The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-14

killed instantly his fathers slayer, s. Lyman
Dukes, at Uniontown this evening. Dukes
bad been frequently warned to leave
Uniontown, but be perSistently refused His
friends had often advised him to seek
another home, and his answer was always
that he would either live in Uniontown or
be corpse i'll the cemetery. AS far back as
last December Young Mutt had threatened to
have Dukess life, and the latter had always
avoided him. This evening young Mutt was
Standing a short distance from the postoffce
when Dukes came up Main street. Dukes
did not see Mutt until they were side by side,
when Mutt quickly drew a revolver and
fired, the first shot taking effect i'll Dukess
side. The latter started to run, for the pur-
pose OF seeking shelter, when Mutt fired
second shot and Dukes fell in the doorway
OF the poStoffice. Mutt then followed him
up, and put two more bullets in the PROSTATE
body, one passing through the neck and the
other lodging in the back. Persons VINO wit
messed the tragedy rushed to Dukes but be-
fore they reached him he was dead. Mutt
surrendered himself immediately, and was
placed in jail"
The shooting created intense excitement at
Uniontown, but at IL o'clock tonight every
thing was quiet. Young Mutt is not quite
twenty years of age, and has always been
considered quiet and inoffensive. 1t is said,
however, that he has been practicing with
revolver for some time past.
Circumstances Leading to the Shooting.
The circumstances leading to the present
tragedy are easily recalled. Dukes, "the in
famous" as he was commonly called, was
engaged to be married to the daughter of
Captain Nutt-about year ago-or at least
he made her believe that his intentions were
honorable. Afterward, according to his own
statements he discarded her, after he bad
seduced her, but not content with this he
circulated scandalous and false stories de.
rogatory to her character even going so far
as to write anonymous letters re-
tiecting upon her and dropping
them in public places. The scandal
finally became so outrageous that the indig-
nant relatives began to search for the origl-
nator of it. During the trouble that fol-
lowed, Dukes, who was then a member of
the Pennsylvania Legislature, sent for Cap
tain Mutt to come to his room for
the ostensibe reason of fixing the matter
up" but really, it is believed, for the pur-
pose of killing him. Mutt called on him,
and in the quarrel which ensued he was shot
dead by Dukes. The latter was arrested for
the crime and tried at Uniontown, Pa, in
March. He pleaded selfdefense, and
by methods which are known TO
have been far from legitimate,
secure an acquittal. During the progress of
the trial infamous letters written by Dukes
were introduced in evidence, and public
sentiment was SO strong that he was obliged
to take unusual precautions to prevent be-
ing lynched. He was warned repeatedly to
leave Uniontown and never retuIn, anc the
tragedy of last night was the result of mis-
staying. In the investigations pertaining 10
the murder of Captain Mutt who was an eX-
emplary and honored citizen, Dukes was
and the indignation over his acquttal was
not local; it extended everywhere the par
ticulars of the crime we're known. If there
is such thing as justfable homicide, the
killing of Dukes by young Mutt is a murder
only in name.