The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-06-29
TIE nury.puKEs TRAGEDY.

| BUN me 10&hy 1ccayc'-OIECSS Ia
test amour
Unoutown, Pa, june 24.-Just three
months ago Dukes was acquitted of the
murder Of captain Mutt. That night he
escaped the fury of the people by riding on
horseback to his mothers residence in Ger
man township, twelve miles away. His
route was past the residence of the man he
had killed. To day Oukcs's dead body
went over the same road in a furniture
wagon, followed by his aged mother, his step.
! father and his balesister 1t was lonely,
mournfu procession, aud painfully iudica>
ted the bitterness Of the feeling against
him. The funeral vii. take place on Sat
urday.
When he laughed in young Nuts face
as lie passed him on the street it brought
affairs TO Il crisis. Wednesday evening
| while Mutt was standing on a corner talk
ing with MIR. +. NJ. Jeifries, Dukes came
up. Seeing Mutt, he lowered his head,
and started to walk by huricdly. Mutt had
not said q word to Jetfries with regard to
an intention to kill Dukes At the ap-
pcarance Of Dukes he drew his pistol and
fired. Immediately Dukes turned around,
saw who it was, and then fed as fast as he
could go, though he was armed.
The death Of Dukes reveals another
sweetheart of his. Miss Mary Bceson of
this city, seems to have been his latest
conquest, or at least the one who stood true
to him through all his troubles. Since his
acquittal she appears to have been the only
one woman who would even tolerate his
society, and with her, common report says,
he has spent most of his evenings. She is
modest retiring lady of something more
than thirty years Of age, and Of the oldest
and best families Of the place. Her stard-
ing in the community is OF the best, and
the wonder with all is that she could tc so
much infatuated with Dukes as to receive
his addresses at all. Srme persons think
that she and Dukes were engaged to be
married, while others say she only received
his visits because she sympathizcd with him.
Many believe that it was for her that Dukes
desired to break his engagement with Miss
Mutt, but her name never seems to have
been publicly mentioned in connection with
his until at his death last night, when she
gave vent to her sorrow, and desired of the
coronc: his keys. This act introduced
new feature Into the tragic scene, and re-
vcalcd the fact that there was another
heart to bleed for his misdccds.
Since Dukcss acquital letter has been
written that may soon come to light. 1t is
from one of his swccthcarts to another.
1t is sharp, chiding letter, and contains
this sentence: You may win n. L. Dukas's
passion but his love is forever mine"
The family relations existing between
Miss Bcoson and n. l.. Dukcs arc tangled
strongly enough without taking into account
their personal intimacy. The daughter Of
Asbury Strublc by bis first marriage be-
came the wife Of Frank Helen, whose sister
married Jesse Becson, and Miss Mary Bee
son, the surviving daughter of that mar
riagc is the now mourning sweetheart of
n. L. Dukes, whose widowed mother mar
ried Asbury Strublc. The wife Of Lingo,
the photographer, who spoke the last words
that penetrated the cars of the dying
Dukes last night, is the daughter of another
Helen and first cousin to Miss Bccsou.
Miss Lizzie Mutt and her mother were
at their h ,me when tho shooting took
place. The news was carried to them by a
crowd Of ncighbors, who rushed pell-mell
into the house, cxclaiming, Jim has kill
cd Dukes" The suddenncss Of the thing
shocked the ladies SO much that they were
specchless for while. Mrs Mutt trcmb!cd
| all over and then sank into chair, saying
as she did so "Ob, my poor boy, why did
you do it 2" 4 moment afterwards she
added But you are not to blame, Jim,
you're not to blame" The effect upon
Miss Lizzie was quite different She seemed
to be struck dumb with amazcmcnt at first
but quickly recovered herself, aud then said
calmly and with extraordinary frmness ::
"Jim did just what true hearted brother
| should have done. think he acted noby.'
The ncighbors were Of the same opinion,
and expressed themselves unroservedly. In
short while kilograms began to pour
in from all parts Of the State, endorsing
the shooting md Offering money to assist
III paying expenses of the trial. Tho tcc
grams arc still coming in Many o; them
arc from nromincnt merchants and nro>