The daily gazette., 1883-03-15
VERY UNEXPECTED.
Captain Nuts Murderer Acquitted-A Dis
satisfied Community.

| shubn9u community
UNToNTowN, March 14.-It would not be
| possible to describe the Indignation that
reigns in Uniontown at this moment. Mich.
| olas Lyman Dukes, member-elect of the
State Legislature, has just been declared by
| IL Jurors TO be not guilty of the murder OF
which public sentiment has convicted him.
| The jury retired at 4.30 o'clock in the after
noon, after hearing from the Court
such charge as seemed to render
| acquiIal impossible. They were out about
three hours and a-half.
AT nearly 8 O'Clock Judge Wilson was
seen passing hurriedly along the street
| in the direction Of the court house
accompanied by a t.pstave. He was
| soon followed by an excited crowd, which,
When the bell rang, was swelled almost To d
great rabble. When silence was partially
restored the jury filed in and the frivolous
expression on some of their faces betokened
the nature OF their verdict. They marched
into their seats Dukes entered the room
| in company with his counsel, his stepfather
| and Sheriff Hoover. His face wore the
same stolid look that has marked his con-
duct throughout the trial. lie arose, faced
TIE jury, and to the question of the clerk,
Foreman Mcintyre answered, 'ENot guilty"
The clerk had made little error in pu t.
ting the question, and the foreman, seeming
the word mot" before he noticed the mis-
take. He then paused till the clerk put
the corrected question, and then uttered the
words "Not guilty" The crowd in the
court room were so shocked that silence EN-
sued for short time and then an effort Was
made to give some kind Of expression to
their feelings, but they were, with difficulty,
restrained by the officers. Dukes sat down
with great composure.
Judge Wilson looked amazed at the an
nouncement of the verdict, He said:
"Gentlemen of the jury: | suppose the
verdict that you have rendered is one that
you thought you should render under your
oaths, but it is one that gives dissatisfaction
to the Court, because we thought the evil
dence was sufficient to justify you in render
ing different verdict. If you have com
mitted an error, 1t is one that we cannot
avoid, but can only express our con demna-
ton of it In this mild way. The pri soner is
discharged"
After the Judges speech, and when the
crowd had scattered to the street, the indig
nation grew terrific, and an excited mob at
once started toward the Court House, where
Dukes was in charge of the Sheriff, carrying
a stuffed cffigy of the late prisoner. They
also bore the jury in effigy, and violence was
for time expected. Dukes remained under
guard of Sheriff Hoover while the crowd
next proceeded to the McClelland House, a
few doors from the scene of murder. Here
they joined in singing Chang Dukes body
on sour apple tree" 1t seemed as though
everyone in the town was on the street, and
no one knew what an hour would bring
forth.
1t is said motion will be made in Court
in the morning to expel Dukes from the bar
Of Fayette county. Miss Mutt was visited
by reporter this evening and It was found
that her grief was bearing heavily upon her.
The charges made by Dukes as to her condi-
ton are utterly false. This fact makes the
charges all the more infamous.
During the night the following circular,
| signed by prominent citizens, was posted
| throughout the town:
Citizens sof Fayette county who are in
favor of sustaining the character of the
county before the civilized world are invited
TO assemble at post Office corner, Uniontown
at z O'Clock, p. m, on Thursday, 18th in
stant, to express their Indignation at the
outrageous verdict acquitting the assassin
of Captain A. c. Mutt. Let the world know
that the law abiding citizens of this county
are shocked and Mortified, and their
feeling outraged by the verdict.
MANY CITIZENS.