Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-06
Dukes Answered wish Another VIII
Iainoua Letter,

concluding by Inviting Captain Mutt to
meet him for a conference These two let
tiers are, for baseness-for anything that is
unmanly and iguoble-absOlutely without
a parallel. They will probably be worked
in again during the course OF the present
trial. On December % Captain Mutt ar
rived home. The next morning he went
to the room of Dukes, in the Jeanlngs
House, for the conference wnlCh the latter
had suggested. There they had tight.
After they had been separated by men at
tractsd TO the room by the struggle, Dukes,
when he was no longer in the slightest
danger. drew revolver and instantly kill
ed Captain Mutt. Ia the following March
Dukes was tried before packed jury and
acquitted.
A Terrible Burst OF Public Indignation
here and everywhere else followed When
it had subsidized Dukes, who had in the in
term been hiding in obscurity at the home
of his mother, about fifteen miles distant
returned to Uniontown with the ayowed
purpose of facing the scorn of the commu-
nifty, and bending his efforts toward regain
ing his former standing in society and his
profession. But in this he would have
failed, even had he lived century longer.
He was lawyer, and a motion by his fel-
low attorneys TO disbar him was pending
when be was killed.
The KILLING OF Dukes.
one pleasant evening in June last, when
the late mail had bees distributed, Dukes
was walking down Main street towards the
postCtnCe 10 get his mail. At the corner OF
Morgan town street lie passed James Mutt,
who was standing in the doorway of store
room that was being reconstructed. This
was within few yards of the poStotlice.
Dukes had barely got by when young Mutt
stepped down TO the pavement, and, drawing
a revolver, commenced firing at him. he
turned his head and seeing his assailant,
commenced running, young Mutt at his
heels. He fell dead IN the postotfice door
way, with several mortal wounds IN his
body. Mutt at once surrendered himself,
and has ever since been in prison, the evil
denCe of premeditsted Staying being too
strong TO admit of his release on bail. His
attorneys, approaching this fact, have
never asked for his release on any con-
dition.
The Prisoner
is about twenty me years old, tall, bony,
stoop shouldered, and badly formed. Ii.
has ligh,-blue eyes, and one might con-
ceive a suggestion OF weakness or vacancy
in Lis face, were it not for the resolute eN
preston about his mouth. He has always
been somewhat eccentric, and as there
seems to be no doubt that the plea OF
defense will be emotional insanity,
his eccentricities will Ot course be
brought in to sustain that plea
and it is almost certain that in the hands
of the brilliant counsel who hsye been re.
tanned there will De created in the mind OF
the Jury that doubt which will be young
NutI's shield Of safety. There are none
here who DO not admit that the killing was
premeditated, but there are few who do not
think that, under the circumstances, 1t was
justitisble. The only general criticism IS
that il was not done sooner.
The TRIAL will Probably be Brief,
unless the defense should enter deeply in
to the matter of insanity and its evidences,
which they may probably do. The Com
monWe ealth have been for weeks preparing
to meet the defense. The jury, which will
be obtained with great difficulty. will, In
the nature of things, leave to find verdict
of guilty of murder in the first degree, or
scquit on the ground of insanity. There
is no intermediate ground.
Judge aud Counsel.
Hon. A. E. Wilson, who presides over
the case, RANKS among the ablest law
judges in Pennsylvania. This is his last
term OF court, and this is the last impor-
tant trial before him. He retires from the
bt uch on the lst of January, having on sc
count Of i'll health declined reelection in
which both parties would. have
joined. In his ten years ser
vice ne has made an enyiable repu-