Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-24
A CHICAGO PARENT.
He Sends Boy to Jail for Four Years
for Sparkling His Daughter.

CHICAGO, August 23d.-To.day the re-
markable case of George Dunning the first
story of which appeared in several papers
some days ago, his name then being given
as Donahue, was given anthoritive form
for the first time.
In an interview held in the Joliet Peni-
tentiary, where Dunnipg IS still confined,
he himself told the strange story which has
been current for some time, and which ex-
haustive inquiry in Chicago appears to
have confirmed in every detail.
Dunning is an intelfigent-l looking fellow,
% years of age, with smooth, rosy COM
plexion, and the appearance that might
take the fancy of almost any susceptible
young girl. He was very reticent when
asked about how he had been railroaded to
the Penitentiary, ostensibly for burglary,
but really for having won the heart of
millionalre's daughter, and how the mill
ionaire afrerward had been blackmailed by
an editor who learned the facts.
Dunning was sentenced to four years
imprisonment, and has seven months of it
yet before him. The young fellow, whose
fault in millionaire's eyes seems 10 have
been his humble station, said that the
story regarding his meeting and acquaint-
auce with the millionaire's daughter was
true one.
handling route on the north side. While
in the pursuit of his calling he went to the
miliionaire's door early every morning, and
was surprised, after time, to learn he had
become an object of interest to the pluto
Gratis only daughter, a handsome Young
girl just about entering society, and chatting
under the restraints that had been placed
upon her.
The lovers gradually came to meet about
day break every morning for few blissful
moments at the door of the millionaire's
mansion. An inkling of the situation
reached the prospective father-in-law, and
young Dunning was soon afterward called
to South Chicago, ostensibly to see a gen.
tleman regarding his sweetheart.
While there he was met by a person
named Frank Allen, with whom he was
slightly acquainted. Suddenly, as the two
were standing together, officers came up
and arrested them on a charge of burglary
Both were tried, convicted and sentenced
to four years each. A few davs later
Aliens sentence was reduced to one year,
and after Dunning had been taken to the
Penitentiary Aliens sentence was again
cut down by the hocus pocus of new trial,
and he was released after week in Jail.
When Dunning was arrested he was pen
niless and friendless but the girl who loved
..
young lawyer to defend him. The million
aire, finding who was the lawyer bought
him off, and the latter persuaded Dumping
to plead guilty as the only chance of saving
him from severe sentence. A hint of the
real facts was obtained by an editor who
subsequently figures in the story
The editor was at the time on the verge
of financial ruin, and instead of publish
ing the news he promptly black-mailed the
millionaire. Ten thousand dollars was the
price OF the newspaper mans silence
When the young unfortunate entered
Joliet prison it is said the officials were in
structed to put him at the hardest and
most trying kind of work in the peniten-
tiary. Dunning was man of slight build
and was soon badly used up, had hack
ing cough, and in every way presented a
sickly appearance.
A police official who was an enemy of
the editor and for personal reasons was
running down the latter's part in the affair
was horriied on going TO the prison to find
the pitiable plight OF Dunning. The police
Mogul used his influence with the officers
at the penitentiary to have him removed
from the quarters he was then in and
lighter work given him. At this time
there had been two attempts made to get
Dunning pardoned, but for some reason or
other the attempts prove fruitless.
Dunning was allowed to languish in
prison, despite everything, until to-day
He appeared to fear to discuss the strange
experience, thinking it wolld caase him
trouble when he regains his liberty. When
asked if he knew what had become of the
lady, he stated that he had heard she was
engaged and would soon be married to q
Chicago man.