New-York tribune., 1883-06-17
THE DUKES-NUTT AFFAIR.
HISTORY OF THE MURDER OF TWO MEN.
SOCIAL POSITION OF THE TWO FAMILIES - THE
CHARGE AGAINST MISS MUTT.

hioIOhI OF THE MURDER OF IWO MEN,
SOCIAL POSITION OF THE TWO FAMILIES - THE
CHARGE AGAINST MISS MUTT.
TBr TELEGRAPH TO rRnBUSE
UNIoNTowN. Penn, June LEON Sunday morn
ing, December 20. few moments after the killing
OF Captain Adam c. Mutt by Nicholas L. Dukes in
the room of the latter at the Jennings House, man
present said: "Dukes's life isn't worth copper
with Jim Mutt alive" The tragedy of last We'd
nesday evening proves the remark true one. The
killing of Captain Mutt startled and shocked the
community and before the recovery Of those dis
posed to take summary vengeance on the betrayer
and murderer, he fed to the JAIL where his friend.
Sheriff Hoover, stood ready to idefend
him to the fullest letter of the
law. At the time of the killing Captain Mutt
was Republican and Du K kesa Democrat. and the
former at the time he was killed held the position
of State Treasurer and the latter was a member
elect of the State Legislature. The fact that Dukes
was Democrat had much to do with his acquittal.
The position of Dukes socially was a peculiar
one. He was quiet reserved and dignIhed. He
had the respect Of all persons and no young man at
the Fayette County Bar had more brilliant pros
poets than he. Dukes also possessed an ample for
tune, and his credit was unlimited. With all these
advantages, however. he did not mix in society.
In appearance he was unprepossessing,
being somewhat too fat, slightly bow
legged, ana bearing an unsightly birthmark On his
left check. He was graduated from Princeton Col
lege Miss Lizzie Mutt is petite blonde, an accom-
plshed, well-behaved girl, thoroughly respectable,
and against whom the tongue of scandal has never
breathcd, until tho scurrilous epstles OF her de-
famer brought her name into disrepute. 1t was
feared by somo at the time of the publication of
Dukes's letters that Miss Lizzie had been at least
ndiscreet but her conduct since shows that she is
innocent Of the charge made against her. Now the
question arises, What was Dukes's mo-
tive in accusing her and himself OF an
improper intimacy if none had ever ex-
istedi : Tho opinion here generally is that he
did IL calmly, cody and deliberately. with the
direct intention OF breaking his engagement with
her, never dreaming that her father would take
the matter as he did. Believing Dukes to have
been sane at the time he wrote the letters, this Is
the solution accepted by the majority of those who
knew him.
James Mutt, who has just killed the murderer of
his father is the hero of the hour The most em-
inent counsel! in the State have rendered their ser
vices 20 defend him gratutouslv and large sums OF
money have been offered both 20 him and his
mother. The lawyer who dofonded Dukes at his |
ate trial was Charles h. Bayle, member-eIect OF |
tho XLVIl'h Congress, aud one OF the
ablest lawyers IN the state. For defending
Mr. Bayle did his best, although his personal detes-
tatiOn for the man was Intense He has Just re- |
fused the oier oil "a large sum OF money from ne
relatives of Dukes TO prosecute young Mutt. Ono |
of the lawyers who prosecuted Dukes, William ii. |
Playford. was his preceptOr. The fact that he re-
mained in UlontOwn knowing that public feeling |
was intensely excited against him, and that " Jim" |
Mutt had sworn TO kill MN, shows Dukes to have |
been man OF physical courage, and his remark |
that he meant 10 "say In Uniontown OF the ceme-
tTy.' will be qused IN his favor
Dukes buried to-day, and the next ques- |
ton will be the disposal of Mutt. The judge who |
tried Dukes, and the one who in all probability |
will try Nutt u Evans Wilson profound lawyer |
a. on equitable judge In the opinion OF an emf |
nout lawyer here Mutt will he convicted OF murder
In the second degree and then immediately pardoned
by the Governor.