New-York tribune., 1884-01-17


PITTsBURG, Jan. 16.-Nothing more dra-
matte than the enacted to-day during the progress
Of the trial OF James Mutt has ever been witnessed
this CITY, Men and women, representing the wealth. anu
culture this city and Uniontown, were packed Ao
sardnes in box all day, but they maintained silence
that only broken by sobs as the mother OF the p
oner told her story and laughter when Nuts UNCLE
plain farmer occupied the stand. Mutt has eaten ana
slept very little since Sunday, and this told upon his ap
pearance to-day. He pale death, and exceedingly
nervous
The days proceedings opened with an address to the
Jury by Mr. Playford, warm friend OF the prs-
oners father He elaborated the plea OF temporary in
sanity He said that Mutt did not deny the killing. lie
also dwet the provoeaton his ciaut received In see
ing the moustrousy offensive letters which Dukes wrote
his father, and claimed that young Mutt was simply
performing an act OF justice to that parent ana MS sler
II Is understood that Mr. Voorhees, will sum up the case
While Mr. Payford talking about the possible re-
Of the ral the faces OF those most concerned were
an interesting study The defendant sat with his mana
ND TO his mouth, hls eyes slightly iniamed from
some cause Now and then tears ran down his cheeks
but he did beed them Mrs. Mutt with eyes cast down.
cried silently stared yacantly at the carpet; and Miss
Lizzie Mutt, too. sobhed at times The women In the
audience deeply moved, and did not hesitate 70
show by and occasional sobs. When Mr. Payiord
spoke Of Dukes laughing at Mutt on the street. the de
fendant flushed up and bit his lips.
DE- Smith Fuller, an Old gentleman who was present
when James Sutt born, and has been the family phy
scan snce the first witness for the defence lie ue
scrbed James Mutt as imbecile whose mind would be
nnamcd by the murder Of hs father to such extent
that he would mOnomanac the subject. aud would
easily lose control over himself II excited by the object Of
his mania. 1t evident that this testimony made
deep impression the jury
The mother OF the prisoner the next witness called
She IS little woman and dressed in deep mourning
She removed her veil from face that had been beautiful
,tnIno NJ thO M
nearly an the spectators showed te she told her
story she testified tnat her son was afactonate ana
well behaved Up to the tilne OF DuKess uial or hihS
her husband James was nStess, OuL WhGH ne hehu uo
vile and insulting letters read at the trial he was driven
frantic, paced his all night, and often screamed
"MTderV lie lay SICK IN Oed several Weeks IN cohso
qucnce He had been familiar with the OF the pistol
Dukes down town be came back much excited, and
on one occasion he said to the witness, "Mother
the impudenee to look at me and, ana ansh;" m H.
James much rrttated by the tax OF chuleh IN ths
street who would tell him about seeing Dukes. told
him that il Dukes came pack 10 UniOntown II meant
harm Ne heard that Dukes had said that James the
only one feared in Uniontown. We also heard that
Dukes was following my daughter around town. Ihe
Nv mother Mrs Wells would talk TO James occasionally
about the matter aud II always had great enect upon
An objection was offered the testimony about return
ing excited after seeing Dnkes but was oyeruIed ana
letters written by Dukes her husband dcfanug her
daughter Mr. voorhees, 9hereI one Of men, ana igtr so
from the elder NutO Dukes in evidence ne 5llu tney
would be- rea present but WAS agreed by coln-
sci they cGlid be referred u In argument au euel
be handed to the jury.
In the cro5s-examina ion Mrs Mutt admitted that al
though that her was peculiar, became ex-
cited whenever any reference was made 20 Dukes and
carried pistol habualy, she asked him to deSst
from going armed.
The other witucsses to-day Mrs. Wells. the.
prisoners grandmother aud Stephen r. Mutt and James
Wells, his unces. Their testimony was Of the same
general tenor stephen ut explained that his admo
nton James, don't fall" referred to cutting some
grass
Every time his father referred 70. youns Mutt was
that he nearly fell from his chair AFTER the
to-day through the contradiction OF orders OF
how handle the crowd, 1t was con
the foot OF the stairway for soulehing like ha
an hour during which the pressure IN the narrow space
was intense aud many women we're there serious ao
cdenls might nave happened Several 6rawls and behts
occurred in crowd owing 10 the jam no one could
nd much opportunity to otner weapons than their