The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-11
DUKES'S DEFENSE.
The Dead Libertiue's Version of the Killing
of Captain Mutt.

posthuTnous history, by N, L.. Dukes, or the
struggle last December at Uniontown, in which
he killed Captain A. G, Mutt of the cireum-
stances which led to it, and OF his subsequent
trial aud acquittal, has just been given to the
press. After reciting the details of the terrible
tight in his room, in the Jennings Hotel Dukes
says: "But, taking the evidence adduced upon
the trial, no man with shadow of fairness can
resist the conclusion that Captain Mutt came TO
my room, on the morning of the 24th of Decem-
ber, to take my life, and that he wonld have
done had not my dexterity prevented such
result This conclusion established,
then my legal defense is perfect, and the attack
upon the jury is unjust and malicious The
other matters dragged into the trial ex
traneous, and lugged in for the purpose of di-
vertlng the attention of the jury from the point
at issue. was upon trial for the feloDiOus kill
ing of Captain Mutt, and not for writing assinine
letters was legally guilrless of taking Captain
Nuts life, and well knew it, and the jury very
properly so found. The matters which led to the
hostile eacounter are well known and need not
be referred to except Incidentally. When l
wrote that hrst letter to Captain
Mntt as the appa Of
stupidity and the rem0rse of a lifetime Will be
inadequate ex piat1on for the error When look
back upon it in the light of developments l can
scarcely resist the conclusion that l was labor
ing under temporary insanity. But here the
matter ends. would not believe in my total de-
pravfty and abandoned yillalny II every fanall-
cal minister in the land howled from the pulpit
and platform till he were blind and every editor
in existence should lie about it to all eternity,
True, Captain Mutt Is dead. This fact can fall
on no heart with more crushing force than upon
my own. had no more malice
against the man than against my own
mother Why should have2 He never wronged
me. No man respected him more than did ],
| and no man reveres his memory more than do
now. The images of the dlseonsolate widow ana
the helpless orphan children rise up before me
like accusing spirits, and, II such thing were
possible gladly would lie down in this mans
srra IVA md m Tn 0paAafR family
Could have known the elimination of this
wretched affair, how much better would 1t have
been for me to nave sacrificed my life's happi-
ness and'self-respeot upon the altar of pacfea-
ton; but foolishiy thought was doing Capt.
Mutt cruel kindness and taking stand for the
preservation Of my own honor. since TINS
occurrence have concluded that honor is de-
lusion and mockery. My enemies teach that the
whole matter was deep-laid scheme-that de-
liberately ruined the daughter, and then Killed
him. What motive could have in such
sehemef Sensible people will see that Il am
merely the victim Of circumstance and my own
folly. One thing grew cut of another according
to the law of cause ano effect until the homicide
and the result of a contest for sufviyorship. But
am alone responsible for this great mountain
of wOe2 Is there no one who should share a por-
ton of the bardenl The party who can &nswer
these questions will ever remain silent. l
have been traduced maligned and viiitied by
venal press a monster OF tniqdity. Ii [ were
so shailow-brained and yindictfss as the authors
of these 1ncendiary articles, 1 would reply 20
some of them with the torch. but |, unlike these
self-constituted public educators and moral CEN
sors, respect the law, ana VIII judge and be
Judged by il, and abide by its DEGREES. The
venal press always takes the Sensational side of
any occurrence, aud when il has infla'ned the
minds of the people 1t must ministerto tke appe-
tite it has created by fabrication ofinjustice and
falsehood. 1t cOnstrues the words freedom OF
the press TO mean Irresponsible license, and
bigh6s everything it touches. In my individual
case the reporters oolored all the testimony
against me, and suppressed all the evidence mat
tended TO my vindIcaiIon have also been held
up to the public gaze as the destroyer OF the rep
nf n N tnn0GAnE ltflG
is twenty-four years of age. II her reput tation
is destroyed l am not responsible for 1T. Never
at any time have my lips parted to saT one word
reheetiug upon her. True, wrote tle foolish
letter. but it was guarded with all the precau
tions of privacy personal, and Greeted
to Captain Mutt at his hotel He would guard
its secrets more carefully than he would his own
life. She has been crucifieu by her own friends,
and lifted high the cross for the insulting
stare and mock sympathy of the millions. The
responsibility rests upon those persons who, ac-
tuated alone by vindictiyeness against me, ran
roughshod over everybody to convict me of the
crime of murder by showing that was fool
"That letter was legally no part OF the case,
and the friends of Captain Mutt and his family
should have withheld it, but as they ala not, let
them shoulder the responsibility OF publishing
II to the world. When the sympathles and pas
sions of men are aroused they are apt to lose
sight of paliiatiaus, and plunge headlong into
the popular current. II they would reflect
moment in this case they would recognize that
while the noble qualities of Captain Mutt were
unlimited, yet he was man of very rash tenn
per. 1t would be unbeeoming IN me TO enter into
a detailed account of the physical encounters in
which he has been engaged, and |
will desist, but it seems that he should not have
taken the law into his own hands against me-
II had wronged him the doors of The court
house were opened, and he should have sought
redress there. The law that is good enough for
other people was certainly sufficient for HIM,
but he rises above the law and demands my lite,
and falls victim to his own rashness. Would
any man, no difference what his ofenses might
be- stand still and he shot down2 No man can
resist the natural GOd-given impulse to defend
mis- own life, and this is why Captain Mutt was
killed
ain this whole transaction | have submitted
yself TO the law. gave myself into custody
The law gives me my liberty and pronounces
me an innocent man, and gives me the same
rights as any ether citizen of the State or United
states I have the legal right TO 90 when and
where please and do what please within the
limits OF its law; but there is gang about
Uniontown who defy the behests of the law. and
undertake to prescribe the limits of my rights
aud give me commands as to what shall do and
what shall not do"
In conclusion Dukes hurls defiance at the
Uniontown people. There is one paragraph
Uunged from his letter. His friends would not
allow IL to be published. It reflects severely
the Hon. jere Black because OF published SEN
timent of the latter recommending that Dukes
be run OUT of Harrisburg If he should go there
to be sworn as a member OF the Legislature.