The Dickinson press., 1895-02-09
TRIPLE TRAGEDY
WHICH RECALLS 4 r.AlOCs MUIR.
DER OVER \ DECADE AGO.
Jim Mutt. VII" Killed Lawyer w. w.
Duke. ut Unfnmtnvyn. PITT, for Sc.
ducinE Nuts Sister, Fatally
shoots /, Woman and .
Hired Mnn ia Kansas.
MUTT is ALSO FATALLY INJURED.
Ing Shot ANA Pounds Nut:s
Head to Jelly.

Atclison. Kan, Feb. 7.-.Jim Nutt
made famous Cor killing Lawyer w.
w. Duke in UEiontown. Pa. over a
decade ago because lie ssduced Nuts
sister, is dying from wounds inflicted
"'iiy this morning by Mrs. John Pay
ION, who committed the act after N,,tt
in Il drunken rage, had fatally shot
hcr. Neither can live. Leonard Cole
man, a hired man who attemnted to
save Mrs. Payton's life. is living serf-
ously wounded having received n bnl.
let from Nuts revolver, but will re-
cover. The crime was most horrible
ana nnprovokcd. The prominence of
the families concerned make it most
sensational.
The Nuts and Dukes were Mt ont,
tlme prominent politicians In Penn
Sylvania, while Coleman, who was ~
years OF age originally came from New
York, where he was well known.
Fourteen years ago w. w. Duke. a
prominent lawyer in Uniontown. was
Killed by Mutt for having seduced
Miss Mutt. Before that the Nuts and
, Dukes We're at war a good deal, and
during one of the several encounters
Duke killed Nuts father. He was
acquitted, however, the plea being self
defense. When young Mutt came to
be tried he was also promptly ac-
quilted, the trial creating a great SEN
sation at the time. Shortly afterward
he moved to Kansas, near where his
present farm is situated, and managed
his mothers farm. He was considered
+ good citizen and became prosperous.
Until two years ago the PaytOnS
worked for Mutt, living on his farm.
Their relations became strained how
ever, and the Payton family, consist
i ing of the parents and five children,
rented Il farm eight miles from Nuts
| place from Mrs. A. III. Bradbury.
Payton has been away from home
most of the present winter cutting ice,
during which time Mutt renewed his
acquaintance" with the family. Moth
ing out Of tho way was discernable in
his conduct. however. until last night,
when he went to the Paytons at q
late hour under the influence of liquor.
!; Payton was absent, and Coleman, the
! hired man. was the only other man on
the premis s. Mutt. who had been on
| IL weeks spree, was lot in pleasant
mood, and told Mrs Pay ton to get
him some supper. Mrs. Payton com.
piled. and, seeming trouble, she quiet
| ly got the children from the room. AS
he ate Mutt became more abusive
toward Mrs. Pnyton. and seemed to
be turning mad. When he finished
eating he deliberately drew his re-
volvcr. and. pointing 1t at the now
thoroughly frightened woman, cried:
"fm going to shoot you" Before she
could make a move he had carried his
threat into effect and sent three bull
/, lets into her body. The noise attract
etl Coleman. who rushed into the
house with an AK in his hand. The
instant he entered Mutt lcveled his
weapon ut him and fired. Two shots
struck the would-be rescuer. He fell
to the floor and for time lay un-
conscious in the blood that poured
from his wounds. In the meantime
Mrs. Payton. with Il superhuman ef-
fort, had raised herself from the floor
and secured the AK. Mutt had become
weakened now. and literally sank in
his tracks. Rushing to the place
where he lay. the woman, her wounds
bleeding profusely and herself weak
from excitement and loss of blood,
rnincd blow after blow upon Nuts
head. Not until her victims head was
Il mass of Jelly and she too weak to
longer WELD the AK did she desfst.
Then she sank to the floor unconscious.
| Both will die.