Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-26
Milton Weston 5 Case
Looks Like a Great injustice
Was Done.
HIS PARDON NOW RECOMMENDED.

Appeals from Governor Ogiesby, Gen.
Logan. Senator Cullom. and Other Dis
tinguished Men at Last suceessful-His-
tory of the Case-Beaten Out of For
tune by a Combination of Cussedness-
Sent to Prison for Defending His Own
Property.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Sept &c The board
of pardons has requested the governor to
pardon Milton Weston, the Chicago million
aire who was sentenced to five years impris-
onment for helping to kill man in fight
over some land four years ago
IN the reasons given for the requested par
don reference is made to the letters written
by Governor Oglesby, Senators Logan and
Cullom, and other distinguished persons in
fav of pardon. In one of the reasons the
board says: 1T may be said that where
there is no intent TO do an unlawful act
there can be no crime, and that it is estab-
lished by the tie timony in this case that
Weston acted under legal advice and be-
lieved that he was doing that which was
right Yet crime was committed, and the
jury and court were satisfied, as the verdict
showed, that the defendant was in some de-
gree responsible therefor"
The board OF pardons says Westons pre-
caution in consulting counsel in every move
he took was no doubt due to the fact that he
was stranger in this state and to its laws,
and nothing in the evidence controversial the
allegations of the prisoner that he believed
that he was fully complying with the law in
defending his property by force of arms
The board can not see how he was more
guilty than others who participated IN the
fight and escaped conviction.
CHICAGO, Sept 26-The noted casa which
resulted in Weston's conviction had its origin
in dispute for the possession of valuable
oil land in Westmoreland county, Pa. In
1885 Weston went to Pennsylvania looking
for an investment At Murraysville about
twenty eight miles from Pittsburg, he ex
amined tract of some 100 acres of oil
land, whereon natural gas had been known
| to exist in apparently inexhaustible quanti-
| ties for years But nobody had conceived
the idea of utilizing this gas up to that time.
Weston studied the question and concluded
| that it would be feasible to lay pipes and
| conduct the gas to Pittsburg, where, in the
large factories and mills, it could be made to
take the place of coal. Accordingly he Sc.
cured ninety mine years lease of the tract
engaged a lot of workmen, and at once Sc,
about carrying out his plans.
| As soon as the value of his scheme became
apparent to others a contest was begun fol-
the p. session of the leased tract. 1t wa:
claimed that George Westinghouse the air
brake man, ami other Pittshurg capitalists
engaged gang of about $50 men to forcibly
eject Weston and his crowd of twenty three
workmen The aggressive party made sew
eral RAIDS, tearing down Weston's shantie.
and fences. Weston sought legal counse
and was advised by the prosecuting ATTORNEY
of Westmoreland county and by the lawyer
to arm his men and protect his property
Weston said he was anxious to keep within
the law. desiring to do nothing rash or erin
inal. The men We're armed by the instruc
ton of his lawyers, and in fight which en-
sued during Weston's absence from tn,
scene one Haymaker, of the attacking party
was killed by man named Bowser, belong
ing to Weston's party. Another man,
member of Westou's party, was wounded
Indictments of number of the parties fol
lowed, among them Milton Weston, who wa
held as an accessory The sensational tria
at Pttshurg is well remembered. vigor
| Jus HSut NdS dSdlIlst w tstutl ny tlOS
who contested his valuable natural gas lease
and as he was not allowed TO testify in hi
own behalf under the laws of the state h
was sentenced to five years imprisonment
1t is claimed by Weston's friends that th
real merits OF the cases have never bee
thoroughly understood and that Weston wa
unjustly convicted. Since his Imprisonment
the fight to keep him in the penitentiary ha
been equally as strong as that to convict hin
The valuable property, which was taken b
other capitalists, has yielded princely rev,
nues. Stock companies were formed and tn
land has changed hands several times an
the stock was increased from s., 800, 900
S, 500, 600 The stock has always paid larg
dividends.
When reporter called at 72s Washsngto
boulevard Monday night Miss Madge We
ton said her mother had no direct inform
ton from Pennsylvania relating to her hu
bands pardon Mrs. Weston was sic
from excitement and anxious suspense, ar
could not be disturbed Her trying positic
can readily be understood.