The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-06-23
LIFE FOR LEE.
JAMES MUTT KILLS N. L. DUKES.
lie Street--YOungN Mutt AR.
rested and Jailed.
The Paraic.
ulars.
conneIIsviIie Courier Of the 18th inst.

uAaTSs
~r
Connellsvilie Courier Of the 18th inst.
Once more is the press called upon
to chronicle an awful tragedy in
Fayette county. Nicholas Lyman
Dukes, the murderer of Captain
Mutt, lies cold in death, pierced by
the bullets Of James Mutt, son Of
Dukes victim. The modern civil
law failed to punish the murderer,
but at last the stern decree of the
ancient biblical law has been visited
upon him. "Whosoeyer sheddeth
mans blood by man shall his blood
be she'd" With what awful certain
ty has the iron hand Of leaden- heeled
justice fallen! Lulled into sense
of security by the apparent absence
of danger, the slayer Of Captain Mutt
walked the streets of Uniontown,
slept in the bed where his victim
gasped his dying moments while the
red stream Of life ebbed away, talked
and laughed as if he were an limo
cent child in whose pure heart neither
fear nor sin had entered. But how
delusive his fancied safety! Instead
Of winning his way back to public
favor. friendship and security, his
feet were hurrying to the brink Of
the great beyond. The Nemesis was
was on his track. The avenger OF
his father was practicing with his
pistol for the fatal encounter which
the fates had decreed should send
Nicholas Lyman Dukes before the
bar Of God, there to plead his case,
there to answer singly aud alone for
the awful crime that thrilled the
whole country with horror and amaze
ment on the Oath of December last.
THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
just at dusk, Wednesday evening,
when the minute hand of the court
house clock had passed the second
quarter in its journey past the hour
of seven, Uniontown was startled by
the sharp report of five pistol shots
which rang out upon the evening air
with startling dstinctness from the
neighborhood of the postoffice, in the
central portion of the town. In a
moment every one was running to
the scene, and the word was quickly
passed along that Dukes was dead.
The excited crowd gathered around
the postofice and there on the floor
lay the lifeless body of Nicholas Ly-
man Dukes.
James Mutt was standing against
Il post inside of Il room that joins the
postoflice and fronts on Main street
The room was until lately occupied
by drug store, and the front is all
taken out, it being now fitted up fol
a room for the first national bank.
While standing here Dukes came
down street from the direction of the
Jennings Hotel, walking briskly with
q cane under bis arm, and Just as he
turned the cornor toward the post
office door young Mutt stepped down
to the outside, pulled q revolver and
fired two shots in rapid succession
Dukes looked around and
STARTED Tc RUN
into the postoilice door, whereupon
Mutt fired again and followed in
close pursuit. just as Dukes got in
side the postoffice his assailant fired
two more shots and Dukes fell heav
lily to the floor upon his face. E. A
Lingo rushed into the office and
stopped down to pick him up. Dukes
tried to say something, but could
only gasp, and in a moment he was
dead.
BY this time Policeman Pegg, who
was standing on the opposite corner
and who witnessed the shooting
reached the side Of young Mutt and
laid his hand upon him. At first he
was inclined to resist, but seeing
who he was made no resistance but
said to the officer to take his revolver
which was yet smoking in his hand
at the same time suiting the actor
W Lilc WOIO.
Pegg said to him, "You have done
a bad thing"
James replied, eyes, but how coul6
l help it?'
When Dukes fell friend rushed
up to his side and asked him tt
speak. The dying man made an in
distinct reply. While he could no
speak he turned on his side and cas-
a reproachful look upon young Mutt
whom he appeared to recognize az
his slayer.
Officer Pegg took young Mutt t.
the county Jail, and the body o
Dukes was conveyed to the Jennings
House where he had boarded. Coro
ner Sturgeon took charge Of the body
and impanneled jury of inquest as
follows: A. j. Gilmore, foreman
and VIM. III. Miller, DR.. L. S. Cad
dis, w. L. Robinson, George c. Mar
shall and John N. Dawson.
WHAT THE JURY FOUND.
The jury made critical examina
ton of the clothing and person Of thu
deceased. The back Of his coat haC
four bullet holes in it ON the left side
and his pockets were bristling will
weapons. On one suspender buttor
a dirk knife was SO Suspended that HI
could reach it in moment, and il
his back pocket was the identica