The Evening critic., 1883-03-15
DUKES ACQUITTED OF MURDER.

n
The Judge Disappointed ut the
Finding of the Jury, and the
People of UniOntOwn Hanging
Dukes in Enigy.
A dispatch to tho Baltimore Sun, dated
March Ia, gives the following account Of tho
acquittal of Dukes, and the scenes attending
the rendering Of the verdict;
Nicholas l.. Dukes was tonight acquitted OF
the murder Of Captain IN Adam q, Mutt. When
not having been agreed upon, Judge Wilson
gave Instructions that IL an agreement was
reached before o'clock the courthouse bell
before O'Clock messenger slipped round to
His Honor's residence and told him to go to the
courthouse at once nee. so as as to escape the rush:
feverish expectancy. Suddenly man sitting
on a doorstep sprang up and ran
toward the courthons,e: ne t naa seen me me mes
sion. Before the leader had gone half O square
hundred persons were at his heels. Out OF
their dwellings and stores In every quarter OF
the place the people poured and rushed to-
ward the courthouse almost Wild with excite
ment. BY the time Judge Wilson. got inside
the courtroom and the bell began to ring the
main street was crowded. The deputy sheriff
stationed himself at the doorway and tried to
press the throng back, but he was soon showed
aside. In five minutes the courtroom was lit.
orally jammed with women and men. Some
were minus their collars, which had been
torn OF in the struggle to get up stairs.
AS soon as quiet had been restored the Judge
took his seat. Dukes made his appearance,
and the jury filed in. Dukes was pale, but
calm.
The usual form having been gone through,
the final question was then asked. When
Foreman McIntire rose whisper could have
been heard in all parts OF the room, mot
guilty" he said In an embarrassed voice.
About thirty persons jumped TO their feet and
cheered, but the rest OF the spectators re-
mained motionless, too much surprised to
move or speak. Judge Wilson was also taken
by surprise. He wheeled his chair 30 as to
face the jury and said:
''No doubt, gentlemen, you have decided to
the best of your judgments, but must say
am disappointed, for the evidence led me to
expect different verdict You are dis.
charged"
The audience had now recovered from Its
astonishment and the moment the court ad-
journed the verdict was openly and loudly de-
nounced. Dukes himself was quiet and col
lected. Once outside the Indignation Of the
people quickly got beyond control, and
crowd of a hundred men promenaded the
streets, cursing the jury and dragging and
pummeiling stuffed figure labled "Dukes."
and iynchlng him were heard at tho street
corners. Certain II is that II Dukes does not
leave the city voluntarily, things will be
made very mncomfortabie for MIN; There
more than twe-thirds Of whom are dissatisfied
and disguised with the result of the trial.
The verdict is attributed to opolitlcal tnfiu.
ences. Fayette County, of which Uniontown
is the seat, is Democratic, but Uniontown
itself is Republican. Dukes was recently
elected a member of the Legislature on the
Democratic ticket, and the twelve Jurors are
Democrats. This fact has been talked over a
great deal. When the jury was selected, 30
intense was this feeling of partlsanship that
even Judge Wilson, who is also Democrat,
was not 6atteringly spoken Of in connection
with the case; butt must be said In fairness
the leading citizens always refer to the Judge
as Just and upright man. 1t is said by
Dukes friends that the sentiment in the
county at large is not onesided, as In Union.
town, but is equally divided. The Jurors say
they believe Dukes acted In self.defense. They
are intelligent.looking men.
The following circular, signed by many lead.
ing citizens, is being posted tonight:
Fayette County in favor of sustaining the
character OF the county before the civilized
world are invited to assemble at the postofIice
press pr their Indignation at the outrageous YER
dict of the acquittal of the assassin of A. O
Mutt. Let the world know that the law. abiding
citizens OF this county are shocked and hor
rified and their feelings outraged by the YER
dict"
Mr.. A. @. Hagan, one of the gentlemen men
t' a sworn statement, in which he says - 'f'''
81 desire to say O word in Justice to the
young lady with whom my name has been as
eociated, as well as for the purpose Of placing
myself In a proper light. My acquaintance
with Captain Mutt and his family dates back
several years. Miss Lizzie Mutt always re
garded as modest, weii,behayed young lady
.
knowledge would warrant my entertaining
any other opinion. The intimations made by
| MIR. Dukes as TO my having had improper re
| lations with her several years ago have nc
| foundation in fact, and are totally and abso
| lutely false"
Messrs. Nathaniel b. Frey and II. P. Ken
| nedy have also sworn that they never saw
| anything in Miss Nuts behavior unbecomine
| q lady. Frey declares, 81 never used tht
language attributed to me-" and Kennedy
| states that "Dukes willfully and maliciousl!
| used my name to further his own evil pur
| pose of shielding himself at my expense
| Kennedy says further that Captain Mutt be
lieved to his dying hour that Dukes letter wa
q mass of falsehood. Hagan and Kennedy ar
| lawyers of good standing, and Frey is
farmer. Hagan is married. All three Of thes
gentlemen were desirous OF appearing as wilt
nesses TO deny Dukes allegations, but thei
evidence was considered irrelevant to tn
point at issue, and was not admitted.
| Dukes has sought the protection OF tn
Sheriff and will remain at his house tonight
The jurymen have kept away from the crowd
on the streets. There are several ellgies o
Dukes hanging on the telegraph poles.
A juryman who was found at midnight say
they were at one time nine for acqutttal ant
three for manslaughter. None OF them fayore
a verdict of murder in the first degree. Judg
| Wilson's action In condemning the verdict 1
highly lauded. 1t Is said he was never know
to SO express himself before.
motion Will be made tomorrow to hav
here on account Of the letters he wrote, which
are considered even worse than the shooting
as they have ruined the reputatlo
of the yolng lady, and caused Mrs. Mutt an
her family great 't mental %s, anguish; .o,,.
thoughtlessly cut her, but the tide is no'
turning. The Sun reporter saw Miss Mutt t
night. She denies Dukes allegations In totc
and says no woman was ever more shameful
wropged.