Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-03-30
RETRIBUTYog COMMENCED.

mencement of that inevitable retribution |
which is sure to follow in such cases and
attends and makes miserable the balance of
the life of the guilty offender.
1t is not surprising that the storm of popu-
lar indignation which has swept over the
State of Pennsylvania at the acquittal of
Dukes for the murder Of Capt. A. c. Mutt
should have caused the legislature to have
taken this action. The people of that hon.
ored Commonwealth feel that shameful
stain has been cast upon the good name Of
their State. It is only astonishing that in
their wrath they have not wrenched the
guilty wretch from the hands Of the Sheriff,
where he sought protection, or whilst going
to Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and lynched
him, for If lynch-law ever had justification
1t was in this case. Never before was JUS
tice such complete and horrible failure
Upon the rendition Of the verdict the learned
Judge, who had calmly and impatiently
heard the evidence in relation to the terrible
crime, became indignant and in scathing
language rebuked the jury for bringing in
such verdict, and this same jury appre-
ciating the great wrong they have inflicted
upon the community at large have skulked
away To their homes under the cover OF
darkness, there 10 remain hated, spurned
and condemned.
The original crime committed by Dukes
exposed and rendered him liable to be shot
down ct any time. And had Mutt met him
and shot him down like dog no jury
would have found him guilty. The seduc-
ton Of an affectionate and confidng girl
with all Its blighting influences and ef
fects Is an offence which has no parallel on
the calendar of crime There Is an un-
written law which is final In such cases, 1t
slumbers in every mans bosom, it per-
vades every walk Of society, 1t rests at every
hearthstone, and all the written statutes in
existence never have and never can affect
the right Of the protection of a woman and to
kill Q kesrtless seducer who refuses to make
the only PREPARATION which is effective to save
the victims name and reputation from shame
and dishonor.
In the case of Dukes the villainy went
far beyond that of the accomplished and
professional seducer Protesting the warm
est and most sincere friendship for Capt
Mutt, he obtained free and unmolested &C.
cess 10 his once happy home, and by cruel
deception he succeeded in winning the affec.
ton and confidence of his daughter to such
an extent that finally she became the victim
of his brutal lust. Having accomplished
his purpose and being confronted with it
he wrote 10 the father series of the mos
svillainous, revolving and insulting letters il
justification of his conduct that can be con
ceiyed. This naturally drove the alread,
incensed man to a frenzy of wrath, anC
when he encountered the scoundrel to de
mand some satisfaction, writhing under th,
shame Of his daughters ruin and the mos
dastardly insults to her and to him tina
could be invented, he was shot down ant
killed by the seducer. 1t is sad to con
template that seduction is not an uncom
mon crime, yet there are few of the loath
some criminals held in greater detesta
ten than the seducer who refuses to max
PREPARATION, but this man Dukes reached
the lowest depths yet attained by an,
OF his class. The man who could writ
these letters and send. them to the heart
broken father, gloating in his triumph owe
a poor, weak and unfortunate girl and taunt
ing the family with his foul and beastl,
badinage, exhibits degree of coward,
meanness that would shame the devils il
hell.
And yet, twelve men presumed to be in
teligent, presumed 10 be sufficiently inter
ested in the protection of society as to pun
ish any such fiendish invasion. has let loos
q deprayed wretch who has laughed at vii
tue and, disTegarding the criminal law, mur
= dered Its natural defender--they heaped I'D
ditionsl trouble upon family already over
burdcned and broke down with sorrows
A man who Is capable of committing
such crimes and seeking to justify them Is
moral leper who should be Stunned by ever
man, woman and child with unutterabl
loathing and contempt. If there are an
others as low as be in the moral scale h
should be relegated TO them for association
He should be debarred from associatio
with any others and brand placed upo
him so that wherever he may go he sha
feel the popular contempt and indignation
The certain action of the Pennsylvani
legislature in refusing to allow Dukes :
take his seat will go trumpet.tongued int
every community throughout this broa
land 1t will be a proclamation issued b
one branch Of the legislature Of a sovereig
State that be is unworthy of the association G
honest men. 1t will be the first blast Of tina
storm Of retributive justice which is certai
10 follow the commission Of his crimes. Tn
hideous man who, under the guise of friend
ship, could enter the privacy of the fami
circle only to ruin and murder will not hesl
tate to undertake to stem this current Of exc
Grafton. Doubtless with the wear and tea
Of time he may, TO some extent occup
some kind Of social position, but it wi
ever be clouded with fear and hatred. Blu
wherever he may roam, however absorbin
and engrossing the circumstances whic
may surround him, in the court room, at III
threshold of the sacred edifice, If he eve
goes there, In the ball room, in the boozin
den, in the gambling hell, on the publ
highway, rcmorse Of conscience will haur
him, growing hotter and hotter with ever
succeeding day until his cye-balls will 10
and dance in their sockets as he catches d
full glances Of seducer's hell. In the yer
secrecy of his room, when sleep refuses I
visit his blood-shot eyes, the demon of r,
morse will be at his side to torture and ha
row. This terrible and frightful messeng,
viii come from higher court than whic
set him at liberty, it will remind him
the home which be ruined, of the affectio
which be trampied upon, Of the happine
ho blasted; It will draw a picture Of Il