The Evening critic., 1883-03-14

inc following are TWO letters Wnlcn were
read at the trial OF N. L. Dukes, for murder,
yesterday:
"sTATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
"TREAsuRY DEPARTMENT.
"HARRlsBuRG, PA. Dec u, 1882,
DEAR SIR have yours OF the 9TH mailed
10 mo 11th instant. You know that expected
TO be at homo on the 18th, 10Th and 18Th Of
December, and yet you were conveniently, as
absence, however, only defers Il
does not avert, the inevitable. While
did not write, and at any raio, before writing
wished 10 hear another speak as well a. yon.
! found you visiting my house Wednesday
evening, Dec. q, after that letter was written
and before It was mailed, but did not know,
until had showered upon my poor daugh
ter's head volley OF curses without giving
her chance to say word For this shall
hold you personally responsible, as well as
for my many days and nights OF sleepless
agony. That Wednesday nights visit, under
the circumstances, makes your letter as I'M
speakably Infamous as your whole conduct.
You mistake the temper OF tho man with
whom you have 10 deal. You write to me as
III you consider mo shameless coward, and
even suggest 10 me tho hideous ofnce OF the
abortionist. shall convince YOU that have
me physical courage to expose my daush-
myself and family; and, further, that have
the moral courage. j rest secure IN tho APP
proyal Of the community in which live,
should this whole miserable AFFAIR become
fully known to the world. Your letter is the
plea OF q quibbler, and not the open, sincere,
u
ofhonor. You conceal important facts In the
case. If at any time you discovered she was
not the fit companion for you, then was the
time TO have abandoned her, and your lettor
and mine need never have been written.
You soy that you have done as l would
have done; In this you are base
liar. The daughter or wife Of any friend or
associate Of mine would DO safe under any
circumstances in my charge. You have no
right to suggest that could possibly be
liberiine, or betray a weak, conildlng girl.
have always held that when a man invades
the sanctity OF home no takes his life In his
hands, aud under This code ! shall act; 1t
rests with YOU whether this affair ends In
legal farce or q tragedy. This Common
wealth is not big enough for both OF US,
under existing complications. l VIII be at
homo December % and the two following
days, when you and I can talk face to face.
My return to Un!ontown hereafter VIII
time, my accidental death will not stop pro-
ceedings nor gain you IMMUNITY, but make
the blow suspended not more certain, yet
possibly more preclpitate. Keeping this mat
ter entirely sub rosa rests also with you. l
have verbal statements to make as to details,
but have outlined my course In writing, and
expect 10 adhere toit TO the end. On the 23d,
at S p M, you can see me quietly, peaceably
at home. After that, IL matters are not read.
5usted, shall precipitate a meeting. You
can call this threat or what You please. Very
respectfully, A.C. MUTT"
To this letter Dukes replied as follows:
"oFTIcE OF n. L. DUKES, ATToRSEY.AT.LAw,
"UNIoNTowN, Pa, Dec. %, 1892
"CoptGin 4. q. Nut.
"DEAR SIR: Yours OF the 17th instant at
hand. pass by your harsh epitnets as terms
manufactured for the occasion. You charge
me with quibbling, and at once enter upon that
role yourself. You pass by all the main facts
at Issue, and affect indignation at my call at
your house on December @. That call was
for no other purpose than to assure myself of
the real existence OF the difficulty. There
is much Of your letter that either is
obscure in language, or my comprehension
is so obtuse that fail to make clear your
meaning. ! understand, however, that you
offer me tho party spoken of or death. L,
therefore, hereby indicate TO you that choose
the latter alternative. cannot accept
for wife the toy OF the town and thus become
the butt OF the towns hooking derision.
| Death is far sweeter. 1 declare in all sober
| ness that doubt If / am the author of the
present difficulty. II were, / have commit
| ted no such heinous ofrense as you charge, as
| the girl is not what she ought TO be.
It's not your daughter l refuse to marry.
There Is no reason why / should object to an
| alliance with n pure daughter of yours, but
| you insist that / shall marry a wanton woman
| simply because she is your daughter and has
| able 10 my mind. feel none of the guilt of n
| seducer, and you know am not such. She
| told herself that you had received an anony-
| nous letter warning you of her erratlc con-
| duct You say that when discovered she was
| not fit companion for me should have aban-
| doned her al once. agree with you, and such
| was my intention, but Immediately thereafter
| she was alarmed. was confident there was
| nothing wrong, and assured her of the fact,
| ana Calling 10 comfort npf. Her anxiety
| OF mind explained my visits there. Since
| that time wanted no scene with her, and In
| tended to abandon her, as you suggest, as soon
| ms she recovered from the effects of the cold.
| You affect horror at the idea OF becoming an
| actor III peccadillo, yet appoint yourself a
| murderer and assassin with all the deibera.
lion OF savage or n thug. Your letter would
| clear me II should take your life upon sight,
| but don't want your blood. shall not harm
| you IN any instance. You may murder me II
| you Will, shall not arm myself, but don't lay
| 10 your conscience the flattering JUNCTION that
| the sentiment OF the community VIII sustain
you In the assassination. The woman is better
known by the community than you know her
and her name is scarcely ever mentioned
without a sneer. Why don't you go and shoo
Frye and Bogardus and Kennedy and all thu
tribe? You want her reputation veneered a
my sole expense. You want to blight my life
forever for n cheap little cloak. No, sir, my
| honor is as dear 70 me as yours is to you, and
| prefer 10 die rather than to have n life o
such shame. l could look no man In the face
| upon the streets. / fail to understand why
you want u meeting with me- must decline
the one proposed. don't care to walk into q
death.trap, but II you want TO see me you car
call upon me either at my office at S p. m. Sat
urday, December %, or at my room at the
same hour, whichever you may indicate, and
you shall find me quiet and peaceable.
"Vcry truly yours,
IN. l.. DUKES
| The testimony was concluded with the ad