The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-15
THE END Or AN EVENTFUL LIFE.
The Career of IA Kentucky slave
Engaged I'm Two Wnrs-Sentenced
10 be Hanged-A BARBER and Legis-
From the LexIngton nMol lntellIgeneer.

tor.
From the Lexington (Mo.) 1ntelllgencer.
William Duke, colored deck hand fell
between the gang planks of the steamer
Alice, at Dover landing, on Saturday morn
about two o'clock, passed under the boat
and was seen no more. The turbid waters
of the Mississippi scarcely ever closed over
more eventful life than was William
Dukes. Born slave of DIR. Basil Duke,
of Kentucky, he attracted the attention of
the family at an early age by his sprightli
ness and good temper, and was in conse-
quence granted unusual indulgence.
When eighteen years of age he had ac-
qured from association with white-boys a
fair English education, and accompanied
his master to Mexico, in the capacity of
servant. At the hattie of Cerro Gordo he
was wounded in the leg. At first the wound
was supposed to be slight, and received but
little attention; subsequently il became
alarming, and an investigation revealed the
fact that the wound had been inflicted by
copper missile. The professional skill and
assiduous nursing of his master saved his
| leg and his life. but from that time he was
slightly lame.
About the year 1855 he was manumitted
and apprenticed to barber in St. Louis.
After completing his apprenticeship, he
practiced his trade on the Mississippi river,
and in two years became the most popular
and best known barber on the river.
In 1858 he married a quadroon girl in st.
Louis, who had attracted some attention by
her beauty, and established her in a com
Portable home, surrounded with circum-
stances of luxury. She proved unworthy
and within twelve months of the marriage
he committed homicide in his own house
under circumstances which called forth il
his behalf the sympathy of the people of st
Louis generally. He was indicted for muir
der, and on his trial was ably defended by
Basil Buke, Esq, and other distinguished
lawyers; but Notwithstanding the proof en-
tirely failed to establish a higher crime THAI
that ofmurder IN the second degree, thu
verdict, under the rigid ruling of Judg'
Claver, was murder in the first degree, an'
he was sentenced to suffer the extreme pen
ally of the law A petition for executive
clemency was quickly gotten up, numerous
ly signed by leading citizens, and presented
to Governor Stewart by his counsel.
full pardon was granted, and the colonel. a
he was called, was at liberty, broken dow
in health and spirits. His health continued
to decline, and he rapidly contracted tn
habit of excessive drinking.
When the late civil war commenced h
asked permission to go to Kentucky, whic
was granted, and within few days there
after he was once more in camp in the ser
vice of his old master. His health rapidl
improved, and in few months he was a
well known in Gen. Williams brigade a
, the General himself He participated j
several engagements, was twice wounded
once at Fayetteville, very seriously.
When the war closed he located at NeN
Orleans; was member of the Legislator
of Louisiana during the session of 'GS, dis
tinguished himself by his conservatism an
opposition to the Administration ring leg
islation. He was prescribed by his race
and Systematically prosecuted by whit
Radicals to such an extent that he was force
to leave Now Orleans. His old habit G
drinking obtained the mastery, and TO
| eighteen months his life had been that c
A an aimless vagabond. Recently he wa
, stimulated to make an effort to reform an
with this view he sought and obtained en-
, ployment on the AHce. For six or eigl
: weeks previous to his death his habits wer
[ good.