Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-26
A MOTHERS STORY.
How Her Son Was Sent to Prison by q
Chicago Millionaire.

ShASo8o 11hIOHduc.
A Chicago special to the New York World
says, In relation to the story published some
days since OF newspaper carrier in that city
who had been railroaded TO the penitentiary al
the instigation Of . millionaire to whose daugh.
ter's hand he had aspired, that the actual name
OF the young fellow, who under that of George
Dunning Is serving q four-years' term in the
penitentiary as the result of q millionaire
daughter falling in love with him is Ernest
Dunnivanf. His father, G. F. Dunnivant, an
old Chicago printer, died four years ago, leav-
ing wife, seven daughters and two sons, the
elder being Ernest. Upon the earnings of
Ernest the family were dependent after the
death Of the father. until the former went to
the penitentiary. Since then the familys ex-
istence has been maintained only BY q severe
struggle. The mother, Mrs. Belle Dunnivant,
who now lives at No. 232 Chestnut street, was
called on this morning and asked to tell her
story, II was with great reluctance that she
consented to do so, because" she said, the
tears springing to her eyes and trickllng down
her care-worn face, ''the man who SEM him
there is SO rich, SO powerful, that am afraid
he would do more harm than he has already
done"
THE MOTHERS sroR:.
Mrs. Dunnivant was assured that nothing
need be feared She then thought that publ
ColOu VI ncE shdtcucut NC III W tuo
young lady in the case. Reassured on this
point she consented to tell what she knew.
Listen to the mothers story:
1T was in the summer of 1885, think, some
time after nv husband died, that / bought
Ernest a newspaper route for $50. He worked
at it faithfully and earned about $40 q week.
The route ran for some distance along Dear
born avenue, and it was while delivering his
papers that he met the young lady as she went
from her home to Mrs. Grants academy.
ho h0x- ar.1h 80 l<0lr
manners seemed to attract her attention. and,
although am not familiar with Just how they
became acquainted, know that they finally
became very much interested in each other
and used to meet in Lincoln park. I did not
know OF this at the time, and in fact knew
nothing of it until fall.
Finally, after a month or SO Of acquaint-
ance, the family Of the young lady heard of it
and tried to break it up. most close watch
was kept on the young lady and meetings for a
time we're stopped Ernest went by the house
one day and asked of the coachman something
concerning the young lady. The coachman in
formed his master, who had a warrant sworn
out for Ernest's arrest and had the coachman
serve il. My boy was caught in the street and
taken to the East Chicago avenue station and
kept all night There was nothing against him
to punish him for. but instead of letting him go
free SIS fine was imposed and suspended.
PLANNING HIS RUIN.
"After that things went on as before until
one day the young lady met Ernest and told
him that the evening previous she overheard
her father in the library tell detective that
Ernest was bothering him and that he wanted
the detective to follow Ernest and try to catch
him In some Grim and send him to Jail so as to
keep him out of the way. NY poor boy, whose
only sin was to be loved by the daughter of the
man who wanted him in jailp'
Mrs. Dunnivant sobbed convulsively for
few moments and then collecting herself con-
tinued:
''The detective followed Ernest everywhere
for long time and finally arrested him on a
charge OF burglary. Ernest was wholly inno-
cent. but he was sentenced to sixty days in the
county jail. When he got out he received a
note from the young lady, who had gone with
her family to Geneva Lake, asking him to
come to Geneva and see her. Ernest got per-
mission from me to spend a few DAYS in the
country, as I supposed, just for little outing.
Well, he went to Geneva Lake and met the
young lady's little sister. He gave her a note
for the young lady, but the little girl gave it to
nurse. who gave 1t to the fathers son-in- law
when that young man read the note he took
the coachman and set out to find Ernest They
found him and threatened 20 throw him into
the lake. l don't think they did So but some
thing happened, for Ernest did not come back
Tor two or three days and then without his hat
sPRINeINe THE TRAP.
"The young lady was sent from Geneva Lake
to a school in Oyontz, Pa, and it was then I
learned of the detectives DIGGING my boy 1
immediately sold out the paper route and tried
to get him a situation. The young lady wrote
believe, to an employe of her father in South
Chicago, who had professed a solicitous friend
ship for her and promised to give Ernest some
thing to do. He saw Ernest and told him to
come out TO South Chicago. My boy went
there with Frank Alien, Of whom he knew but
little. Allen got Ernest slightly intoxicated
and took him to the Farnsworths, whom Allen
said he knew. There was no one there, and.
oFr IL r. L.
down the street. As they passed store Allen
grabbed coat from dummy and ran away
with it.
Ernest walked quietly on somewhat dazed
by the hquo Allen had gwen him. He was ar
rested at once and taken to the station. Allen
was caught little later. Wien Allen was ar
Rested h. SAID that he and Ernest had robbed
the tarnsworth's house, although, mind YOU
nothing was taken away. My boy protested i J.
nocence, but the Farnsworths swore hard
against him. That with Aliens confession, was
too much. and both we're taken to Jail That
was about Christmas. Some tirne before had
received a letter from the young lady telling
me all about her acquaintance with Ernest
She said her parents objected and asked me for
my advice. replied that if her parents were
like me they were only seeking her good and
ADVISED her to do as they desired She also
wanted to know if she might call on me when
she came back to spend the Christmas vacation
and consented. She came here one day and
told me the story again-how much she thought
OF Ernest, how she intended to set him up in
business, how she had often offered him
money, which he always refused to take Ithen
told her that Ernest had been arrested II was
the first she had heard of it.
LOYAL TO HER LOVER.
'-She said she was helpless and could do
nothing. She called again, though, and said
she had hired lawyer to defend Ernest and
she wanted me to tell him that If he were sent
TO jail not to fear, that she would think lust as
much OF him as ever. She then asked me to
write her at the boarding school how the trial
came out, and then went away.
"Ernest was advised to plead guilty, but he
declared he would not plead guilty, and he
didn't and was sentenced to four years. Aliens
attorney got Allen a new trial, and he then re-
ceived but one year in the Bridewell but
Ernest was unable to secure a rehearing of his
case.
II wrote to the young lady as had agreed
tSdo, but don't think she got the letter. Her
father heard that had written her. however
and sent her away for a time. She came back
last year and called on me. She spoke indig-
nantly of Ernest's being in the penitentiary
and wanted me TO write to him of how much
see thought of him and how she should help him
when he got out She said that she herself had
been practically in prison during her two
years of absence.
LAWYER STOLE THE LETTERS.