The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-18
THE CASEOF MILTON WESTON
The Convicted Capitalist Engaged in
eClosing Up His Business Affairs,
Preparatory to Returning to Pittsburg to
Receive His Sentence-Sent to Prison
by Rival Business Men.


CHICAGO, JAN l7.-Mr Milton Weston, who
stands convicted in Allegheny City, Pa, as acces-
scry to murder. returned to Chicago yesterday
to close up some business affairs, prior to return
ing to Pittsburg to receive his sentence of four
years in the Riverside penitentiary. Mr.. Yves
tons reputation here has been beyond reproach,
both as business man and socially. He has
mother, wife and children residing in this city,
all of whom are highly esteemed.
lyon are shaking hands with convict" said
Mr.. Weston to reporter. II am able to bearall
this. but VIXEN my sons and daughters place
their arms around my neck, and cling to me and
weep shedding tears that we'll up from the
heart, it humans me. For forty years L
have lived here and done business, and no man
can place black mark against my character
anywhere. l have always endeavored to do
justice by my felow-mau, and God knows
that in all the years of my prosperity never al
lowed fellow being to suffer if knew it and
could relieve that suffering. Yet here / am,
convicted of a crime which I never committed
This thing has cost me $500 900, besides $40. 900
forlawyersfees-oyer $500. 600, and ali the fortune
that had. Even my wife has mortgaged her
farm and pledged her diamonds to help me out
of trouble. But am still here. though the vic
tim of cruel conspiracy The story has never
been told. It was for me to buy land and dis
cover the value of natural gas as in illuminator,
and its utility for fuel. was attacked, robbed
and cast into prison. secured 1,051 acres of
land in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania
bought the land of FL. j. Brunot. paid $4,000
to Brunot for the tract, and $400 900 to remove a
cloud from the title After I made
the purchase / received a 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 / $50 acres l made
the first payment, which acknowledged and re-
ceipted for in my deed, which is on record.
Before the second payment came due was mott.
fe 4 by other owners of the leases that Brunot
did not own them at all. / Immediately took
steps to possess myself of these leases, which |
in doing for 900 years, and | placed
them on record at Greensburg. The leases con-
veyed 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,
MIR. Brunot sold the same to another gas COM
pany, all my titles being then of record. He
sold to p. W. Emerson e Co.. a corporation in
which he was large stakeholder, and it, through
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.
Mr. Haymaker, who was unfortunately killed,
was the agent of Brunot ard his corporation In
the melee that ensued, in the effort to dispossess
me- Haymaker was killed. aud that killing was
charged upon me, when the fact is, he was killed
by some of his own men by shot which was in
tended for my foreman. | was living on the
~I,~ Co. -
from where the fight occurred, and witnessed
the entire affair. But why should detail fur
ther2 / shall go back to Pittsburg and face my
sentence and serve it, if necessary. feeling that
am an innocent man-innocent before God and
the world. My reputation cannot be blackened
by such cruel and Infamous prosecutions"
Mr. Weston's friends here and in the East will
make strong effort to secure his pardon in case
he is sent TO the penitentiary.
The Chicago Times recently gave the sub
Joined summary of Mr.. Weston's case: milton
Weston, of Chicago, was convicted of completely
in the Murraysville riots and as accessory to the
murder of Obadiah Haymaker. resulting there
from, and sentenced to four years in the peni-
Tertiary at Riverside Mr.. Weston is designated
in Pittsburg as Chicago millionaire. This is
an error. Several years ago Air. Weston was a
noted railroad contractor, who had succeeded in
considerable money. About five
years ago he conceived the idea of building
bet-line railroad around Chicago to connect with
all the roads centering in this city. The West
ern Indiana Railroad Company, however pre-
ceded him, and he and his friends lost consider
able money by the failure of his scheme. Mr..
Weston then went into the Butler, Allegheny,
and Westmoreland county regions, in
penniyyana ,or where some gas
then for the first time being utilized for fuel
in running rolling mills in Pittsburg and Ale
cheny City. and for Illuminating purposes. He
located large tract of land near Murraysville.
IN Allegheny county, upon which he obtained q
contract for its purchase from parties who, he
supposed, were the owners. The title, however.
was in dispute. and Mr.. Weston back to
Chicago By advice of his counsel he returned
to Pennsylvania and erected cabin upon the
land, taking there force of about dozen men,
whom he armed to protect his interests. One
night, about two years ago, gang of men, under
the lead of Obadiah Haymaker endeavored to
dispossess Mr.. Weston and his party by armed
force, and, in the fight that ensued, Haymaker
received several bayonet wounds. from which he
died a short time after Mr.. Weston was ar
rested and indicted for riot and murder by the
grand jury of Allegheny county. Back of the
parties opposed to him were great corporations
and many wealthy men, who were anxious
to secure monopoly of this great and valuable
gas belt, and they used every means that money
could secure to convict Weston, who had placed
the greater portion of his fortune, Appropriated
by some at $3.50, 900, in this class of property.
Mr. Weston was tried twice. The first time he
was sentenced to seven years Imprisonment, but
he managed to secure trial, which &C.
Cured little less than year ago. Contrary
TO all expectations, he was again found guilty
and sentenced to four years in the penitentiary.
He appealed the case to the State Supreme
Court. and succeeded in getting stay of execu
ton, bail being demanded in SIS, 900. which he
promptly furnished. The Supreme Court de-
cided the case sustaining the Judgment of the
court below. Mr.. Weston is man of about
forty years of age, and very intelligent He is
brave and generous to fault, but decidedly de-
termined in that which he undertakes
A New ST. Paul.
RALEIGH. N. c., Jan. 16.-Romuus Sturde