TO hold the goods in trust. giving me priyi-
lege tn continue business under his name. At
ter proper exchange Of papers, | made pro-
position to j. II. Dewitt TO furnish means and
reference, and go East and purohase to TIE
amount of five thousand dollars which he ex-
cepted and went to Sandusky City to see a Mr..
Barner, who had done a large business IN New
York; but for some reason Dewitt failed IN Sc
curing his reference. then made proposition
TO George, that would give him two hundred
dollars, if he would furnish indOrsers that
would enable me To make purchase Of four or
i've thousand dollars in his name, aud il was for
the payment OF this bonus that sent him those
goods BY express to Warren. Having selected
the goods at A. E. Andrews, Warren, Ohio, |
then made an arrangement to receive fictitious
receipts of Edward Andrews, to show to my
neighbor merchants that Ihad msde purchase
Of nearly nine thousand dollars and left
fifty dollars with George to give him as bonus.
My next step was 10 get an insurance on
building and contents. | made application at
the Office Oe Col. Shannon, of Perrvsbug. takin!
George with me To sign the necessary ps l'ers he
depending on my representations, and little
knowing their contents or design.
Having succeeded in obtaining the policy Of
insurance, | Immediately solicited John Hald-
srmaD, by letter, to assist in removing some Of
the finest goods, under pretence that | had made
epPiiOatiUII 80 ha akrnptpv-- IIS Ss.Aa at nnce.
and, with his usual dissipated habits, conducted
himself so indiscreetIy (even while he was in
geniOusy disguised with false whiskerS and
goggles, and acting in the capacity Of a stock
buyer), as t1 lead % the suspicion that his busi-
ness was not legitimate.
Not wishing to cndanger the property Of my
neIghbOrs, selected cold, still and bright
moonlight Hight. in January, and with my own
hands placed a lighted candle near a quantity
of cotton batting, as in my iudgemet would re-
quire 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 il is untruei and cousin William is
innocent of this crime, not a living soul but my
self having any knowledge that the store would
be burned, nor by what means il took fire.
AS soon as possible after the fire, | sent
George word that the store was burned, and for
him to cnm5 and make the statements as to the
loss. He came, but said he know nothing about
the value or amounts, and could say nothing. i
told him | would instruct him what 10 tell the
agent, Mr. Hosmer, and dictated answers to the
questions and inquiries, which were reduced 10
writing and testified to BY George ,as the best
"F ., @'S l,.a',la'ifra An thus was hs led into
this difficulty unwittngly, and lett master dupe
and victim, aud censured by large circle nf
friends as being the instigator of crime of
which he had no knowledge, and is in every
way innocent. However much the crcumstan-
ces OF ownership aud extravagant purchase of
Andrews Son may seam To point t0 his COM
plicity, will do him the justic tn acknOwle dge
my guilt, and let the blame rest in its proper
place.
1t is worthy of remark here, that George has
always cultivated reticence and a prOpriety
Of feeling, aud experienced a brOtherly attach
ment tor my society, and would endure with
concealed suffering any injustice or punishment
rather than murmur or complain Of the action OF
his friends and that Won may know what un-
firing eETts made 10 prevent hun knowledge
Of my guilt, on the d.Iy previous To cunning to
this prison, / wrote a letter, and requested
George to copy and address to you. inimating
that two Of the prosecuting witnesses were impli
Gated still striving, after pleading guilty and
causing my brother IN do the same, to turn n
portion Of the crime in another direction. Such
has been my influence and control over Iny
brother, and until this late hour have failed to
| acknowledge my error.
have not enjoyed day of peace since the
pSrpelratOR OF this crime, and my heart sinks
| within me, when think Of the weary days and
Il
| spend in Jail, while was constantly urging him
(my brother not to accept of the terms Ol trial
! which you had provided until he became dis
Outraged, and feeling his friends had fOrsaken
| him, and being denied trial by the State,
! through the advice of one Of his counsel, ne
chose to plead guilty rather than remain in jail
| til the next term, subject 70 the results of SO
long continued change from active to sedentary
| habits.
Had possessed moral courage IN have con-
r a.
cent from such anxiety aud suffering. But
! have been constantly striving to conceal the
workings Of n guilty conscience, which has So
| long untitled me for labor or rest, and sigh for
that peace which alone sweetens toll and makes
! life cease to be burden.
As this was my first step from lfeOf integrity
and uprightness to that of disgrace and crime
let Inc hope you can discover circumstances
that are extenuating, and not consider me lost
TO the influences Of home and friends, but that
you will exercise ytur pard0ning inhnence IN
INV behalf. aud restore ne 10 my afflicted and
suffering family-a wife and Eve small children
| who are in pressing need Of ossistdhee and
ioUntiHJ for the necesUuies OF life.
/ trust yOu-Ayil feel yourself at liberty 20 use
this confession as best meets your judgement
but earnestly desire that through the columns
az the Warren Chronicle, you viii place il before
the public that the influence and censure of my
wicked course brought upon both my brother
and cousin, so far MS lies in my power, may bt
counteracted, and that the community may see
that ] have moral courage to acknowledge my
crime and its cause, aud have taken firm aud
decisive step toward reform.
Z. S.-Aithough asking u favor, let me in
duge in the hope that you will not pass this by
i withant attention through n multitude of busi
nesS) but will please make the best use OF II fol
the injured parties (as the opportunities here
for writing are somewhat limited y and desire
il placed before the public at Warren, especially
Respectfully.