New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-12
STETEp RTAN orr or PRISON.

MERCHANT PRINCE WHO SPENT TWO YEARS
BEHIND THE BARS F0R CONTEMPT
New York had her merchant prince In y. T. Slew
art Atlanta. Ga. had hers In stephen Ryan stewart
IS dead Ryan released on saturday from IT,"
Fulton County Jail whore lie had been incarc' rated
for over two years. II required act OF the
legislature to give Linn his liberty. Having executed
q bond In tA. sum OF 800 900. he IS going 10 da
as other noted m,n do IN these davs-cnj0y hi,
liberty in ,hc hunting field. Until the court requires
his presence before jury be will chase the Jack
rabbit and hunt the coon In the backwo0ds Of his
adopted State.
Ills release has given all Atlanta something To talk
about Ills journey home from the jail was uinmph"
march, - great ayalanch" Of JOY was unloo'cd upon
him. and he smiled with "A look Of Triumphant salts
faction that seemed to gather It's gre from the DAYS
that preceded his incarccra,IOn'-as the Atlanta re-
porter pat H. Wac. he appeared the streets
without tn shadow TIA had hitherto accompanied
him he was literally hrsl,e'd by his many ircLds.
Hls progress home was impedcd by hand shaking
,hat he was uthcr late In presenting himself b"for"
tie door ilnt had long been removed from him
by n distance that b" could not traverse. As he
entered the gate he doubt f-lt that his nam"
was McGrcgor and that after many long months he
stood again his native heath
steve Ryan's father WA man highly respected
In the community ia which hc lived. and for years
lis was the leading dry good, house In Atlanta.
steve and his younger lrotArr. John. IT.. sue
c--drd TO the business upon The retirement Of their
father and TIE Ryan Company" hourish'd. >trv" -
ideas were expansive and hie habits were expansive.
Ills 81 tie nlrst horse, in tn" south. and
the swath that h. cut was Wide that the youth
Of the Chicago OF IT," South were To-, In Il. II was
MS ambition b-oom" the recognized mcrr liant plnc.
Of the south. and the business methods of A. r.
stewart were Tire ground work Of his system. In
the effort to drive ont Of sight all competition hr
bought Enormous stocks Of eoods from the New York
merchant, who knew the stability Of the firm, OF
thought they did, and pursuing the S'"Nart plan
understood his rivals far that their t.aic tl oil
to nothing. and many were willing TO close their doors
But eva days cam. upon him. His enemies com
blncd together for his overthrow and attacked HI,
credit. Unlike Stewart. hc had not the vast amount
Of ready capita 10 carry on such war'lare rs he
had begun. and I'm short time there was talk of
the RYAN CoHrany being under pressure. Rumoi
grew into hard fact. and before long steve RYAN
went down IL" owed Tie New York mere hal Is
alon' more taan I'll 100000
The failure was OF the bggc, ever known IN the
south. and spread CONSERVATION among business, men
not only In the Georgia capital but throughout the
state we'll. In the settlement that followed Ryan
was supposed TO have yielded everything TO his
creditors. but charges were made that he kept back
100000, and he refused 10 make Satisfactory
accounting 10 the court for this sum. he WAS held
In contempt aud sent to JUL. Some of the bcs;
nwy-rs In Atlanta were eng sed 10 manage his case.
and partly to their influence Is due the passag. Of
the bin that has made their client free man.
Ryan displayed great nerve In Jail. His father
offered many times to pay the $4,000 and set him
free. but he sent for his brother John. and said
Tell father that he shall pny IA cent OF that
money. II he does shall Kill myself aud my blood
will De- on his head
rhl, threat Ind the desired effect. and the case
allowed to drift along until public sentiment
began To turn In Ryans direction month ago 1t
was understood by every body In Atlanta that he
would be- out Of jail sUon and that end has been
accomplished. Ryan win 20 before the court
IL his had never been tried the trial by Jury
Will give the whole matter fresh start. II viii be
A hearing de nOSO, according 10 the new law.
John Ryan, r. sold his Interest In the Ryan Com
pany to "StrNr' few day, before the failure for
10000. Aftcr the settlement OF the firms affairs,
and the imprisonment Of steve be bought the
business, ana has conducted IL ever since In hon
orabc manner.
Charlie, Ryan a brother OF Steve and John. jr.
has been cashier In the Office OF the Amcrit an Trust
ana Banking Company for three years. more,
Joyiug The fullest confidence Of hi, employers ON
the allure Of the Ryan Company hr immediately
minded la his resignation. Il WAS not accept ID The
director, met and passed resolutions commencing