The New York herald., 1875-12-02
A FACILE SEDUCER.
He Weds Four Wives Con
secTtively.
RUIN OF TRUSTFUL FEMALES
In the Character Of Pastor He Works
the Blacklist Evil.
RUIN OF TRUSTFUL FEMALE;
y ED AT LAS i.


OHIO of native of this township on the complicated
charge Of bigamy, seduction and embezzlement The
career OF the man in question Matthew b Van 0strand
Is one or the most extraordinary and audacous in tho
annals OF crime, and may be related as foliows:-
Van ostrand is about thiry-nve years age was
born few miles from this place. His relatives are
among the most respectable people in the county. He
sa graduate OF Lafayette College and man of splendid
physique, winning address and superior cul-
ture. In 1865 Van ostrand was married to
Ella Penney. daughter of OF the most
prominent and wealthy farmers OF this section the
owner of large of the richest dairy farms in the
vicinity or Warwick, Orange county n Y. Van
| ostrand, with capital furnished by his own and his
wifes relatives, embarked largely the dairy business
and enjoyed the confidence of the farmers in the neigh
borhood to such extent that large sums OF money
we're intrusted to him by them his duebis being con
sidered ample security therefor. About years
after he married he failed in business involving
his farmer patrons in numerous difficulties
THE INDIGNATION THE PEOPLE
who had trusted him-his failure being considered
very questionable transacton-was great that 20
escape the punishment he mered he fed TO Canada.
His wife followed him thither For some time his
friends continued 10 back him largely in his business
transactions when hts reckless conduct and dishonest
management caused them to withdraw their support,
he having squandered nearly $100 600 of their money
became such that the former compelled
TO leave him. and IN 1868 she returned
with her children her father 1t is said that during
the latter part of his in Canada he habtualy
brought to his house women OF notorious character,
maintaining them for days at time, and compelling
his wife to act in tho capacity of servant to them
After his friends refused to be responsible for him. and
his wife had left him. being thrown upon his
sources he deserted Canada leaving heavy creditors
A.n ~. Cat
His ready address and numerous qualifications
opened the doors Of the best society in the place to Van
Ostrand, and secured him the confidence of leading
business men He was given position or trust in o
financial institution OF the place and became the &C
cepted lover of
THE rHEs ACKNOWLEDGED BILLIE OF THE CITY,
. Miss Tucker. After residence OF few months In
Lockport he was married to this young lady. They
had lived together but a few weeks when his antece-
dents In way became known and escape arrest
| he fed the place taking with him considerable sum
of money belonging to one Of his patrons
From Lockport he went TO Ohio and settled in
Columbus, the capital of that State AS the
In Lockport he was not long in gaming prominent
position in the society OF the Ohio city anG the conf
dence OF leading He became the OF local
capitalists real and other specuations
hts services being accepted as ample Offsets TO THE
and prosperous young man. and protesting the sricest
morality and piety, soon came to be held up as
A
Of the city He won the affections OF Miss George VAIL
the daughter Of one Of his wealthy business associates
and have married her in 1870 great preparations
having been made for the ceremony. few days
before the wedding day another of Van 0srands bust
ness associates made the astounding discovery
70 notes to tho Of S. 600 and had negotiated
them thorough investigation Of the matter proving
that there doubt OF the guilt Of Van Ostrand he
was arrested For the timo great indignation
ested by Van 0strands friends at what they termed
the outrage their avorte and his prospective father
n-law became security for the accused for hts appear
at court Before the trial il was discovered that
Van ostrand had perfected his plans for running away
from the CITY, and he was al once delivered into Gus
tody by his bondsman. he was tried the charge
forgery and the evidence conclusive that
convicted and sentenced TO
POUR YEARS IN THE STATE PRISON
| He served two years and was then pardoned by the
Governor Of the State
The young lady whom he have been mar
ried died Of GRIEF and shame during the hrst year
his imprisonment After his discharge from the Colu-
bus Prison Van Osrand went to the village OF Delaware
Ohio He represented himself there the Rev Amos
Ryerson and produced papers certifying that be
Accredited MINISTER OF TEE GOSPEL
OF the Presbyterian faith IL chanced that the pastor
! OF that church in Delaware aged but beloved
| old man, named Roberts, He had long mnistered 10
tho spiritual wants Of his flock aud for
from the pulpit, owing 10 increasing inhrmtes.
Van ostrand alias the Rev. Amos Ryerson, was NOS
long gaining the affection OF this rural dock OF be.
levers, and occasionally olciated for the old preacher
The result OF this that the Rev Mr. Roberts sug-
gested that the church accept his resignation and cal
the young and brilliant Ryerson 10 the charge This
DONE and the Delaware Presbyterian congregation
| was the envy of other churches for miles around
The old parson was we'll to do in the worlds goods,
and his daughter Ellie considered the handsomest
Intimacy sprung up which resulted In their marriage
in October, 1864. The young couple lived happily Tor
some months when the love of the husband seemed 10
| grow cold. In August last the
STARTLING DISCOVERY
made that three young ladies members Of leading
families OF the village and Of the Presbyterian church
| were destined to become mothers at distant day
and that they each charged the young pastor as
having caused their ruin The sensation that followed
this revelation IS said 10 have been indescrbabe A
strong element OF the church and held to the
nocence the pastor but his unceremonious depart
from the place in the night, pending legal nvcst
CATION, dispeed this faith, and the popular Indignation
universal One OF the young girls died in giving
and another fed from her native place and Is leading
life OF shame in Cincinnati.
From Delaware the audacious scoundrel Van Ostrand
went 70 Springfield Ohio, where he resumed his own
name He was not long there before he won the ancc-
tions OF wealthy young widow OF the place, and,
tho 2Tth Of September last induced her eope with
and marry him. They returned 70 Springfield In
few days and were living IN great style there, when
the news Of Van Ostrands doings in Delaware village
In way reached Springfield, followed by an
officer from that place with q warrant for hts
arrest Again the villain managed to eude arrest
The friends or his last victmwho rendered insane
by The exposure q 1er = suppossu m ue cnar
bned together in the determination to bring him 10
justice In way, and detectives were put on his
track He was traced 70 Windsor Canada A watch
was set movements and discovered that he
had already commenced laying his plans TO ensnare
another victim, IN the person OF young French mil
liner named Jean Dubois Inquiry made by the de-
tectves elected the fact that acquaintance exsteo
| between the milner and Van 0strand, bat that she
had repeled any intimate relations The situation oi
affairs warrantng the move detective procured IN.
terview with Nile Dubois, In which he revealed the
history OF Van 0strand and succeeded In enting the
cooperation Of the milliner In
CAPTURE
The inftiatory step in the plan adopted for the
young lady appear to soften toward Van 0strand
She yielded 70 his of-ropeated request TO meet him Al
q rendezvous appointed by him. She failed 70 meet
Glm, but instead sent him the following note:-
Ny friends are watching and suspect me 70 u
Cleveland next week 10 purchase gooda will meet
the United states Hotel there Monday. JEAN.
| WINDSOR Nov. 10.
The bait took and Van 0strand replied that he would
be in Cleveland requested Il is unnecessary say
that Jean Dubois did not 60 TO Cleveland, but Var
0srand did He met by the detectives. taken inte
custody, and carried 70 Springfield and lodged Jail
The news Of his capture greeted with universal JOY
and little tanning OF the popular feeling would have
resulted In his unceremonious iynchinR He will %
Il araa rnlni dau naA mt