St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-18
VICTIM OF A CONSPIRACY.
Milton Weston Tells the story OF
His Alleged Crime.

nls AlAekeo Crltnes
CHICAGO. Jan. 17.-Mr. Milton Weston,
who stands convicted in Allegheny county,
Penn. as accessory to murder. returned to
Chicago yesterday to close up some business
affairs prior to returning TO Pittsburg to re-
ceive his sentence of four years in River
side penitentiary. Mr.. WestOn's reputa-
ton here has been beyond reproach, both
as business man and socially. lie has a
mother, wife, children and brothers resid-
ing in this city, all of whom are highly es-
teemed.
"You are shaking hands with a convict, -
said Mr.. Weston to a reporter. II am able 70
bear all this, but when my sons and daughter
place their arms around my neck and cling
10 me and weep. shedding tears that well up
from the heart, il unmans me. For forty
three years have lived here and done busi-
ness, and no man can place black mark
against my character anywhere. i have al
ways endeavored TO do justice by my fellow
men, and God knows that in all the years of
my prosperity i never allowed fellow-belng
10 suffer if knew it and I could relieve suf-
feriRg. Yet here am convicted Of crime
which
NEVER COMMITTED.
This thing has cost me S26O, 600 besides S45,-
600 for lawyers fees, over S3O0,000; about all
the fortune / had, Even NV wife has mort
me out OF this trouble, but i am still the vic
tim of a cruel conspiracy The story never
has been told. 1t was for me TO buy land and
discover the value of natural gas as an IL
luminator and its utility for fuel. when was
attacked robbed and cast into prison. Sc
cured l,050 acres OF land in Westmoreland
county. j purchased the tract from HillerY
]. Brunot. brother OF Felix Brunot. the
Quaker Indian commissioner. paid $4,000
to Brunot for the tract and $1,000 to remove
cloud froil the title after 1 made
the purchase. j received deed
from Brunot, wherein he agreed to
give me good and sufficient title
free and clear OF all incumbrance for forty
four leases which were contained in the l,050
acres. / made the first payment, which is
acknowledged and receipted for in my deed,
and
WHICH Is on RECORD.
Before the second payment came due
was notified by four owners of the best leases
that Brunot did not own them at all. i'm
mediately took steps TO possess myself OF
these leases, which l succeeded in doing for
ninety-nine years, and placed them on re-
cord at Greensburg. The leases conveyed TO
me by Brunot having lapsed by their own
conditions, every lease or renewal 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, all my titles
erson g. Co., limited, a concern I'm which he
was stockholder, and IL. 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 my
wife had been there almost alone. having but
one lady companion in the house. Hay
maker, who was unfortunately killed. was
the agent of Brunot and his corporation, and
be had $50 men under him. who were armed
with pick handles and revolvers, and who
came upon us while we were
IN PEACEFUL POSSESSION
to try to dispossess us. Who would not have
resisted to defend his own? In the melee that
ensued Haymaker was killed. and while that
killing was charged upon my foreman. the
fact is that he was killed by one of his own
men from a shot which was intended for my
foreman. was living on the property with
my wife, and she was 600 feet from where the
fight occurred aud witnessed the entire
transaction, but she was not a competent
witness for her husband. but why should |
detail further? 1 shall go back to Plttsburg
and face my sentence, and serve il If neces-
sary. feeling that / am an innocent man, In
nocent before my God and the world. Ny
reputation cannot be blackened by such cruel
and infamous prosecutions
Mr.. Weston's friends here and in the
East will make a strong effort TO secure his
pardon in case he is sent to the peniten-
fiarv