Morris tribune., 1883-06-16
A Noted Crime Avenged.

James Mutt, son of SAFE TREASURED
Capt. a. G.. Mutt, deceas I'll, shot and
/ killed N H. Dukes, his fathers nfilr
derer, at Uniontown Pa, last We'd
nesday evening at 7:30 o'clock Ht
shot four times, all the shots taking
leffect. Dukes died instantly. AS
Dukes was passing a building near the
Ipost-office he turned his head and
noticed young Mutt, just as lie stepped
from the doorway, and fired il Shot,
taking effect in Dukes side. Dukes
started to run, when Mutt followed
and shot again. By this time Dukes
was on the post office steps, when he
received another shot and fell inside
| the door. Mutt followed and fired two
more shots into Dukes prostrate body,
one taking effect in the neck. Dukes
/ was dead before any one could get to
him. The revolver that did the work
! is the same that Capt. Mutt carried on
the morning of his death. Young
Mutt gave himself up and is now in
jlii. He was calm, but pale as sheet.
Five shots were fired, four taking eff
feet. Dukes was immediately carried
by officers of the law-as no one else
would touch him-to the Jennings
House, and the coroner, for want of
witnesses, postponed the inquest. The
streets were soon deserted, everyone
having gone home with Il feeling of
relief, and so far your correspondent
has not heard of one dissenting voice
to tho general feeling that it should
have been done long ago. 1t is also
the general impression that no II men
In the county will convict the prisoner
who immediately gave himself up to
the authorities. Mrs. Mutt is very
much Frustrated, but with the aid Of
rcsturatives feels somewhat relieved,
but grave fears exist for her recovery.
The tragedy of which the homicide
above narrated is the sequel was one
of the most noted crimes that has en-
gagged public attention for years. On
Dee. %, 1882, n. l.. Dukes, a lawyer,
and member-elect of the Pennsylvania
legislature from Fayette county, shot
and killed Capt. A. c. Mutt, state
cashier, in the Jennings house, Union
town. The cause was the alleged
seduction of Capt. Nuts daughter
Lizzie, by Dukes, to whom the young
lady was engaged. Correspondence
followed between Dukes and the
wronged father, the latter finally an
nouncing that he would return to I'm
iontown and meet Dukes at his room
at the hotel and there settle the matter
with him. He intimated that unless
Dukes made reparati0n by marrying
Lizzie, he (Nutt) would chastise him. |
The meeting took place according to |
agreement. No one was present |
beside the two men. a scuff1e, fol- |
lowed by shot, was heard by the |
people on the floor below and in the
street, and on fastening up to Dukes /
room they found that Dukes had shot
Capt. Mutt over the left eye, the bullet |
his brain and the unfort-
unate man died shortly afterward.
He was indicted for murder, and his
trial began on March 8. The prosecu-
ton succeeded in establishing the fact
that the shooting was Il deliberate
murder. On the 14th, or five days
after the beginning of the trial, the
Jury, much to the astonishment Of the
public, and in the face of The most
conclusive evidence of the guilt of
Dukes, and the judges charge, which
vas strongly in favor of the prosecu-
ion, rendered a verdict Of not guilty.
Dukes was compelled to leave town
until the excitement had subsidized, his
ife being Threatened. A few weeks
he returned to Union-
own to live i'm the shadow of odium
which his vile deeds had created.
His seat in the legislature was declared
facant and duly supplied by a special
election. Dukes resumed the practice
,f law, and although some gossip of
attempts upoa his life
" Lizzie az her brother were heard,
he ~p,iuctf and Ei,.r,icrrr WAS u.!
nolc-t 1. u,;;ii c.. ,rtlaN.