, 1889-08-25
%CONSPIRACY'S VICTIM.
A Lovers Four Years Term in
the Penitentiary.
His Only Crime Was Loving a
Wealthy Lady.
Strange Story that Recalls the
Feudal Days.
The MiIIlonaire,s Victim.

CHICAGO, Aug. 24.-To-day developed
another installment of the real life "Ro-
nance of a poor young man." The actual
name of the young fellow. who under the
name of George Dunning is serving a four
year term in Joliet 2enitentiary as the re-
suit of his love for a millionaire's daugh-
ter, is Ernest D%unnivant. His iather, an
old Chicago printer, died four years ago.
leaving a widow, seven daughters and NO
sons. Upon the earnings of Ernest the
family were dependent after the death OF
the father until the boy went TO the peni-
Tertiary. Since then the family's exist
ence has been maintained only by severe
struggle.
The mother was seen by a reporter to
day and corroborates the story told in
these dispatches yesterday about the per
s%ecution OF her son giving the story in de-
tail. Speaking of the arrest of the boy
on the trumped up charge she said the
millionaire daughter herself had told
her she had heard a detective hired to
dog him and put up a plot sometime be-
lore the arrest. Mr.. Dunniyant has re-
ceiyed a letter from the young lady tell ng
her all about her acquaintance with Err,
est. She said: Her parents objected
and asked me for my advice. | replied if
her parents were like me they were only
seeking her good. | advised her to do as
they desired. She also wanted to know
If she might call on me when she came
back to spend her Christmas vacation.
II consented. She came here one day
and told me all the story again-how
much she thought of Ernest. how she in
tended to set him up in business, how she
had offered him money. which he always
refused to take. lthen told her Earnest
had been arrested. 1t was the first she
had heard of it. She said she was help
less and could do nothing. She called
again though and said she had hired a
lawyer to defend Ernest and she wanted
me to tell him if he were sent to Jail not
to fear, she would think Just as much of
him as ever. She her asked me 10 write
to her at her boarding school how the
trial came out. Then Ernest was ad-
vised to plead guilty. but he declared he
would not plead guilty, and he didn't and
was sentenced to four years.
Ernest was unable to secure a rehearing
of his case. l wrote to the young lady as
| had agreed to do, but | don't think she
got the letter. Her father heard | had
written her, however, and sent her away
for a time. She came back last year and
called on me. She spoke Indignantly of
Ernest being in the penitentiary and want
! ed me TO write to him how much she
thought of him aud how she should help
him when he got out. She said she her
self had been practically in prison during
her two years OF absence.
Some time last year an attorney was
recommended to me by a woman as a
man who could not be bought off. l went
to him and he said he would assist me.
He asked me if [ had any letters as
proofs and | told him | had and mem
toned those from the Young lady. He
said those were just what he wanted;
that he had made the millionaire settle
for two scrapes he had gotten into, one
on Wabash avenue and the other on
Washington boulevard and that by show
ing the letter to him the father would i'm
mediately get Ernest pardoned out. |
gave him the letters and that was the last
| saw of them"