Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-26
FOR A CONVICT.
H-CONGRESSMAN GILLETTE AND WIPE SEP
ARATE FOR A STRANGE CAUSE
her Devotion to Crininal-Ths Young Mans In
grattuds-ThOugh Proven Worthless and Base.
He's Givsa Home BY the Lady, Causing
the Rupture - The Sequel.

Il
DEs MONIES, IA, January 95.-Ex-
Congressman i. ii. Gillette and wife of
thlS city, have separated, and the lntl-
mate friends OF each feel pretty certain
that Chester Turney has been the chief
cause OF their trouble. Turney was con-
V'eted several years ago for larceny. and
sentenced to long term In State prison.
There were about fourteen different
counts, and conviction and sentence
on each one.
The young mans father was in the
war when the son was born. and had
never returned. II was supposed that
he was dead, aud after waiting several
years, during which no word was re-.
ceived from him, Mrs. Turncy married
man named McGlone, who proved to
De cruel, Incorporate and worthless.
and separation followed The mother
retained the custody Of Chester. There
Is no reason TO doubt, however, that the
sentence to long term OF years in the
penitentiary was out OF all proportion
to the odense committed, and was
grleyous outrage.
Charges OF colusion between the pub
lie prosecutor and the attorney appoint
ed TO defend the young culprt. by
which the convictions were facilitated
Tor the purpose OF multiplying the fees.
were openly made. The attorney allow
ed the day OF appeal to pass. and then
Chester'S mother took the case in hand.
and her persStency made the ease a
sensational one. She enlisted many
churches and societies, aud finally got
into L bitter quarrel with Governor
Larrabee.
Among the women who first became
interested In the ease was Mrs. +. II.
Gillette. Mrs. Turney was originally
New Yorker, and at one time was well
known TO Catharne Beecher The lat
ter had also known Chester in his youth.
and among the tiles OF the executive Of
fee Is an eloquent appeal from her %
Governor Larrabee, urging the boy,
pardon. Mrs. Gillette Is relative of
the BcecherS, and fortified with this
high Endorsement OF young Turney's
early career she gave her energies and
her enthusiasm 10 the common cause
against the Governor.
h' AAN' kdll'A ~ uAAau INNIAlNAA
and so many inquiries poured into the
Governors office, asking Tor the other
side, that Governor Larrabee was finally
goaded into printing pamphlet, detail
my tNe situation as II WAS understood
by him.
This pamphlet was made up almost
exclusively OF documents on file in his
Office and one OF them purported 10
charge Mrs. Turney with bigamy: that
she had married McGlone while Turney.
her first husband. was alive. This so
enraged Mrs. Turney that she procured
the indictment Of the Governor for
criminal libel. He was tried twice and
finally acquitted. One Of his last Official
acts was the granting OF pardon 10 the
young convict. conditional upon his
future good behavior aud abstinence
from intoxicating drinks.
When Chester Turney came from
cOnyict'S cell he was taken into the Gil
lettc home and put at work iu the Office
OF the Iowa IribulC, Of which Mr. Gill
ette is joint proprietor with that noted
Greenbacker, ex-Congressman James h.
Weaver. The young man was taken d-
rcctly IN charge by Mrs. Gillette. She
seemed determined 90 make something
Of him. lie proved TO be- worthless
about the Office. aud the other cm-
ploycS soon began to make IL uncom-
Portable for him. He also refused to
share his earnings with his destitute
mother, who had borne such great sac
riiiceS for him. and i'm this he was en-
couraged by Mrs. Gillette.
The sons ingratitude nearly made
maniac OF his mother. Her imporuni-
ties undoubtedly became very unpcas-
ant, and finally Mrs. Gillette and Chos-
ter caused her 10 be- arraigned before
the county commissioner, Of insanity
But she was adjudged sane, largely ON
the testimony Of Gillette himself. who
had begun 10 tire Of the spectacle Dab,
wife was making Of herself ln her blind
devotion TO Turney.
Tumey wa, discharged from the
printing office and finally Mr. Gillette
ordered the young man away from the
house.
This act prccipitatcd climax. The
wife insisted that II Turney had 10 go
the husband had 10 go, too, and as the
residence in town was in her name, Nj.
Gillette packed his grip and took up his
abode on his farm at Valley Junction,
from whence he daily drives to his
Office.
Mr.. l.. Il. Abdiel, a local merchant.
has been appointed trustee, and diNis-
ion OF the property is being arranged
for. Mrs. Gillette is woman from 90
10 - years old. She is Of medium hight.
Of trim figure. her hair is somewhat
streaked with gray. but her fac" is
young aS girls. In the literary aud
social circles of Dcs Moinc- She has
ranked as star, and BOO pol-
itics she has been po-
tent power Her husband undoubtedly
owep his election 10 Congress in ISIS Ia
her tact, energy, and zeal In his behalf.
The Greenback movement was then in
its early stages, and Gillette was It's
Moses In the district. He secured the
Democratic Endorsement for Congress
after n bitter fight. But many pr0mi-
nent and influential workers were dis
posed to oppose him. Mrs. Gillette
went among these and conquered them
in detail The breath Of scandal has
never touched her name.
Mr.. Gillette is brother Of the actor
and author Of that name, and both he
and his wife formerly came from Con
necticut. They have two daughter.
| one married wealthy Connecticut mill
owner named Nichols; the other is -
girl Of -. They have also an adopted