Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-30
AVENGED.
Dukes; tho U%niontown Pa.) As.a..,,
Det.rn ny asas a snftim,. sSn..sketcho Of s NO.
PITTsDuRoH.

Avenger, Ns
Nicholas l.. Dukes, who killed c.u uae
c. Mutt, Cashier of the State Tre.e""hA 4.
Uniortown, Fayette County, on Dsoo, s,a a:
"a last, was himself shot and ins.aAOFe'
killed Wednesday evening, at Unjo,tnnat'
by James Mutt, a nineteen-year old s.n
the deceased Captain Mutt. The friends d
Dukes mad pleaded with him to rers.;a ~
away from Uniontown, on the pr on"a
told him that If he rema ins?
there he would certainly be killed sonnalea
later. His invariable reply was tbnt 9F
would stay there or in the cemetery NJ
acquittal at the March term of court seo,n nHs
to give him renewed confidence in his safa as
AID his presence was conspicuous ON ~,
streets daily, but he never ventured or, 's
his hotel after night. Wednesday aftermo' u
he was in Pittsburgh in the COMPANY nf va y
counsel, Hon. G. E. Boyle. They , .s
at four o'clock and arrived in Unionto nms
about half-past seven. Dukes was WALL
up Main street toward his hotel, and when ~
got to the corner of Main street he obspry"19
James Mutt standing in a doorway, Ha a
glanced casually at Mutt, but did NOT mo
tempt to stop. Young Mutt, however, y,
soon as Dukes got up to him, drew a revoI'
yer and fired at him, the ball taking etfs",
IN his side. Dukes started to run towardths
post-otfice, with the intention of seekinge
shelter there. He was hit by a second sns
before reaching the post.oiice doorway. Jr..
as he got to the doorway a third shot strns.
him and laid him prone upon the nos.
office floor. Young Mutt had followed him m
dlScharging the revolver as rapidly as ia
could, and completed the assault by firm,
two bullets into the body of Dukes Villa
it lay on the fool. One OF these ball.
passed through his neck, and each one ot
the five took effect. Dukes was dead befors
any one could get to him. Mutt surrendered
himself to the Sheriff and was committed
to Jail. lie was perfectly calm, but
CHASTITY white, II laboring under the most
intense excitement.
Every one is surprised that the deed was
committed by James Mutt, who was the last
person in the world from whom vengeance
for his fathers killing was expected. Xix
disposition is docile and kindly almost to a
weakness. He is only a boy yet. but in
stature overtops an ordinary man, being fully
six feet high. His placidity of disposition
even as a boy kept him free frrm boyish
QNarrels and fights. Uci is an industrious laA
manually, but not mentally. His tastes, unlike
his fathers, are not intellectual. He disliked
togotoschool, because study involved mental
activity, which was distasteful to him.
| When at work on his fathers farm he was
contented. His character is so sluggish that
by many he is considered weak-minded. 1t
was constant brooding over his fathers
death and Dukes acquittal that wrought
him up to the commission of this crime.
Both he and his sister Lizzie have been prac-
ticing with revolvers for months, and those
who were aware Of this understood
the object. Young Mutt killed Dukes pre-
meditatedly and with malice, hut hardly
any one believes, even in the face of that
fact and the present high state of excite
ment, that he will ever be hung.
The murder which led to the tragedy is
still fresh in the minds Of all. Dukes, who
was engaged to Miss Lizzie Mutt, had writ
ten infamous letters to her father, Captain
A. c. Mutt, questioning her chastity, and
Captain Mutt, upon the invitation Of Dukes,
had gone to the latter's room in a hotel on
December "a to settle the affair quietly,
| when Dukes shot and killed him. The muir
der created intense excitement, and Dukes
was arrested, tried and acquitted. His It
lease caused great indignation, and threats
on his life were heard OH all sides, but no
attempt was made to carry them out, and it
was generally believed that he would be al
lowed to remain i'll Uniontown unmolested.