Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-22
DUKES.
THE MURDERER ACQUITTED.
Wood ward

THE MURDERER ACQUITTED.
The trial OF N. l.. Dukes, for the
murder of Capt. A. G. Mutt, Cashier
OF the State Treasury, began at Union
town, Fayette county, Monday the
18th inst, and ended on Wednesday
evening following in the acquittal of
the murderer.
The general circumstances OF the
case are still familiar TO the public, bait
the infamous letters OF Dukes to Capt.
Mutt, and the incensed reply Of tie lat
ter to Dukes were only made public
during the trial. Dukes is a piacticing
lawyer of some prominence at Union
town, and was last fall elected mem
Der OF the legislature but the murder
of Capt. Mutt with all the horrid Cit
cumStances connected with it, prove
him a villain of the basest kind.
Dukes had paid attentions to Miss Liz
zle, daughter Of Capt. Mutt, a inter
walls for several years, and after
having debased her wrote a letter to
her father, then at Harrisburg, reveal
ing to him the state Of his daughter,
coupled with an iptimation how he
| could save her and his family from dis
grace. 1t would be difficult to find
parallel to this letter for baseness and
infamy. The indignant and outraged
father replied to Dukes in spirit and
tenor that left no room to doubt his
feeling and intentions. He puts the
alternative to Dukes TO marry the girl
or take the risk OF the consequences.
This Dukes fatty & insultingly refused
to do in a second letter to Capt. Mutt,
although he again admitted his Grim
inal relation to Lizzie, in language that
would drive any father who had even a
spark of honor, to desperation. Then
followed the fatal meeting between the
two men in Dukes room at Unlontown,
on the morning of Dec. oath. They
| first had a scufflc but had been sepera-
ted, and were standing about eight feet
apart, Capt. Mutt resting his elbow on
the mantle, exhausted by the scGffle,
when the fatal shot fell. He lived on
ly half an hour but could not talk.
When the dreadful news spread over
the town the excitement and indigna-
| tiOn were intense. Violence was freely
threatened but Dukes was already safe
inside the prison walls.
During the three days. trial the court
house was literally packed with people.
The evidence, the mastery plea of Hon.
w. III. Playford as well rs the able
charge of Judge Wilson, all pointed to
the conviction of the murderer, either
in first or second degree, but when the
jury brought in their shameful verdict
of "Not guilty. the disappointment
and indignation were general and knew
no bounds. Judge Wilson seemed a.
mazed and said to the jury
"T suppose the verdict that you have rendered
|
der your Oaths, but 1t Is one that gives disSatis-
| faction to the Court because we thought The ev-
idence was sufficient to justify you In rem dering
| q different verdict. III you have committed an
| error, it Is one that we cannot avoid, but can
| only express our condemnation OF 1t la this mild
| Way. The prisoner Is discharged"
| The crowd rushed out, but waited about the
| halls to see the acquitted man start out. He
started down the back way, but remained con-
cealed on the stairway while his counsel passed
1 Ia
In a measure dispersed. On the streets indig.
nation at the verdict ran high. An impromptu
procession formed at once and paraded the
streets with a rude effi1y OF Dukes upon % pole
and crying his name with oaths and ieers The
threats OF lynching were freely made. Dukes
sought the protection OF the Shorthand closeted
| himself I'm the Jail building for the night.
| The jurors disappeared in the confusion the
minute they were discharged. ana, alarmed ut
at the threats OF tar and feathers that greeted
them as they passed through the crowd, sought
security way from the hotels and the streets.
1t has been impossible to see them since.
The effgy of Dukes, after being carried In
procession through the town, was hanged upon
tree before the McClelland House, the crowd
singing
"We1l hang Lyman Dukes on a sour apple tree"
Meanwhile the sober-minded men were giving
expression to their feelings I'm an other way. A
paper was rapidly circulated, calling an indig-
nation meeting next day OF all who are jealous
of the reputation of Fayette county. 1t was
hurriedly signed aud posted through the town
and neighborhood
The Indignation Meeting.
UNIoNrowN, March 15,--Owins to the cold
and clustering weather to-day grave, thoughts
were entertained Of the success Of the meeting
called to express the Indignation Of the com.
mdnity touching the verdict of the jury acquit-
hing Dukes OF the murder ofeaptsin Mutt The