New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-01
a FORMER NEWSBOYS BIG SUIT.
CHARGING THAT HIS LIFE HAS BEEN WRECKED
BY THE MILLIONAIRE FATHER OF

THE GIRL HE LOVED.
Chicago, March a1-Charges OF a highly sensational
character arc made In u suit for 100000 damages
begun in the Circuit Court this morning. The plain
TIL is Eugene Dunnivant, formerly a newsboy, who
that his life has been wrecked as the result oil
conspiracy between Grin w. Potter, the millionaire
president Of the Illinois Steel Company, and Thomas
Fox, James Hutchins and Frank Allen, who are also
made defendants. 1t is alleged that plot was laid
by Mr.. Potter TO break up an acquaintance between
his daughter, beautiful and accomplished girl, and
Dunnivant and with this end In view, the plaintiff
says he has nocenty been made to serve four years
In the pentcntaTy The charge is also made that the
editor OF newspaper in Chicago suppressed the boys
story on receiving $4,000 from Mr.. Potter.
In his declaration young Dunnvant AYERS
that In April 1885, he was a poor boy, sixteen
years of age, and was engaged In selling
newspapers In the district in which the Potter
house is. While at this work he became acquainted
with Miss Potter, and the acquaintance rpened into
friendship This state Of affairs distsstefu TO the
girls father and Dunnivant alleges that in order to
break II up, Mr.. Potter hired and paid Captain O'DOn
nell OF the police Of that district TO prosecute the
plaintiff with the result that he driven away from
that neighborhood and out Of business.
On May Is, 1855, at the invitation OF Miss Potter
Eugene alleges he went to visit her at Geneva Lake
Wis, where she then living with her parents at
their summer home While there "Tom" Fox,
colored coachman for the family, and James Tutchins
sOnnaw Of Mr. Potter, 1t Is alleged, forciby carried
him 10 place Of confinement, where he kept for
two nights, after which he released and told TO
leave the country. In November 1855, Eugene says
he induced to accompany Frank Allen to South
Chicago. Allen had a confederate who was dressed
so AZ 10 personate the plaintiff Some clothing was
stolen presumably by Allen and his confederate and
Allen was arrested AS part OF the scheme to send
plaintiff to the penitentary, 1t is held that Allen nc
cused plaintiff Of the theft and caused his
arrest. He and Allen were jointly indicted for bur-
gay. At the trial in January, 1887, the daughter OF
Mr. Potter, knowing her lovers innocence is said to
have employed counsel to defend him. Dunnlvant was
convicted and sentenced to years in the pcni-
Tertiary, while Allen got off with brief term in the
house of correction.
o. W. Potter could not be regarding the scnsa
1onal suit filed behalf of young Dunnivant to-day
Mrs. Potter had fear TO the outcome OF the suit
and added emphstlcally that II there had been any
persecution II has all been on the other SIDE She said
DuDnvant had forced his attentions upon the daughter
every possible occasion when other members OF the
family were not present.
stephen Il. Moore, who files the suit, said this even
ing: When he left the pententiary the boy was a
physical wreck. lie will never his health, and
IL Is TO give him rccOmpense for the wrong that
has been done him that have brought this suit