New-York tribune., 1883-06-16
same can be done consistently with good falth
and legal and national obligations"
,,somoFD pUBLIC SENTIMENT.

The Coroner's Jury in the latest development
of the Unlontown tragedy did their duty SIM
ply and, under the circumstances, courageousiy
in finding young Mutt guilty of the murder Oh
Dukes. 1t was murder, simple and deliberate,
and all the extenuatug conditions OF this most
nainful affair cannot make the crime anything
less than murder. Nobody except friend can
feel the slightest sympathy for such an abject
wretch as Dukes was. He not only murdered
the father of the man who has since murdered
him, but he also attempted to blast the good
name of the daughter of his victim by claiming
that he had seduced her. She stoutly main
tains that his claim is an Infamous talsehood,
and surely her word is to be taken in preference
TO his. That the son and brother should feel
impelled to avenge such foul wrongs as these
Is not unnatural. They are sufficient to bring
such pressure upon any sensitive mlnd as 10
unsettle its equilibrium and create that condi-
ton of emotional insanity which is so often clted
in defence of capital crimes.
We do not say that this was the case with
young Mutt but it might have been. Inc
whole force Of public sentiment in Unlontown
has been such as to encourage If not impel hlm
to this final act of vengeance. Everybody was
Justly incensed at the failure of justice by
which Dukes escaped the deserved legal pen
atty for his crime, and in their rage the citizens
of the town talked freely of various means tor
taking the law into their own hands. 1oung
Mutt heard all this, and the effect upon MIN
was precisely what might have been expected.
He brooded over the matter constantly, ana the
longer he brOoded the more he became con-
yinced that the only way for him to avenge his
fathers death and clear his sisters honor, and at
the same time assert his own manliness, was to
kill Dukes. That public sentiment pushed him
on is evident from the fact that 1t sustains him
in his act now. Dispatches aud messages are
sent to him in his cell telling him that there Is
great popular rejoicing" over his deed, that
q the people say he did right, and that he is
worth more tnaD ali the towards OF Union
- town put together" One man sends word by
telegraph to Mrs. Mutt from Philadelphia that
he will give $50 toward the expenses OF de-
Tending the act of "yOur noble SON."
II is painfully evident that young Mutt has
acted in obedience to the thoughtless teachings
of large majority OF the people OF Pennsyl-
vania. They did not realize that while they
were railing at Dukes and the impotency OF the
law they were instigating this afflicted young
man to murder, but that is what they were
doing. We do not for moment suppose that
any Jury can be found in the State which will
convict him Of MURDER and it would be impossi-
bic to tai pleasure in such verdict. Still, it
must be evident to the people of the State that
this sort of thing cannot be allowed to con-
tinue; that they must choose between the IL W
and its defects and the pistol and its teri bl
possibilities. They cannot take middle COZ rse
and abide by the law only when its decision s
meet their approval, taking up the pistol to e1-
ecute their wrath when the law fails. The
alarming outbreak of homicides and lynchings
in various parts of the country during the past
few weeks ought to give the whole country
cause To see whittier we are drifting.