The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-26
FRIEND OF A CONVICT.
GILLETTE AND HIS WIFE SEPARATE
FOR A STRANGE CAUSE.

Q
/ FOR A STRANGE CAUSE.
| Her Devotion to a Criminal-The Odd
Sequel TO a Case Which Got Gov.
Larrabee in Trouble - The Young
Mans ngratitude-Though Proven
Worthless and Base, He is Given a
Home by the Lady, Causing the
Rupture.
From the Philadelphia Press
| DIES MONIES. Ia, Jan. Eek Congress
man F. II. Gillette and wife of this city
have separated, and the intimate friends Of
| each feel pretty certain that Chester Turney
has been the chief cause Of their trouble.
| Turney was convicted several years ago for
larceny. and sentenced TO long term in
state prison. There were about fourteen
different counts and conviction and SEN
tence on each one.
The young mans father was in the war
when the son was born, and had never
returned. 1t was supposed that be was
dead, and after waiting several years, dur
ing which no word was received from him,
Mrs. Turney married a man named Nc
Clone. who proved to be cruel, incorporate
and worthless, and a separation followed
The mother retained the custody of Chester
There is no reason to doubt, however, that
the sentence 20 long term Of years in
penitentiary was out of all proportion to
the offense committed, and was grievous
outrage.
Charges Of collision between the public
prosecutor and the attorney appointed to
defend the young culprit, by which the con-
victions were facilitated for the purpose Of
multiplying the fees, were openly made
The attorney allowed the day of appeal to
pass, and then Chester's mother took the
case in hand. and her persstency made the
case sensational one. She enlisted many
churches and societies, and iaally got into
bitter quarrel with Gov. Larrabee.
MRS. GILLETTEs FRIENDSHIP.
Among the women who first become in
terested in the case was Mrs. +. II. Gillette.
Mrs. Turney was originally New Yorker
and at one time was well known to Cathar-
inc Beecher. The latter had also known
Chester in his youth, a d among the files of
the exchequer office is an eloquent appeal
from her to Gov. Larrebee, urging the
boys pardon. Mrs. Gillette is a relative of
the Beechers, and fortified with this high
Endorsement of young Turney's early career
she gave her energits and her enthusiasm
to the common cause against the governor
The case gained so much publicity, and so
many inquiries poured into the governors
office, asking for the other side, that Gov
Larrabee was finally goaded into the print
| ing OF a pamphlet, detailing the situation as
| it was understood by him.
THE GOVERNOR SUED.
This pamphlet was made up almost ex-
| clusiVely Of documents on file in his office.
and one of them purpofted to 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 a pardon
to the young convict, conditional upon his
future good behavior and abstinence from
| Intoxicating liquors.
When Chester Turney came from con-
viots cell he was takon into the Gillette
home and put at work In the Office of the
| Iowa Tribune, of which Mr. Gillette is
| joint proprietor with that noted green
hacker, ex-Congressman James B. Weaver.
The young man was taken directly in
charge by Mrs. Gillette. She seemed
| determined to make something of him. He
proved to be worthless about the office, and
the other employees soon began to make It
| uncomfortable for him. He also refused to
share his earnings with his destitute mother,
| who had borne such great sacrifices for him,
and in this he was encouraged by Mrs.
Gillette.
l
| MAC of his mother. Her opportunities un-
doubtedly became very unpleasant and,
| finally, Mrs. Gillette and Chester caused
| yer to be arraigned before the county COM
mIssioners Of insanity. But she was adj
| judged sane, largely on the testimony of
Gillette himself. who had begun to tire of
the spectacle his wife was making OF her
self In her blind devotion TO Turney.
| Turuey was discharged from the printing
office aud, finally, Mr.. Gillette ordered the
young man away from the house.
| STANDING BY THE BOY.
This act precipitated a climax. The wife
| insisted that IL Turney had to go the hus-
band must go, too, and as the residence in
town was in her name Mr.. Gillette packed
his grip, and took up his abode on his farm
at Valley junction, from whence he daily
| drives to his Office.
L. b. Abdiel, a local merchant. has been
appointed trustee, and division of the
! property is being arranged for. Mrs. Gil
| lette is a woman from 40 to As years old.
She is Of medium hight, of trim figure, her
hair is somewhat streaked with gray, but
and social circles OF Des Moines she has
ranked as a star. and in politics she has
been potent force. Her husband undoubt-
eddy owes his election TO congress in 1878
to her tact, energy and zeal in his behalf
The greenback movement was then in it's
early stages, ana Gillette was It's Moses in
the district. He secured the democratic in
dorsement for congress after a bitter fight
But many prominent and influential work
ers were disposed 20 oppose him. Mrs. Gill
lette went among these, and conquered them
in detail. The breath of scandal has never
touched her name.
Mr.. Gillette is a brother of the actor and
author Of that name, and both he and his
wife formerly came from Connecticut.
They have two daughters. One married a
wealthy Connecticut mill owner named
Nichols; the other is a girl of Is. They
have also an adopted son.