Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-21

Weston's reputation here has been beyond
reprOach, both AS man ana socially.
he has a mother, wife, children and
brothers living in this city, all OF whom
are highly esteemed.
''Hou are shaking hands with a con-
vict," said MIR. Weston. 81 am able 10
bear all this. but when my sons and
daughters place their arms around my
neck aud cling TO me and weep, shedding
tears that we'll up from the heart. IL un-
mans me. For forty-three years / have
lived here and done business, and no man
can place a black mark against my char
acter anywhere. l have always endeaV-
ored to do justice by ny fellow men, and
God knows that in all the years OF my
prosperity | never allowed a ttllow-being
10 suffer n | knew 1t, and could relieve
that suffering. Yet, mere am, convicted
OF g crime that never comm ted. This
thing has cost me 100000, besides $40, 900
for lawyers fees-OYer $500, OO0-about all
the fortune that 1 had. Even my wife has
mOrtgaged her farm and pledged her
diamonds to help me out OF trouble. But
l am still here the victim OF cruel con-
spiracy.
1.-The story" he added, "has never been
told. 1t was Tor me to buy and discover
the value Of natural gas as an iilumina-
tor and its utility Tor fuel. l secured 900
acres OF land in estmOreland county, |
purchased the tract from Hulery j. Bru-
not, brother of Felix Brunot, the Quaker
Indian Commissioner. / paid 100000 to
BrunOt for the tract and 1000 to remove
cloud from the title. After | made the
purchase / received deed from Brunot,
wherein he agreed to give me good and
sufficient title, free and clear Of all en-
cumbrances, for A leases which were
contained in the 1850 acres. | made the
first payment, which is acknowledged and
receipted in my deed, which is on record.
Before the second payment became due |
was notified by four owners OF the best
leases that Brunot dld not own them at
all. | Immediately took steps to possess
myself of these leases, which succeeded
in dong for n1pety-uIne years, and /
placed them on record in Greensburg.
The leases conveyed to me by Brunot
having lapsed by their own conditions,
every lease or renewal Of lease was placed
upon record by myself. Regardless of
these facts, and in violation of the sale to
me, Mr.. BrunOt sold the same to another
gas cOmpany-Pew, Emerson ~ Co., linn
ited--a concern in which he was large
stOckhOider, and it, through him or his
! agents, attempted to dIspOssess me. AT
that time myself and wife were living on
the land, and for several days and nights
before mywile had been there ALMOST alone,
having only one lady companion in the
house. Haymaker, VINO was unfortunate
| ly killed, was the agent of Brupot and his
corporation, and he had 100 men under
| him, who were armed with pickhandles
and revOlvers, and who came upon us
while We were in peaceful possession, 10
/ try to dispOssesS US. Who would not have
resisted to defend his ownY Ia the melee
that ensued Haymaker was killed, and
/ while that killing was charged to my fore
man, the fact is that he was killed by one
| Of hrs own men from a shot which was in
/ tended for my foreman. My wife was G0(
| feet from where the fight occurred, and
| witnessed the entire transaction. But she
/ was not competent witness for her hus-
I band
"But why should l detail further?
] shall 20 back to Pittsburg and face my
! sentence, and serve it If necessary, feel
| ing that am an innocent man-innOcent
/ before my God and the world. My repu
/ tation cannot be blackened by such crue
| and infamous prosecutions"
/ Mr.. w eston's friends here and in tht
/ East will make a strong effort 10 secure
his pardon in case he is sent to the peni
! Tertiary.