Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-13
DUKES TRIAL.
The Testimony Of F. c. Breckefl-
ridge. 81
Captaia Mutt Was Leaning Against the
Mantel Piece Exhausted When
Shot-Political Prejudice Ap-
pealed To.
THE SUBSTANCE OF THOSE LETTERS

correspondence with Captgin Mutt, and
that after writing scandalous and villain
GUS letters he invited Mutt to come to his
room for peaceable settlement OF their
difficulties; that Mutt at first declined the
interview, but that Dukes wrote again, in
which he assured Mutt that he would be
unarmed; that Mutt then went, and being
inyeigled into Dukes own room, was
there murdered by him. The defense
made great effort to keep out anything
bearing on the contents OF the Letters, ana
stated that they objected to their admission
as irrelevant. The court allowed the Com.
mon wealth to refer to the letters as throw
ing light on why Mutt went TO the room,
but not to 90 into detail as TO their contents
at this time.
Great Legal Battle
will be fought over the admission OF these
letters. Breckenridge was the only wit
ness examined during the forenoon. he
related his going to Dukes room TO get an
interview with Dukes for Mutt and de:
scribed the killing. The defense tried hard
TO break his testimony as TO Nuts making
no motion to get a revolver at the time
Dukes fired, but did not succeed.
F. c. Breckenridge was on the witness
stand all morning. The point OF his testi-
Dukes he was standing with his right arm
resting on the mantle and bis left arm
hanging by his side. He was exhausted
and breathing heavily from the struggle
with Dukes, which was just over, and max
ing no movement of any kind. The de-
fense, in cross-eXamining Breckenridge
sought TO break him downiby.show that
at the hearing before the Coroner he had
not testified with absolute certainty to
these facts, but wanted to do so. Brecken'
ridge stated that he was in state OF great
mental excitement and physical prOstra-
tration when the Coroner examined him,
Immediately after the murder OF bis uncle.
He said, that his recollection was not as clear
then as now.
Mr.. Breckenrdges testimony was cor
roborated by James B. Feather aud Lewis
Williams, who were examined this after.
noon.
There is great anxiety everywhere to see
the contents of the letters which passed
between Dukes and Mutt, and which led to
the fatal tragedy. The correspondence
originated with Dukes. He wrote the first
letter, which covers sixteen pages. Ia is
dated December 4, 1882, and is in substance
as follows:
DEAR SIR-It is inexpressibly painful to
me to write you upon the subject which
now have in hand, but consider it duty
both TO myself and to you. About four
wears ago / met your daughter Lizzie at ,
festival in the Methodist church. / was
struck by her beauty and charmed with
her innocence and simplicity. l sought
and obtained an Introduction. Prob
| ably a year ago | visited her in
| the company OF mutual friends ana
spent q very pleasant evening. Subsequent
L., 7 aA showed
| me burn upon her wrist. took her
| hand in mine to look at it, and when done
| | was surprised that she permitted her Aand
| to linger in mine. This hattered my van
| ity. When | was about TO depart attempt
| ed to kiss her, and, to nv still further sur
| prise, instead Of repulsing me. she ad-
vanced her face to mine. l called again,
| and as the front door of your new house
| was not then completed. | started to 60
round and enter by the back way. Passing
the library window l was surprised and
! grieved to see Lizzie sitting on Alonzo
| Hogan's lap. | left without entering.
| On my next visit / made certain PROPOSE
tions to your daughter She uselted like
wax in my arms and yielded TO my en-.
treaties. | vas but human-you would
have done the same. 1t was not long until
| heard ru0ors OF general laxity OF
morals on the part Of Lizzie, and that
4 OtnerS as well ds Ltu ucI
heard that Nat Fly had said in ReiS' store
that-IThe rest Of this sentence is unfit
for publicationl. Determining to test fol
myself the truth Of this followed Lizzie
and Fry home from dancing school one
evening, and concealing myself near the
house where ! coRld see and yet not be seen
Watched them at the front door. Fry kissed
and fondled her, and generally tool
liberties to which modest girl would not
have submitted. When l called again
taxed Lizzie with not having confined her
fayors to me. She confessed, and said that
she had been led off several years ago by
| Jesse Bogardus, to whom she had been in
troduced by Miss Donaldson. AL that
have written is merely preliminary to th'
point of this letter. Your daughter, have
reason to spprehend, is now in a delicat
condition; you, and you alone, are in
position to take such means as will saw,
her and your family from shame and dis
grace, and l implore you 10 act promptly
Respectfully.
n. L. DUKES.
Capt. Mutt arrived home on the lith and
returned to Harrisburg on the 18th. Oh
the 18th he replied to DuKe's letter. Afte
expressing his grief and horror over it
terrible contents, and the awful shock l.
him, he afirms his belief that if his daugh
ter has been ruined Dukes is responsible
and then he says, in substance:
You say would have done rs you did
You are - liar, II had invaded tn
sanctity of home as you have confesse
to doing, | would hold myself fit only /
be shot When cross the threshold Of
mans door and become the guest OF hi
family, or any member of it, his wifi
and daughters are as sacred TO m
socially as my own. The suggestion that
should resort to the hellish acts Of the abor
tionists could only have emanated from
creature like you. No, l have the mors
courage TO face the community IN which
live and if disgrace should come | have n
fear but under the circumstances the syn
pathy and support OF the community wi
be mine. have also the physical courag
tive of repairing the ruin which you hav
wrought or suffering death. 1t remain
with YOU to say whether there shall be
Illegal farce ora tragedy. You cannot skull
from me, nor evade me. Leaving Unior
town when go there will not avail you.
will be home again on the Sd"
To this letter Dukes replied on the i9ti
saying:
I'm the light of your letter would b
justified in shooting you on sight. As f.
marrying your daughter would soons
suffer death than to be mated to 9 'wantor
"a toy of the town. However, think
meeting between US will result in an am
cable understanding, and therefore wi
! sseet you at NY Cffice At O'Clock Saturda
evening the I'D, or In my room at 9 o'cloc
sunday morning"
In this letter Dukes also mentioned z.
Kennedy as another who was fayorit
with Miss Mutt On December 2lst Dake
wrote a third letter 10 Mr.. Mutt, quoun
tender PASSAGES from written messages
! Miss Mutt, TO him. This letter Is uniu
pertaut sbd entirely ianocent OF anythin
| barmfni Dyses further said in his secon
letter that Csp<sin Mutt could come to n,r
armed as he fimssli would be unarmed o
Friday. - c,,;,r.r
hardware store and Nusas soriS . t;Il Fl
ing be wanted one t. >st wouiu NJ. IL, =
was so anxious to get q eov1 onS ,n;ns O.
kept it for day to try it vstoue psyInnS n5 :, :.
it. On Sunday morning Wv Ies % 81,
| in his room by appointment o
killed BY the revolver bought op''"s0'
| store.
| A number Of the expressions l. luxe "a .