The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-26
A TRAGEDY RECALLED.
The Marriage Of Miss Mutt Brings
Back the Nutt-Dukes Murders.
THE CAUSE OF THE FEUD.
Her Father Was Killed by Her Traducer-
lie Was Acquitted and Was then Killed
by Her Brother.

Tho marriage OF Miss Lizzie Mutt on
December 0. at her home In Uniontown,
Pa, to Samuel j. Krepps, revives memoir
les of a tragedy which stirred the nation.
Mrs Krepps Is daughter Of Capt. A. O.
Mutt, cashier OF the Pennsylvania State
treasury. who was shot and instantly
killed In Uniontown on Sunday. December
"a 1882, by N. l.. Dukes, leading lawyer
and a member-elect of the Pennsylvania la
Legislature. Miss Mutt was beautiful
young girl, the reigning belle In Union
town and, In old-fashioned phrase, "a
toast with the beaux."
Dukes was man who was anxious to
earn the reputation OF being a gallant.
He paid marked attention to Lizzie Mutt,
and Capt. Mutt objected. The association
OF his daughters name with that OF
Dukes was dlstasteful to him. His inter-
ference enraged Dukes, who set about a
mean plan OF revenge. He wrote letters
to Capt. Mutt In which he cast imputations
on the character OF Miss Mutt, and boldly
avowed that his relations with her had
been less than honorable.
The father was frantic with grief and
rage. He refused to believe the vile ac-
cusations OF the self-implicated seducer.
Miss Mutt had led a life above reproach,
and there was nothing to corroborate.the
charges OF her accuser.
Capt. Mutt. goaded to desperation, asked
the accuser to meet him on the morning
of December "a In the jennings House,
where Dukes had q room. The Christmas
holidays had begun and Mutt left his post
of duty at Harrisburg and went home
Early on the morning OF the oath he went
TO see his nephew, L. @. Breckenridge
who was cashier Of the Peoples Bank Of
Fayette County. He said to Brecken-
ridge: Il have some trouble on hand, and
as / wish TO talk to some one about it |
may as we'll make confidant OF you. i
have lately received two infamous letters
from N. l.. Dukes, which l will show you.
/ want TO see Dukes this morning and
have an interview with him, as / return to
Harrisburg tomorrow"
Uncle and nephew crossed the street
from the bank, where they were, to the
Jennings House. Breckenridge said he
would go and see il Dukes was in, and
passed upstairs with the colored porter.
Capt. Mutt followed. Dukes came to the
door. OF his room when Breckenridge
raped. The latter told Dukes that Capt.
Mutt wished TO speak with him. When
Capt. Mutt entered the room Brecken-
ridge came out into the hall and stopped
to talk with James 1. Feather. son-in-law
or the proprietor OF the hotel.
Their conversation was interrupted by
the sound OF scufllng in the room, while
the voice Of Mutt was heard calling out
for Breckenridge. Feather and Brecken-
ridge rushed into Dukes's room and found
Dukes and Mutt clinched. The young
lah ha etr hot MT
away from one another. Feather pushed
Dukes into one corner and Breckenridge
got Mutt to another. Dukes suddenly
drew revolver and yelled. You came in
here to whip me and SO shoot you" He
suited the action to the word. He had
fired, indeed, before he had finished
speaking and before interference by
Breckenridge or Feather was possible.
Mutt fell, with a pistol ball In his brain,
and died In few minutes. Dukes left the
hotel by the back way and coolly walked
to the Sherilfs house and gave himself
up.
Dukes was tried in Uniontown In March,
1SS3 His defense was that he had shot
Capt. Mutt In self-defense; that the cap
tain had attacked him with cane and
had grasped a revolver to shoot him.
whereupon he fired.
The evidence presented, however, was
clearly against Dukes. and his conviction
was confidently expected. But by some
means Dukes, who was strong" poll
ticlan. managed to get the jury-box
packed with his friends, and to the amaze
ment OF every one the prisoner was de-
clared mot guilty"
Dukes was warned to leave Unontown
and never TO show his face there again on
pain OF death.
But he was q cool man and q daring
one. He fondly imagined that in few
weeks the storm would blow over and he
went back to Uniontown and resumed the
practice OF his profession. lie did not
know that James Mutt, beardless
youth of twenty, would keep his vow Of
vengeance.
1t was along In June, 1888, about the
tenth OF the month, when James Mutt
went home TO his widowed mother and
slandered sister and said
Il can't stand this. / met Dukes on
the street to-day and he laughed in my
face"
On Juno l3, after nightfall, James Mutt
was seen practicing with revolver at his
home. Shortly afterwards he went to the
postofIlce. and waited for his fathers
murderer TO pass by. Dukes came trip
ping unconcernedly down the street at
730 p. m. As he passed he turned his
head casually. and his face blanched with
fear. He saw Capt. Nuts son stepping
from the door OF the postofiice, with new.
shining revolver levelled with steady aim.
Dukes started to run, but he could not
escape the avengers bullets. Four pistol
shots rang out In swift succession. The
first took effect In Dukes's side. The second
was fired by young Mutt while he was
running in close pursuit OF the fleeing
Dukes. It grounded the man, who
staggered into the postofflce and fell just
within the doorway. Mutt fired two more
shots into the PROSTATE body, and his
grim work OF vengeance was complete.
Dukes lay dead, and hundreds OF people
who had hurried TO the scene at the sound
OF the pistol shots, surrounded Mutt and
cried-"lynch hlm2' mol they said,
"Well DONE" Mutt was cool and calm.
He simply said that at had TO be DONE"
and surrendered himself TO tho authori-
ties.
Lest justice should not be done in Un-
iontown. whore popular feeling ran high
In favor OF the young prisoner, Nuts
trial was held In Pittsburg before Judge
Stowe and Jury OF men who did not