The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-23

services being accepted as ample offsets
to the money of the others. He was
looked upon rs rising and prosperous
Young man, and protesting the strlctest.
morality and piety, soon came to be hela
upas
A MODEL FOR THE YOUTH
of the city. He won the affections OF
Miss Georgia Vail, the daughter OF one
of his business associates, and was 10
have married her in 1870, great prepara-
tons having been made for the ceremIo-
nv. A few days before the wedding day
another of Van Ostrand's business assoocl,
ates made the astounding discovery that
he had forged the latter's name TO notes
to the amount of $4,000, and had nego-
tiated them. A thorough investigation
of the matter proving that there was no
doubt of the guilt Van of Ostrand, he was
arrested. For the time great indignation
was manifested by Van Ostrand's iriends
at what they termed the outrage OF their
favorite. and his prospective father-ln-
law became security for the accused ioT
his appearance at court. Before the trial
il was discovered that Van Ostrand had
perfected his plans for running away
from the city, and he was at once deliver
ed into custody by his bondsman' he
was tried on the charge OF forgery, ana
the evidence was 30 conclusive that ne
was convicted and sentenced to
FOUR YEARS IN THE STATE PRISON.
He served two years and was then par
doned out by the Governor OF the state
The Young lady to whom he was TO
have been married died of grief and
shame during the first year of his i'm
prisonment. After his discharge from
the Columbus prison, Van Ostrand went
to the village of Delaware, ONO he
represented himself there as the REV,
Amos Ryerson, and produced papers
certifying that he was duly
ACCREDITED MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL
of the Presbyterian faith 1t Chanced
that the pastor of that church in Della
ware was an aged but beloved old man,
named Roberts, and for some years mad
expressed a desire to retire from the
pulpit Van Ostrand, alias Rev. Amos
kyerson, was not long in gaining the at-
fection of this rural flock of believers,
and occasionally officiated for the ola
preacher. The result of this was that
the Rev. Mr.. Roberts suggested that the
church accept his resignation and call
lhe young and brilliant Ryerson to the
charge. This was done and the Dela-
ware Presbyterian congregation was the
envy of other churches for miles around.
The old parson was well to do in the
worlds goods, and his daughter Ettie was
considered the .handsomest girl in the
village. Between her and the new pastor
an intimacy sprung up which resulted
in their marriage in October, 1874. The
young couple lived happily for some
months, when the love of the husband
seemed to grow cold. In August last the
STARTLING DISCOVERY
was made that three young ladies, mem:
bers of leading families of the village and
of the Presbyterian church were destln"
ed to become mothers at no distant day,
and that they each charged the young
pastor as having caused their ruin. A
strong element of the church and town
held to the innocence of the PASTOR but
his INSCRIPTIONS departure from the
place in the night, pending legal investi-
cation, dispelled this faith, and the
popular indignation was universal. One
of the young ladies died in giving birth
to her child, according to the story re-
ceived here, and another fed from her
native place and is leading life OF
shame in Cincinnati. ..t
From Delaware the audacious Sound
rel Van Ostrand, went to Springfield,
Ohio, where he resumed his own name.
He was not long there before he won the
affections of wealthy young widow OF
the place, and on the 9th of September
last indnced her to elope with and mar
ry him. They returned to Springfield in
q few days and were living in great style
there, when the news of Van 0strand's
doings in Delaware in some way reached
Springfield, followed by an officer from
that place with a warrant for his arrest.
Again the villain managed to elude ar
rest. The friends of his last victim
who was rendered insane by the expos
ure of her supposed husbands true char
acter-and the friends of his dupes in |
Delaware, combined together with the
to bring him to justice, in |
some way, and detectives were put on
his track. He was chased to Windsor,
Canada A watch was put on his move
ments and it was discovered that he Lad
already commenced laying his plans to
ensnare another victim in the person of
Young French milliner named. Jean |
Dubois. Inquiry made by the detectives
eliCited the fact that an acquaintance ex-
sted between the milliner and Van Ost-
rand, but that she had repelled any in
innate relations. The situation of affairs
warranting the move, the detectives pro-
cured an interview with Mile Dubois, in
which they revealed the history of Van
Ostrand, and succeeded in enlisting the
cooperation of the milliner in
HIS CAPTURE.
The mediatory step in the plan adopt
I'd was for the young lady to appear to
soften toward Van Ostrand. She yield
10 his 0ft-repeated request 10 meet MIN
1t rendezvous appointed by him. She
Iailed to meet him, but instead sent him
The following note;
"My friends are watching me and sus-
pect me. / go to Cleveland next week to
goods. ! will meet you at the
United States Hotel there on Monday.
JEAN.
"WINDsoR, Nov. 49,"
The bait took, and Van 0strand re-
piled that he would be in Cleveland as
1t is unnecessary to say that
lean Dubois did not go to Cleveland,
out Van 0strand did. He was met by
;he detectives, taken into custody, and
,arried to Springfield and lodged in Jail.
The news of his capture was greeted
With universal Joy, and little tanning
If the popular feeling would have result
ID in his unceremonious lynching. He
will be brought to trial at an early day,
md there is not the shadow of doubt
hat he will receive the full penalty of
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