Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-01
DUMMY WANTS LOVE.
The Cause of a First Glass Chi
cago Sensation.
A MILLIONAIRE SUED FOR 100000.

4
| Trials and Prosecutions of the Newsboy
Who Won the Affections of o. w. Pot
| ter's Fair Young Observation-Disclosures
| That, if True, VIII Give the Defendant
| Barrel of Trouble-Synopsis of the
Charges Upon Which the Damage Claim
| Is Based.
| CHICAGO, April Eugene Dunnivant
formerly newsboy in this city, who a
year ago completed IA four years term in
IN the penitentiary for theft. yesterday
began suit for 100000 against o. w
Potter president of the South Chicago
. Rolling Mill company. The plaintiff al
leges that in order to break up an ac-
quainta nee between Dunnivant and Mr.
Potter's daughter. Mr.. Potter with Others
| conspired and secured his conviction on a
false charge. Dunnivant also claims that
the editor of "A Chicago paper, who Sc
cured from him a complete statement of
his Imprisonment and his acquaintance
with and friendship for Miss Potter, was
paid SIS, 900 to suppress its publication.
| Looks Like n Celebrated Case.
In all It's alleged details the case is one
u.
| Potter is well-known and wealthy He
lives In ii luxurious residence on Dear.
| born avenue, and has summer residence
| on Lake Geneva, which is one of the
landmarks of that beautiful sheet of
water. Young Dunnivant is presented in
his declaration as the lover of Mr.. Pot
| ter's daughter He says he made her ac-
| quaintance when he was 10 years old and
a newsboy, selling papers on the north
| side. o. course his daughters alleged
| passion for such lover was very dis
tasteful to Mr. Potter, and upon this op-
position is built up series of charges
that are exceedingly sensational. The
| first move Of Mr. Potter, as declared, was
a systematic course or persecution, the
chief active mover in which was Police
Capt. O'Donnell, whom Potter hired for
| that purpose, and 1t was carried out so
we'll that young Dunnivant had to sell out
his business
Ordered Dat OF Lake Geneva.
Dunuivant. alleges that in May. 1885. he
| went to visit Miss Potter at her fathers
summer residence i'll Lake Geneva. the
young lady inviting him there His
presence becoming known to Nj Potter
the latter procured Dunuivant's arrest
without authority of law, and had him
imprisoned for two nights, then releasing
him and ordering him to leave, watch he
did. For year thereafter Potter had
the young man watched, constantly an
noyed and threatened, and prevented
from obtaining any employment Capt
O'Donnell Is alleged to have been the
active agent In this system of persecution,
and he made t grand success.
The Growing Conspiracy.
But the grand finale of the conspiracy
was reached when Dunnivant was induced
to go to South Chicago with a young fell
low named Allen and confederate who
was made up 20 resemble Duunivanr. A |
charge was cooked up that Allen had
stolen some clothes and other property. |
and Allen was arrested. In prosecution
OF the plot Allen accused DunuIvant of the |
theft, and he vas arrested also Then AL |
len was let of with a short term in the
house OF correction, while Dunniyant was
sent to peniten5iary for four years. all as |
part of said COL spiracy. 1t Is also aIlec. ID |
that Miss Potter employed counsel TO de- |
tend her lover; that Duunivant was urged
to plead guilty and take a light punish |
ment, but ue refused to do so, and was
duly sent to the peuitentiary
An Attempt to Kill Him. |
Dunnivant WAS taken to the penjten- |
tiary Feb g. lSS7, and as soon as he was
there was put a. work he had not the /
physical strength to perform, the impli. |
cation being that the purpose was that he |
should not leave prison alive Conse- |
quently he became IA physical wreck, and |
1t Is for this in part that be asks damages.
as he Is unable To perform manual la Dor |
He would have died, he says, had not De- /
tective John Eonfield interceded with /
the warden for him and obtained him
lighter employment. While The Chicago /
Times was under control of James J. /
West, DLnnivant says, the paper heard OIL /
the case and sent reporter to Interview
the prisoner, promising to publish the
facts, and the interview was suppressed |
in consideration o. $4,000 paid to West by |
Potter.
Tried to Make Him Confess.
Dunnivant further alleges that in
August, 1888, James Hutchins, SON in
law OF Mr.. Potter, went TO Joliet to see |
DunnIvant and further consummate the |
conspiracy. Hutchins tried to induce the |
prisoner to sign written confession of |
his guilt, and that he should not talk to |
reporters about the case Hutchins /
agreed on his part that Potter wo I'D /
withdraw his opposition to plaintiff being
pardoned, and Hutchins also promi sed |
that Potters son would go to the COVE: nor
and have him pardoned. Eugene refused |
to sign any paper whatever acknowledg.
ing guilt and declined to accept any Of
the propositions offered by Hutchins
TALKS WITH OTHERS INTERESTED.
Dunnivants Counsel and Detective Rom
field Interviewed.
Representative Moore, of Kaukakee, is
counsel for Dunnivant He says he has
worked on the CASE since August. 1899
He Continued Il took this matter upl
solely from a desire o see iustice dome NIL