Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-01-24
NOT GUILTY.
The Verdict in the Mutt Trial
brought In Thfs Morhing-Dheer.
ing In the COurt Room.

The Verdict In the Mutt Trial
brought In Thfs Morning-tyheer.
ing In the Court Room.
PITTsBURa, Jan. 23.-At 10 O'Clock this
morning the jury III the great Mutt trial
brought In verdict Of not guilty on &C.
count Of insanity At the time the act WAS
committed.
As early as Z O'Clock all entrances TO
the court house were besieged by = crowd
far exceeding the numbers on any day
since the trial began. The doors opened
at O'Clock and the blocks Of people
wedged into the narrow passage way,
moved slowly mp stairs and soon filled the
court room. Promptly at 80 Judge
Stowe ordered the court opened, and the
prisoner WAS escorted to his seat
in the rear Of his counsel. His counte-
nance wore look OF anxiety often
changed to one Of confidence as words OF
encouragement we're whispered into his
ear, aud again putting on an air of des.
p1ndency as the thought, that the jury
might perhaps fpd lin guilty, fitted
across his mind.
He was clesnly shsven and dressed
dressed ss usual, hut evidently the ex
Sihcihohh ihk hc hiihi dhu tuS htku-
ments of counsel had so effected his
nerves as to exhibit itself in the twiching
Of the facisl muscles and other move
ments Of the body which Indicated that
his mind was i'll at sase. He stated to
mis- counsel that he had rested badly and
with the exception Of an hour or two
during the morning he had not slept
during the night.
The curiosity Of the audience was
intense, and al every rustic or commo
tion at the door there would be turning
Of heads and stretching OF necks.
At % 81 the jury. filed in and, as they
seated themselves, the silence was OF
pressive. After answering to their
uames, the judge said "Gsntlemen OF
The jury, have you decided upon q
verdict ~
They replied, "we have {"
The court then said, "Prisoner at the
bar stand up" "
Mutt, who was very weak and much
affected, attempted 10 rise to his feet, but
had TO be sss-tsd by one Of the court
officers.
Gentlemen, what Is your verdict Z"
asked the court.
To which the foreman replied, "Not
guilty, on ac;ount OF insanity at the time
the act was committed.
The crowd, which with difficulty had
been restrained during the day gave vent
so its feelings OF approval in q loud cheer,
which the immense crowd on the outside
took up, and swered back, and other
cheers went up from those inside.
Finally order was restored and the
iu1ua Cd lat ton
TO morrow, when in accordance with the
motion OF his counsel committee will
examine him as to his prasent menta
condition,
He was taken back to his cell and tn,
| crowds hurried ont to tell their friends
Mrs. Nutt and Miss Lizzie remained q
the residence of Major Brown, where tn,
glad tidings were quickly conveyed Il
| them.
The homicide for which the jury ha
held James Mutt guiltess was committed
at Uniontown, Pa, Last summer. Captain
N. L. Dukes had some time previousl,
paid attention to young Nutt's siater. Ii
eventually broke Of his intimacy will
the young lady and in explanation of hi
conduct, wrote scnrrilous letters to be
father defaming his daughter 8 char acter
The elder Mutt thereupon went to tn
hotel where Captain Dukes was stoppip
and entered the captaip's room, where a
al,ercstion took place during whic
Duk.s shot and killed his visitor. Fo
this otfsnse he was tried and acquitted
on the plea of self.defense. Young M,
then took it upon himself TO avenge hi
tather's death. He engaged in pistt
| practice for short time and then wa,
laid Dukes as he was passing the poi
off Sc building and fired, wounding hin
Dukes ran off, young Mutt following an
firing until he had iuhioled mort
wound. Having done this, he submitte
to arrest. His tHal, after postponemer
and change OF venue, began in Pittsbur
, OIL the l4:h instant. The line Of defsni
. was emotional insanity