The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-20
MILTON WESTON.
He says He Was Convicted of a Crime He
Never Committed.

CHICAGO. Jan. 17.-Mr. Milton Weston, who
stands convicted in Allegheny City, Pa, as
accessory TO murder, returned to Chicago
yesterday, to close up some business affairs,
prior to returning to Pittsburg to receive his
sentence of four years in the Riverside Peni-
Tertiary. Mr.. Weston's reputation here has
been beyond reprOach, both as a business
man and socially. He has mother wife
and children residing in this city, all of whom
are highly esteemed.
''YOu are shaking hands with convict
said Mr.. Weston to a reporter. II am abe
to bear ali this, but when my sons and
daughter place their arms around my neck
and cling to me and weep, shedding tears
that well Up from the heart, it unmanns me.
For forty-three years / have lived here and
done business and no man can place black
mark gainst my character anywhere. /
have always endeavored to do justice by my
fellow-man, and God knows that in all
the years OF my prosperity never allowed
a fellOY-Deing TO suffer il / knew il and
could relieve that suffering. Yet, here
am, convicted of crime which never COM
mitted- This thing has cost me $4,000
besides $4,000 for lawyers fees-oyer
O0,OO0-and about all the fortune that
j had Even my wife has mortgaged her
farm and pledged her diamonds to help me
out of trouble. But l am still here though
the victim OF cruel conspiracy. The story
has never been told. 1t was for me to buy
land and discover the value of natural gas
as an illuminatOr and its utility for fuel,
when ! am attacked, robbed. and cast into
prison. / secured 1 ,O51 acres of land west of
Noreland county. L bought the land of II.
]. BrunOt. l PAID $4,000 to Brunot for the
tract, and $4,000 to remove a cloud from
the title. After / made the purchase / re-
ceived a deed from Brunot, wherein he
agreed TO give me good and sufficient
title. free and clear of all in
cumbranCes for forty-fOur leases which
were contained in the 1850 acres. / made
the first payment, which is acknowledged
and rcceipted for in my deeG, which is on
record. Before the second payment became
due / was notified by other owners Of the
leases that Brunot did not own them at all.
Immediately took steps to possess myself CT
these leases. which / succeeded in doing Tor
for ninety-nine years, and I placed them or
record at Greensburg. The leases convey
10 me BY BrUnot having lapsed by their own
conditions, every lease or renewal of lease
was placed upon record by myself. Begard-
less Of these facts, and in violation of the
sale to me. Mr.. Brunot sold the same TO an
other gas company, all my titles being then
OF record. He sold to W. z. Emerson a Co.,
~ LOIpOldtlOl ~ hulCh nc was ldIBc oUOCh-
holder and il, through him, attempted to dis
posses me. At that time myself and wife we're
living on the land and for several days and
nights before my wife had been there almost
alone, having but one lady companion in the
house. Mr.. Haymaker, who was unfortun-
ately killed, was the agent Of Brunot and
his corporation.
That killing was charged upon me, when
the fact IS ne was killed by sOne OF his own
men, from shot which was intended for my
foreman. was living on the property with
my wife, and she was six hundred feet from
where the fight occurred, and witnessed the
entire affair. But why should detail furth-
er? | shall go back to Pittsburg and face my
sentence and serve it II necessary, feeling