The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-13
Jim Mutt Again Figures In
Tragedy.

Jim Mutt, made famous for killing
Lawyer y. l.. Dukes. in rniontown. Pa,
in 1873, is suffering from wounds inflicted
by Mrs. John Payton. who committed the
ac; after Mutt, in drunken rage had
shot her at her home near Atchison,
Kansas. Leonard Coleman, a hired man
who attempted to save Mrs. Payton's life.
is lying seriously wounded. having re-
ceived a bullet from Nuts revolver, but
will recover. The crime was most hor-
rible and unprovoked, the prominence of
the families concerned making it must
sensational.
After Mutt was acquitted on being tried
for the killing of Dukes, he moved 10 Kan
sas. TO near where his present farm Is situ-
ated, and managed his mothers farm. He
was considered good citizen and became
prosperous. Until two years ago the Pay
tons worked for Mutt, living on his farm
The relations became strained however,
and the Payton family, consisting of the
parents and five children, rented a farm
eight miles from Nuts place,
Mr.. Payton has been away from home
most of the present winter cutting ice,
during which time Mutt renewed his
relations with the family. Nothing out
of the way was disccrnable in his conduct,
however, until last Tuesday, when
he sauntered into the Payton house
hould at a late hour under the influence
of liquor. Payton Was absent, ana Cole
man, the hired man, was the only other
man On the premises. Mutt, who had
been on q weeks spree, was in no pleasant
mood. and gruffly ordered Mrs. Payton tn
ge; him a meal. Mrs. Payton complied,
though more through fear than because
she cared 10, and scenting trouble, she
quietly got the children from the room,
As he ate. Mutt became more abusive to-
ward Mrs. Payton. and seemed To be
turning mad. When he finished eating,
he deliberately drew his revolver ana
pointing it at the now thoroughly frighten-
ed woman, cried, I'm goingto Kill you."
Before she could make move he had
carried his threat into effect and son; three
bullets into her body. The shots attracted
Coleman, who rushed into the house with
an aN III MS ndiii. L nc iii>t''At nc ''4'NiS'
Mutt leyeled his weapon on him and fired.
Two shots struck the would-be rcscuer,
but not before he had badly wounded
Mutt. He Eel! to the floor, and for time
lay unconscious in the blood that poured
from his wounds.
1.-THE same time Mrs. Payton, with
superhuman eifurt, had raised herself
from the floor and sc,sjTud the AK. Mutt
had become weakened now and literally
sank In his tracks Rushing to where
he lay, the woman. her wounds bleeding
profusely and herself weak from excite
ment and loss Of blood, rained blow after
blow upon Nuts head. Not until her
victims head was mass ofjelly and she
too weak to longer WELD the AK, did she
desist. Then she sank to the floor and
went into state of Gnoansciousness that
lasted several hours.
when Coleman recovered, finally, his
Consciousness, he found both Mutt and
Mrs. Payton laying in great pools of their
blood. Tying Nu;t to a chair, lest he
shoald escape, Coleman gave the alarm.
Aside from the above facts, Mutt stead
fastly refuses to be interviewed. Mutt has
been removed 10 Atchison where he is in
Jail.