The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-24
TIE LOVERS TALE.
How George Cummings Love
Cost Him His Liberty.
HUNTINGTON TO BUY A COUNT
, Henry Shaw, the BOtanist, Dying-Harry
\ Roberts Hanged at Butte-LOrd
DunraFen Explains.

CHICAGO, Aug. 23.-To-day the remark
able case Of George Dunning, the first story
of which appeared in several papers several
days ago, and where name was then being
given as Donahue, was given an authorize
tive form for the first time.
In an interview held in Joliet prison
where Dunning is still confined, he himself
told the strange story which has been cur
rent for some time. An exhaustive
inquiry in Chicago appears to have con-
tirmed it in every detail.
Dunning is an intelligent looking fellow,
tMenty three years of age, with smooth,
rosy complexion and an appearance that
might take the fancy of almost any 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 million
airs daughter and how them illiOnair after
wards had been blaclSmailed 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 the millionaire'S eyes seems to
have been his humble station, said that the
ssstOry regarding his meeting and acquaint-
: auce with the millionaire's daughter was
true one. Dunning was a newspaper cir
Culator. handling a route on the nOrthSide.
While in the pursuit Ct mis- calling he went
TO the milGonaire's door early every morn
ing aud was surprised after a time to learn
that he had become an object of interest to
the plutocrat's only daughter, a hand
some young girl just about entering
society, and chatting under the restraints
that had been placed upon her.
The lovers gradually came to meet about
daybreak every morning for d few blissful
moments at the door of the millionaire's
mansion. An inllling Of the situation
reached the prospective father-in-law and
young Dunning was soon after called to
South Chicago, ostensibly to see a gentle
man regarding his sweetheart. While
there he was met by person named Frank
Allen, with whom he was slightly &C
quainted. Suddenly as the two were stand
Jug together, officers came up and arrested
them on a charge of burglary. Both were
tried, convicted and sentenced to four years
each. A few days after Aliens sentence
was reduced to one year. and after Dunning
mad been taken to the penitentiary Aliens
, sentence was again cut down by the hOcus
pocus of new trial and he was released
batter week in jail.
4 When Dunning was arrested he was pen
Nfless and friendless, but the girl who
loved him sold her trinlzets and hired a
young lawyer to defend him. The million
aire found out who the lawyer was. bought
rim off and the latter persuaded Dunning
20 plead guilty as the only chance of saving
aim from severe punishment. A hint of
the real facts was found by an editor who
has since figured on the story. The editor
ar the time was on the verge of financial
ruin and instead of publishing the
news he promptly blackmailed the
millionaire. Ten thousand dollars in cash
was the price of the newspaper mans
silence. When the young unfortunate
entered Joliet prison it is said the officials
we're instructed to put him at the hardest
and most trying work in the prison. Dun
ming was a man of slight build and was
soon badly used up and had a hacking
cough and in every way presented a sickly
appearance. A police official was an enemy
of the editor and for personal reasons was
running down the latter's part in the affair
and was Mortified on going to prison TO find |
50 pitiable sight as Dunning |
The police mogul used his influence |
with the officials at the prison 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 proved
frgitless, and Dunning was allowed to
anguish in prison despite everything until
today.
\ He appeared to fear 20 discuss his strange
Experience, thinking it would cause 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 a
Chicago man.
THE HERALD published a full and COM
plete history of the case on Tuesday,
August 20, which seel