Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-18
JAMES MUTT SPEAKS,
But Fails TO Indulge In a Lengthy
Conversation.
THE FINAL PRoyocATIoN EXPLAINED.
A Glance at the Miserable Old Jah in
Which He is Confined and
Description Of His
Habits.

about it, there is nothing to say. This man
killed my father, slandeSed my sister, and
again and again sneered at and insulted me
OH the streets. How could l help it? 1t
was my duty to myself and my family"
James Mutt spoke thus to his counsel,
and he closed his thin lips firmly as he ut
tered the words, He did not speak with
emotion, but with quiet tirmness. There
was no sign of tears or weakening OF the
nerves, but an expression of relief. The
manner was diffident rather than boastful,
and his appearance, bearing and statement
was to a man winning; to woman 1t would
be heroic.
The Occasion
which called out the remark from the boy
now held for the murder of Nicholas
Dukes was neither sensational nor dra'
matte. His counsel was going to the Jail
and permitted me the privilege of accom-
panying him. The boy shook me warmly
by the hand when introduced, and the i'm
pulses of his heart and the force that i'm
pelled him to redress the wrong to his
family that law had denied, sprang almost
unbidden to his lips,
A Description of James Mutt.
James Mutt is yet lad in appearance
and in manner. He is OF rather slender
and awkward figure, and was clad in plain
suit of clothes 10 day, such as behtted
his occupation, for he tended and worked
his fathers acres. Early in life he took
upon himself the habits OF huSbandman,
and to the plow rather than books. So
quiet has been his life thatin community
where every man knew his esteemed
father, none hardly knew the son. He was
known as boy of exemplary habits and
entirely without guile. So little IS his
frame that he could easily be taken for
seventeen instead OF past twenty years OF
age. His features are small but regular,
and his mild blue eyes be.oken good
temper.
wOuId not Speak In Detail
of the incidents OF the last few hours. He
seemed to shun notoriety. While he did
not seem confused at the visit and was
polite, he appeared glad to dismiss the
painful subject, and returned TO his cell
as we babe him good bye. He was reading
morning paper when we went in that told
him the details of the fatal shots he had
fred at Dukes. When spoken to about the
qualification OF the public at his avengiug
his fathers death, he made no answer eX-
cept "the people are very kind AS we
turned TO leave he had q brief whispered
conversation with his counsel, giving them
some commissions for his folks at home.
Fayette County Jail.
The iail in which he is confined is
miserable structure built many years ago.
The inside, in the part where the prisoner
IS confined, resembles the iron grating
round the boiler room of a steamboat.
The cells look like boxes encased in net
work Of iron bars. The male and female
prisoners are in the same apartment when
not kept in close cells.
There was a motley gathering in the
main room this morning, but young Mutt
sat apart from them and had an entirely
different look from any OF the others.
II am as comfortable as | can expect to
be under the circumstances, said he. and
then added with faint smile, I'VE cannot
have the comfort OF home in place like
this.
Ii il n Sorry Place.
indeed, but the Sheriff who keeps it says
he is making Young Mutt as comfortable
as possible. He stoutly denies the report
thst he accorded Dukes liberties that he is
denying the present prisoner.
There are many grim condolences in all
this business. James Mutt is confined in
the same apartments occupied by the man
who murdered his father and Will be tried
before the same judge. With one eXCep-
ton the same counsel will appear. The
study OF these conditions is impressive, and
| it seems as though the higher power had
made the combination.
Between the first lines OF this dispatch
| the reader can CLEAN more than is said.
| The boys heartfelt Utterance shows that
Dukes goaded him to the desperate deed,
| and every hour. is bringing fresh evil
dences of the fact that young Mutt was
provoked by Dukes beyond all endur-
anCe. What the final offence was James
| Mutt did not say this morning, but here
| it is:
! The Immediate Cause OF the Shooting.
He was walking up street the morn.
| ing of Dukes death with AL. Miner, the
court reporter of Fayette county. Dukes,
| seeing them coming, walked out, and
| in very offensive way called out 10 Mi
neT:
Have you got all the testimony written
| out in the case against me-
He thus recalled to young Mutt the case
| to diSbar him from practising Law. Mutt
| stood with his head bowed while Dukes
thus insolently called up a feature of the
legal proceedings that bore directly upon
the murder of his father aud the attempt
| ed degradation OF his sister. This was the
| final insult, and the one which cost Dukes
| his life. The youth seemed in deep thought
all the way home as he and Miner walked
along. 1t was after these
Repeated Insults.
together with growing belief that Dukes
would still be permitted to disgrace the
| profession to which be belonged, and, also,
| to insult the general sentiment of the COM
munity by his presence, that the fatal re-
solve took possession OF him.
These important facts, demonstrating
| that the boy acted upon the impulse of an
| ever present provocation, indicate clearly
that the line of defense can with safety be
bold and broad. Although his attorneys
have not yet determined upon line of de-
fense, il is expected that they will rest
upon the plea of provocation, and not in
sanity. 1t can be shown that young Mutt
| is not as bright as the other members OF
| Captain Nuts family, though he is by no
means slow-witted The defense have sew.