Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-06
A MOST HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
MUTT OF NuTT-DuKE NoTonrErY
MURDERS Mrs. rArros.
before Death sho Got nm Ak and
cut and Founded Mutt un,n He
WIN Die-,A Hired Man Also severe
ly Wounded.

Atohison, Kan. Feb. Slim Mutt,
made famous for killing Lawyer w.
w. Duke in unioniown, Pa. because
he sedueed Miss Mutt. is dying from
wounds inflicted early this morning by
Mrs Payton. who committed the act
after Mutt. in a drunken rage, had ia
tally shot her. Neither can live. Leon
ard Coleman. hired man, who at
tempted to save Mrs. Payton's life. is
lying seriously wounded haying re-
ceiyed bullet from Nuts revolver,
but VIII recover. The crime was most
horrible and unprovoked. The promi-
nence of the families concerned make
it more sensational.
The Nuts and Dukes were ut enc
time prominent politicians in Peansyl-
vanla. while Coleman, who Is q ears
OF age, originally came from New York,
where he is well known. Fourteen
years ago w. W. Duke. .hen a proIni-
nent lawyer in Uniontown, Pa. was
killed by Mutt for having seduced Miss
Mutt. Before that the Nuts and
Dukes were at war great deal, and
during one of several encounters Duke
killed Nuts father. He was ac-
quilted. however, making a plea of
self-defense. When young Mutt came
to trial he was also promptly acquitted,
the trial creating great sensation at
the time. Shortly afterwards he moved
to Kansas. to near where his present
farm is situated. and managed HIS
mothers farm. lie was considered
| coed citizen. and became prosperous.
and, until two years ago, the Paytons
worked for Mutt. living on his farm.
Their relations became strained. how
ever. and the Payton family consisting
of the parents and i've children, rented
farm. eight miles from Nuts place,
from Mrs. a. E. Bradbury.
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 discernible in his
conduct, however, until last night.
when he sauntered into the Payton
household at late hour. under the
influence of liquor. Payton was alb
sent, and Coleman, the hired man. was
the only other man on the promises.
Mutt, who has been on a weeks
spree, was in no pleasant mood, and
grufiy ordered Mrs. Payton to get him
como supper. Mrs. Payton compiled,
more through fear than because she
cared to, and, seeming trouble, she
quietly got the children from the room.
AS he ate, Mutt became more abusive
toward Mrs. Payton. and seemed to
be turning mad. When he had finished |
eating he deliberately drew his re-
volver. and. pointing 1t at the now
thoroughly frightened woman. cried: I
Tin going to kill YOU"
Before she could mako a move he /
had carried his threat into effect and
sent three bullets into her body The
shots attracted Coleman. who rushed |
into the house with an axe in HE hand.
The instant he entered Mutt levelled
his weapon at him and fired. Two
shots struck the would-be rescuer. He
fell to the floor and for time lay un-
conscious. In the meantime Mrs. Pay
ton, with superhumnn effort had raised
herself from the floor and secured the
axe. Mutt had become weakened now,
and literally sank in his tracks. Rush
ing to where he lay. the woman. her
wounds bleeding profusely, and herself
weak from excitement and loss of
blood, rained blow after blow upon
Nuts head. Not until her Victims
head was a mass OF jelly. and she too
weak to WELD the axe. did she deslst.
Then she sank to the floor and went
into a state of Inconsistencies that
lasted several hours. When Coleman
finally recovered consciousness he
found both Mutt and Mrs. Payton lying
in great pool of blood. Coleman gave
the alarm, and when assistance arrived
the woman was beyond assistance. AS
soon as Nuts wounds were dressed
he was removed to Atohison. Coleman
Is also in bad way, but viii recover.
Aside from the facts above told, he
stsadfastly refuses to be interviewed.