Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-20
THE MUTT FAMILY POISONED.
Two Sisters OF the Young Unioutown Avepger
Dead-1he Water i'm the Well Poisoned by
Some Unknown Miscreant.

A Uniontown UPa.) special says: Intense
excitement has been caused here by the DIS
coyery a an atrocious attempt TO take the
lives OF the members OF the Mutt family.
The well from which the supply OF water
used in the Mutt household was drawn was
poisoned by some unknown miscreant.
Two OF tue young ladies' are already dead
and other members OF the family are i'll.
As far as can be ascertained there Is no ap.
parent motive for the deliberate crime, and
all efforts made thus far 10 trace the person
or persons engaged In the horrible affair
have proved signal failure.
The first intimation OF the coming horror
was the announcement last evening OF the
sudden death OF Miss Annie Mutt sister OF
Miss Lizzie Mutt (whose affair with n. l..
Dukes was followed by the tragic death OF
the young girls father and subsequently OF
Dukes, who was slain by James Nutt), a
girl Of sixteen years. Up to Tuesday last
she had been In the enjoyment Of perfect
health. On the following day she and all
the other members Of the family were taken
suddenly i'll. In twenty-four hours Annie
was dead. The explanation gwen by the
family was that she died from Indigestion
caused by eating large quantity OF unripe
fruit.
Y.
picion gained currency that the Mutt family
had been poisoned and that Miss Anne was
the first victim. This was confirmed by an
examination OF the water OF the we'll situ-
ated in the rear OF the house. into which 1t
was found poison had been thrown. DIR.
John Fuller, the family physician. has adj
vised the holding OF a poSt-mOrteDl, and
although Mrs. Mutt was at first unwil-
ing, she finally gave her consent. This
evening Miss Nettie Mutt, another OF
the sisters, expired, and the news
OF her death was quickly circulated
through the town, intensifying pub
llc opirion over the horrifying reyela-
tion. The water In the well is being ana
lived, and all are awaiting with intense
anxiety the report OF the physicians. In
the absence OF any known motive for the
crime the story Of the Mutt scandal and the
tragic events which followed Il are be-
ing excitedly discussed; and, while there
may be no truth in il. the theory Is ad-
yanced that some friend OF Dukes has re-
sorted to this despicable act to avenge his
killing by Miss Lizzie Nuts brother
Young James Mutt, the avenger OF his
sisters honor, who Is at home, and also
bis sister Lizzie, were both made i'll, but
their condition is not critical.
The story OF the murder OF Mutt by
Dukes. his acquittal, and subsequently his
death at the hands OF young Mutt, and the
latter's trial and acquittal, were given such
widespread notoricty that they will be re-
called readily. The shooting Of Captain
| Mutt created a sensation throughout the
| entire country. He was cashier OF the
| State Treasury, and Dukes. his slayer, was
! n member-elect OF the Legislature. Dukes
was arrested, and after an exciting trial
was acquitted. James Mutt, cold
! booded, passioness young man, was
/ aroused by the verdict, and it was expected
| that he would avenge his fathers death.
Dukes knew this, and on one occasion
said: "Jim Mutt may shoot me some time.
| but he will never come before my face and
| do it. lie will shoot me from behind when
! / cam. see him." The friends OF Mutt
never allowed him to forget the death OF
his father nor the manner in which his sis
/ ter's character had been assailed by
| Dukes. They were ever urging him tc
! kill Dukes. This had an effect on the boy
(he IL only twenty-one now), and wher
| Dukes met him on the street one day Nut
thought he laughed at him and told hi.
mother Of the occurrence. That settled
! Dukes's fate. A few days later Mutt CON
! cealed himself near the post-office ahd as
| Dukes advanced he shot him in the back
! Dukes lived only n short time. On hi'
person were found a revolver and bowie
| knife. Mutt surrendered himself and wa.
| .aI a o1