The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-06-21
BLOOD PAYS FOR BLOOD.
Capt. Nuts Murder Avenged
at UniontoWn, Pa.
n. L. Dukes Shot Dead by Ills Victims
Frenzled Son.
Telegram from untontown, RAJ

James Mutt, son OF tho lnto Capt A. Y.
Mutt shot and killed N. /. Dukes, his faith.
or'a murderer at s.:i0 this evening Dukes
was standing In front Of tho Jcnninn. House
when tho evening mail arrived Ito re-
manned for some time talking 10 several
men, and was apparently In n iine hnmor,
~ he was laughing md conversing Ina frcc~
and-oasy manner. Then hc started down to
got Ills mail Az ho approached the post
otilcc Mutt opeLcd frs upon him aud shot
him twice in the back. Dukes then mado
Wild run for his life, hotly pursued BY Mutt,
who fired three more shots, two of which
took effect The nth bullet struck the fee.
ing man on the loft ankle as he was going
M the pustoiilco steps. llr fell forward on
his face and died almost INSTANTLY.
number OF persons RI he'd mp the steps
when Dukes fell. Policeman Ii.gg ran fur-
ward aud caught Mutt. who male no iesis.-
nnce. "Hcre. take this. he said u tho OIL
Ger, handing over his revolver
You have done bad piece Of work, said
Reg..
Yes, but could not help IT. was Nuts
only reply.
tho officer took his prisoner to Jail Dukes
was carried to that same old room ut tho
Jennings House in which he murdered Capt
Mutt, and which he had continued to occupy
ever since. Coroner sturgeon soon arrived
and took charge OF the body. lie then im-
panelcd II Jury, but II waA decided to
postpone the examination OF witnesses nnt1
tomorrow morning. tine witness, how
ever was examined and that one was officer
Kcgg. who detailed what he hal seen, Tho
jury then examined the body Dukes coat
was first taken OFT Tho pockets contained
some papers which were not touched In
] tho back were four bullet holcs The holes
4 In the vest correspondcd 1 o those IN the coat
j A dirk knife was found hanging To the sus-
81 h,sff ha laf sill -
could grasp II In nm instant, and in his light
4 hip pocket VAS fourd the very identical
/ revolver with which he shot Capt Mutt
\ Tho dirk knife was ready for close en-.
counter, and the revolver Tor long ranre,
Many thought that tho revolver used by
Mutt Mas the same ona his father haa at tho
time Dukes killed him. but II was not II
was Colt ~ caliher, and not 40 large rs
tho one his father had at the time ot his
death. All these things weic taken ny tho
Coroner.
On a later examination ef the wounds II
was found that only three Of tho balls had
penetrated the body. They are SO close to.
gether that ring four inches In diameter
would cover them all Two Of them Wen,
clear through the body, The, were pulled
that the two bullets passed To the right u
aud very near the heart The third hole
WAS then prohed, and tho ball va
found lodged IN the muscular tissues OF tt.
heart This ball passed through the lnng'
iirst and then into the heart IL il thought
that any one OF the balls would have cause,
death
Dukes was dressed in new suit OF darl
|. clothes, single breasted coat aud soft hlaci
, hat lie carried a light rattan cane, Hi
collar was high one, around which Wa
tied narrow black cravat his hoay wi.
be lett III the Room ut the Jennings Hoas,
until after the inquest The BARRIERS ar,
! now at work LAYING him out When he fell
, hts forehead struck the ground vii grca
force and made an ngls wound Before tn
the room and said thas Miss Mary Bcesol
wanted Dukes Keys, to which ha replied
j No one but his mother can have them.
Miss Eeeson lives close IL the lennng
! House. and IL has been reported that the,
have been engaged some time He visite,
her daily Dukes was about ~ years old
lie was graduate Of Princeton College
Was Admitted TO tho Tar in lssd, and by hi
ability had butt up tine rrac1ce He wa
: successful candidate tor the Legislature i
the fall election OF lSS.,
: James Mutt was taken to the Jail hv otiiee
Regg and surrendered int the hands .
Saerif Hoover, who immediately locke'
7 hlm up behind the huge .ran harS Whe'
: Dukes shot Capt Mutt Ae was treated To IN
best room in the Sheriff = mansion, and ha
the run el tho house but this poer boy, VIII
was driven by madness and daily aggrass
ton to do What he did, is not shown Oh
slightest favor He is not quite ~ Years 4
! ace, and has always been considered qais
and inoffensiSe, II is said, however, that b
!, had been praeticmg with revolver IL
\ some time past
! Last December. Dukes, who had been es
> gayed 10 Miss latxie Mutt, daughter of I'll
cashier OF the state 4 easurv. wrote sever,
. Infamous letters TO her father, quess ssenin
: her chastity. At the same time he aske
. Capt Mutt To come 10 his room TN SUI
= aav, Dec. q, Just about church time, tl
= father went IL the room of the traduccr |
!. his daughter 10 settle the affair quietly
: Nhile III the room an alteration took nlaet
y Dukes drew his revolver and shot Mutt dea,
n The prominence II III. parties created sre'
O excitement, and the interest continued Z
thruuSh the subsequent trial IL WAS tut
expected that the jury would return ve
y diet of guilty OF murder in the rsrst degrs
/, as the testimony was strongly against I'm
n but verdict af acguittal was announces
= Even tho presiding Judge expressed
y tonishmenI
= The Indignant cisitcns Of Cniontown n
% rade0 the streets with eiigses oi Dukes ar
l. the iursm,n An indignation meeting VI
held. and lnaAes was ordered 10 leave ION
lie stole away at midnight, riding u II
home of his mother in MyStellandtawn. hi
soon after returned He had been sregucn
In warned 10 leave. hut rerslssently I
fused Ills friends had often advised h.
II To seek another hamc. And hts answer "
~ always that hc would either hve III Cnio
8 town or hc corpse in the cemetery. As I
= back as saSs nvccmher Young Mutt u;
O. threat teaed II have n,Ae's life, aud the Ii
pf ter had always avoided hun