The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-21

the cold and clustering weather to-
day grave doubts were entertained
of the success of the meeting called
for this evening to express the indig-
nation of the community touching
the verdict of tie jury acduitting
Dukes ofthe murder fcaptain Mutt
The asseh1blage was to have CON
vensd onsthe post Office corner, bu,
the blasts were too wintery, so it was
decided to have it in the public
school hall. In ten minutes after
the ringing of the school house bell
shere was not standing room in the
nall. People of all classes, condi-
tions and creed, and of every party
focked there. Many were unable
to gain, admission. Captain John
Bierer was called to preside. He
spoke for about ten minutes. He
reviewed the character of Captain
Mutt in his relations to society and
his family. He dwelt upon the deep
damnation of his taking of, and
when he came to speak of the jurors
who acquitted his assassin. no words
were too strong in which to frame
his powerful condemnation of their
acts. When he affirmed his aiming
belief in the absolute purity of the
young girl whom Dukes had so vital
ly tradueed his audience burst into
a storm of applause, which clearly
indicated how fully his sentiments
were received. A special train from
Conaellsville had brought large del
egations from that place, Dunbar
and intermediate points on the
Southwest railway. While MIR.
Bierer was speaking and the enthu-
siasm of the meeting was rising to a
high pitch, c. H. Beall, ofthis place,
capped the climax by rising to his
feet and declaring, Il was born in
Maryland and am damned glad OF
it. / don't belong to Fayette coun-
MESSAGES Of 81
o. ]. Sturgis read q number of
kilograms that .aad been sent to the
meeting. Ex-Attorney General Pal
mel biographies as follows from
Wilkesbarre The universal senti-
ment here is that Dukes acquittal
irretrievably disgraces Fayette coun-
ty and humiliates every Pennsylva-
MAN" The following sentiment
came from Confluence Hang the
murderer and penitentiary the ju-
Bellvernon shook hands with
Hon. W. H. Playford in these words I:
Cant be present, but indignation
great. You did nobly." The noun
tain town Ursina sent greeting this
"Feelihg against Dukes uni
versal. No sympathy for him here"
These kilograms were applauded
again and again, particularly the
one from Confluence. 1t struck q
responsive chord in the breast of
every one present. c.. H Livingston,
a merchant, followed in a five min
ute speech. He said that his opin-
ion and the opinion of every other
honest man was that notwithstand-
ing the verdict Dukes richly merited
a halter about his neck. and that
when he failed to get it he failed. Of
The verdict was a mockery
ofjustice, a scandaious shame and a
whitening disgrace to Fayette county.
Nathaniel Ewing a member ofthe bar
said he had often felt in private his
inability to adequately express his
feelings, and on this public occasion
he doubly lamented his weakness in
this regard to do justice to them.
had never felt before as ne did
now had never felt how inadequate
the courts are to the administration
of Justice, as since, the infamous YER
dict that had set free a red-handed
among an honest and law
people, Notwithstanding the
verdict.oftwelve base MEN. The time
has come when the courts cannot be
relied upon to seethat justice is done.
Then we must resort to other mea-
sures and take the law in our own
hand. at this juncture the audi
ence vociferously demanded q speech
from Rev. Kerr, and TO their request
he readily assented. He said hat
words would fail to express the in
tensity Of his feeling over the out
rageous act of twelve men who had
pretended to do their sworn duty.
Well may parents tremble for their
daughters when twelve men can be
found who are so base, so lost to all
sense of manhood, decency and hon.
or as to render directly contrary to
all the evidence, the verdict which
acquitted Lyman Dukes of the muir
der of Captain Mutt and of the re-
sponsibility for the terrible blot
which he had attempted to put upon
the fair name of his dear family.
May the names of these jurors go
down to posterity as the black list
of Fayette county, to be remembered
only with feelings ofshame and mex
pressible disgust, to be remembered
throughout the State as those who
had committed the monumental act
of infamy and as for Nicholas
Lyman Dukes, may be go forth to
learn, as Cain did, what it is to bear
upon his brow the brand of a muir
derer. May he learn that there is q
punishment which no bribery can
avert and no treachery turn aside.
Let him go forth to learn tina! when
he shall stand in the presence of
purity and innocence his conscience
shall sting him and accuse him of
the lowest forms of RIGHTEOUSNESS
and debauchery. Let him learn that
the curse of men shall follow him
whithersover his footsteps may 90.
Let him learn that the hand that
penned such letters as he wrote to
Captain Mutt is the hand of coward
ly assassin, the hand Of a man un-
worthy a place among honest and
upright people. Let him learn that
all in all he is a man who. would
shame the most abandoned inhabi-
tanf of tho infnrnal reoionc