Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-04-06

From the New York Times.l
Dukes, the slayer of Capt. Mutt, of Union
town, Penn, has resigned his seat in the Leg
islature of his state, thus cutting short the la
bors Of the committee appointed to consider
what should be done in his case. His letter
surrendering his seat was dated from Fay
cite County" vague description Of his place
Of sojourn, showing his desire to be kept in
hiding. The people Of Uniontown, indignant
that the name of their town should suddenly
acquire an unenviable repute as the dwelling
place Of Dukes, served upon the assassin for
NAL notice that he must quit the town within
a certain time. II he remained, (it was sig.
nifcantly added It would be at his own
great risk. The wretched criminal locked
himself in his room, guarded by one persis-
tent friend. Leaving his guardian TO keep up
appearances of occupation in the improvised
fort, Dukes stole away in the night and he is
now a wanderer and fugitive on the face of
the earth II he had tarried his life was al
most certainly forfeited. His exasperated
fellow citizens would have defed law and or
der and would have hanged him without
Judge or jury. But lawless execution Of
the man would not only have been an inva-
sion of the written statue; it would have been
a failure of justice
The crime of this man is peculiarly black.
Failing to keep promise of marriage, he
sought to excuse himself by accusing the
young lady to whom he he had been affianoed
of gross immoralites As if to strengthen his
case, he accused himself of a guilty knowl.
edge Of the sins which he laid to the charge
Of the young lady. And, to deepen the dark
ness of his ofense against honor and decency,
he quoted the names of other men by whom
his various allegations could be proved.
Then, with a callousness to every sentiment
of manliness that is simply abnormal, he
wrote to the father of the young lady several
letters accusing her. and accusing and excus-
ing himself in terms unfit for publication.
Then, when the matter had assumed the pro-
portions of a public scandal, he met the heart
broken father and killed him almost upon
sight" Acquitted by packed jury, Dukes
cannot escape the just indignation of his fell
low-men. His miserable life has been saved
by a trick. But it is apparent that he will be
compelled to endure blighted existence as an
outcast, despised of all men. 1t should be
said here that the shameful charges which he
has made against the fame OF the young wom-
an whom he has orphaned rest solely on his
unsupported word 1t is more than likely
that the murderer is liar. Each one of the
men whom he cited as witnesses to fortify his
allegations has made solemn affidavit that
these are all entirely baseless
Sometimes what seems to be miscarriage
of human justice is overruled, to the contu-
sion of those who apparently profit by the
accident 1t may be 30 in the case of Dukes,
whose crimes are singulRrly monstrous. He
will be treated with loathing wherever he
makes himself known. He will be an out
cast, vagabond to be warned from the
haunts of honest men. 1t has been said Of
Dukes by some who have read their Bibles
without consideration that he goes forth in
the land with the brand Of Cain set upon
him, so that every mans hand shall be against
him and he shall be slain at last, as he slew
the man whom he had so wickedly wronged.
The first murderer was sent forth "a fugi-
tive and a vagabond in the earth" His pun
ishment was worse than death. 1t is written
that "the Lord set mark upon Cain lest any
finding him should kill him" We are not
now living under the ancient Jewish dispen-
sation. But whether the traditions of the
early history of the race affect our judgment
and sensiblities or not, all honorable men
will recognize the fitness of the fate that has
overtaken this new Cain. His offence is one
that no man can hope to outlive. For him
human society has no pardon. He should
be permitted to exist until he cries with the
first man.slayer my punishment is greater
than | can bear"