The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-15
AHOILoW MOCKERY.
THE DUkes.NuTr FARclcAL TRIAL.
The Dsf.msr ofa Daughters Honor, the Murderer
OF the Father and the Destroyer or House.
hold Acquitted By YenAl Jary-Iu.
dIgaAtion ofths Court aadlPsopls.

USloSTONs, IA, MATCH l4.-1ne noeI
intense interest continues in the Dukes
murder trial. The testimony was all II
yesterday. The. Commonwealth did moi
seek to,break down the defendants good
character by rebuttal. Dukes was in
court at the appointed hour, looking more
anxious than on previous days.
Looking him right in the face, and about
twenty feet distant, was .he quiverine
figure Of fragile female nervously tanning
her closely yelled face, which bore marks Of
grief not to be pictured by any pen. She
felt as only a mother could feel whose
heart was broken by the double stroke
which brought death 10 her husband and
ruin TO her daughter. This was the doubly
distressed widow Of Captain Mutt. There
she sat with subdued emotion, listening to
the comments OF the defendants eloquent
advocates. who argued as an excuse for
Dukes disgusting letters that he was q man
favored by the people, member Of the
Legislature who was anxious that bis politi.
cal escutcheon should remain immaculate.
TIE DEGREE oP MURDER CLAIMED.
ave want to know exactly what the
Commonwealth claims in this case" said
the Hon. G. E. Boyle, Of counsel for the
defense, Immediately on the opening ol
court this morning.
To this Hon. W. H. Playiord, represent.
ing the Government, replied in voice
which penetrated every nook and corner
OF the court room: "We, your Honor,
claim that Nicholas L. Duks, the defend.
ant, is guilty OF murder Of thefirst degree"
Perhaps the unkindest cut OF counsel for
the defense was in effect that the widow of
Mutt and her sister-in.law were present at
the trial for the purpose Of aIousing the
jury's sympathies. Their sense Of decorum
was criticised. The testimony OF Mrs.
Mutt was also attacked. She testified
that her husband was in the habit
Of carrying q revolver, he being the
Cashier OF the State Treasury. Mr.. Boyle
asked the jury il they believed Mutt
carried the State Treasury around him?
The bias OF Mr.. Breckenridge, nephew Of
tne uecehneu, "as sefeieIs CVlnIuehuou oh'
vouIse aad NOT say ne Swole .t.t lasey s,on nu'
This case seems to battle the ingenuity Of
the defense. Scarcely an argument Is
made on that side that cannot be construed
in favor OF the Commonwealth.
AN AsrouSprSg Acourrr.L
/, mi. -. -.....aa - ~. r. uL.-.,,
ihe Juy fe'uiiiei " 'neii poA snoiu iuy
before eight O'Clock, and announced YER
dict OF acauittal. Judge Wilson looked
amszsd at the announcement, and said:
.coa,Isnan ~ ,ha r.. arnnosa ,hs
"en'ieiien Vi .ne Jury -, suppo'e 'ne
verdict is one that you thought you
should render under your oaths, but 'tis
one that gives dissatisfaction to the
Court because we thought the evidence
sufficient to justify different verdict. Il
Won have committed an error II ia one tina,
Wa cannot avoid. but can only express oul
condemnation Of it in this mild way. Tn,
nrisoner il discharged
Dukes then left the Court amidst grea
excitement and indignation. N
JUST INDIGNATION.
9.SO p. M.-The indignation over the yer
die is terrific and an excited crowd hal
Just started toward the Court House wher,
Dukes is in charge Of the Sheriff, car
rylng as slunsa tsy ,;os M pakes ~ iae, ~,
twelve iurymen. Violence is momentaril,
L. 4 4,