St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-24
He LOVED'NOT WISELY
A Chieagoan Imprisoned on q
Trumped-Up Charge Of
Burglary.
His Only Offense Was to Win
a Millionaire's Daugh-
tep'S Heart.
Papa Opposed the Proposed
Match and Jailed the
Young Romeo.
He Also Paid $4,000 Tribute
to a Journalistic Black
mailer.


markable case of George Dunning was
given authoritative form for the first
time. In an interview held in the
Joliet penitentiary, where Dunnlng Is
still confined, he himself tells the
strange story which has been current
for some time, and which exhaustive
inquiry in Chicago appears to have con-
firmed in every detail. Cunning is an
an intelligent-lOOking fellow. twenty
three years of age, with smooth, rosy
complexion and an appearance that
might take the fancy of almost any suS-
ceptible young girl. He was very reti-
cent when asked about how he had been
railroaded to the penitentiary, ostensf-
bly, for burglary, but really for having
won the heart of mllliOnalre's daugh-
ter, and how the millionaire had after
wards been
BLACKMAILED BY AN EDITOR
who learned the facts. Mr.. Dunnins
was sentenced to four years impriSOn-
ment, and has seven months of it yet
before him. The young fellow, whose
fault, in the milliOnaire'S eyes, seems
to have been his humble station, said
that the story regarding his meeting
and acquaintance with the millionaire's
daughter was true one. Dunning was
newspaper circulat0r, handling q
route OH the North side. While in the
pursuit of his calling he went to the
millionaire's door early every morning,
and was surprised after time to learn
that he had become an object of inter.
est to the plutocrat'S only daughter, q
handsome young girl just about enter,
,otx nd hot hn
straintS that had been placed upon her.
The lovers gradually came to meet
about daybreak every morning for
a few bliSsful moments at the door Of
the milliOnaire'S mansion. An inkling
of the situation reached the prospective
father-in-law, and young Cumming was
soon afterward called to South Chicago
ostensibly to see gentleman 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 to-
gether, officers came up and arrested
them on charge of burglary. Both
were tried, convicted and sentenced for
Aliens sentence was reduced to one
year. and after Cunning had been taken
to the penitentiary, Aliens sentence
was again cut down by the hOcuS-pOcuS
of new trial, and he was released after
a week in Jail. When Cunning was ar
rested he was
PENNILESS AND FRIENDLESs,
but the girl who loved him had sold her
trnkets, and hired Young lawyer to
defend him. The millionaire, finding
who was the lawyer, bought him off.
and the latter persuaded Dunning to
plead guilty as the only chance of saw
ing him from severe sentence. A hint
of the real facts was obtained by the
editor, who subsequently figures in the
story. The editor was at that time on
the verge of financial ruin, and instead
of publishing the news he promptly
blackmaied the millionaire. Ten thou
sand dollars cash 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 peni-
Tertiary. Dunning was man of slight
build, and was soon badly used up, had
hacking cough, and in every way
presented sickly appearance. He
could hardly talk sentence without
severe fit of coughing. 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 horri-
fed, on going to the prison, to find the
PITIABLE PLIGHT OF DUNNING.
The police mogul used his influence
with the officials 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 par
doned. but for some reason or other the
attempts proved fruitless. Dnnning
was allowed to languish in prison des-
pite everything, until, to-day, be APP
peared to fear to discuss his strange ex-
perience, thinking it would cause him
trouble when he regains his liberty.
When asked If he knew what had be-
come of the lady, he stated that he had
heard she was engaged and would soon
be married to Chicago man.