The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-21

face, but testified In a low voice to
her late husbands habit of carrying
a revolver and cane.
VIM. Picard closed the evidence
for the day. He clerks in a hard
ware store in this place, and describ-
ed how Dukes came TO the store on
the 22d day of December and purch-
ased the revolver with which he shot
Captain Mutt two days later. Dukes
looked at a number of pistols and
finally selected a Smith & Wesson,
self-cocker, calibre 80, saying that
he
WANTED IT TO BE SURE.
Some other customers came in
while Dukes was looking at the pis-
stols, and he stepped back to the
rear part of the store, with the re-
mark that he didn't want everybody
to know his business there.
WHAT CAUSES TALK.
The partisan complexion of the
Jury. all the members being Demo-
Gratis, is the talk of the streets to-
night. Much adverse comment has
been provoked by a remark which
the son of Clerk of Courts Searight
is credited with making, to the effect
that they had the court and the
Judge, who is n Democrat, and the
Jury, and Dukes would come out all
right.
USIoNTowN, March ID Mrs.
Mutt was the first witness called to
the stand this morning. She iden-
titled two letters from Dukes to her
husband. The first letter her hus-
band had handed to her when he
came home from Harrisburg the
first time. The second letter he had
given her the night before he was
killed. She bad read the first letter.
didn't you read the second one ?"
asked Mr.. PIayford.
No; | tried to, but" Her
voice faltered and counsel for de-
Tense objected to her proceeding.
Clark Breckenridge, who had got
the letters from Mrs. Mutt and given
them to the counsel for the Common
wealth, also identified the letters,
and NJ. H. Bowman, cashier of the
bank, identified the signatures. Mr..
Playford then offered the letters in
evidence, Ito prove animus and mo-
tives of Dukes, his position with e
spect to the Mutt family and to ex-
plain how Captain Mutt came to be
in Dukes ROOM"
THk LETTERS READ.
He was very impressive in his
manner of making the offer, and Mr..
Boyle murmured across from the
other table: "That's very dramatic,
put what is it to prove in this case?"
Mr.. Playford argued that these
letters contained the very subject
matter of the quarrel. Mr.. Boyle
argued that the letters did not con-
tain a single point of interest, indi-
Gated no desire to injure Captain
Mutt or his family, and its only eff
feet could be to prejudice the jury
unjustly against the prisoner.
The Court decided the letters to be
competent testimony. The widow
and sister of Captain Mutt withdrew
from the court room. There was a
%momentary rustic as the crowd
wriggled itself into a listening atti-
tude. Dukes dropped his head upon
his hand. and Attorney Playford
read the two letters to the jury. No
one in the court room seemed to
moye a muscle while the strong
voice of the lawyer brought out the
full indecency Of the letters. When
he sat down there was a leaning of
heads together and whispering and
looks of contempt and loathing at
the writer.
THE LETTERS IN THE CASE.
The first letter was written by
Dukes on December A, but not mail
ed until the 11th. 1t was very long
and told how he had met Miss Liz
zie at a festival, was charmed with
her innocence and simplicity and
visited her in company with a
friend. He told how, about a year
ago, on this visit he had taken her
hand to examine a burn on her wrist
and was surprised because she al
lowed it to remain in his grasp.
His vanity was battered and when
he went away he attempted to kiss
her and she allowed his cares.
Shortly after this visit he went
again and surprised Miss Lizzie sit
ting in the lap of a young man, 4.
c. Hagan. He went away without
making his presence known and on
the next visit he made certain pro-
posals to which she readily yielded.
Dukes, in defense of himself,
pleads in this letter that he was but
human and declares that Captain
Mutt in his position would have
done the same. After this he began
to hear rumors regarding the young
girls morals upon .he street. He
heard that Nat Frey had boosted of
certain privileges which he had en-
joyed. Determined to see for him
sell, Dukes tells how he followed
Frey and Lizzie home from an en-
tertainment one evening and watch
ed their conduct at the door. He
charges that Frey took liberties to
which no modest girl would submit.
After this he accused Lizzie with
unconfined iavors to himself, and
she confessed that she had been led
astray by Jesse Bogardus. Dukes
also mentions the name of II. P.
Kennedy as one OF Miss Nuts ia
v~orites.
Dukes goes on with these allega-
tons at great length, and then plain
ly tells Captain Mutt that he has
raasor IN toar fhaf his 1au0htar 10 in