The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-06
DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN KANSAS
A Woman Brains the Man Who
Shot Her.
James Mutt Meets Violent Death
at Last.
A Cold b IL CODED Crims Meets with Swift
Punisbment-N No Cause for
tho Trouble.

made famous for killing Lawyer W. W.
Duke, in Uniontown. Pa, over q decade
ago, because he ssducsd Miss Mutt, Is
dying from wounds inflicted early this
morning By Mrs. John Payton. who
committed the act after Mutt, in a
drunken rage. had fatally shot her.
Nsither can live. Leonard Coleman, q
hired man who attempted to save Mrs.
Payton's life, is lying wounded, having
received bullet from Nuts revolver,
but will recover. The crime was horri.
BILE and unprovoked. The prominence
of the families concerned makes 1t more
sensational.
The Nuts and Dukes were at one
time prominent politicians in Pennsyl-
vania. Fourteen years ago w. W. Duke.
. prominent lawyer in Uniontown. Pa.
was killed by Mutt for having seduced
Miss Mutt. Before that the Nuts and
Dukes were at war good deal, and dur.
ing one of several encounters Duke
killed Nuts father. He was acquitted,
however. making the plea OF SELF
defense. When young Mutt came to
HNA he "as aiso Acquiseous ."o sA"'
creating q great sensation at the time.
Shortly afterwards he moved to Kansas,
to near where his present farm Is SIT
uated. He was considered a good citi-
zen and became prosperous.
THE MURDER.
Until two years ago the Paytons
worked for Mutt. living on his farm.
Their relations became strained, how
ever, and the Psyton family, consisting
Of parents and five children. rented q
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
discernibls in his conduct, however,
until last night when he sauntered into
the Payton household at q late hour
under the influence of liquor. Payton
was absent and Coleman, the hired man
on the premises. Mutt. who had been
on q spree, was in no pleasant mood and
gruffly ordered Mrs. Payt ton to get him |
some supper. Mrs. Payton complied |
though more through fear than because
she cared to, and soent:ng trouble she |
quietly 20: the children from the room.
As he ate, Mutt became more abusive
toward Mrs. Payton and when he I'm.
ished eating he deliberately drew his
revolver and pointing it at the now
thoroughly frightened woman, cried:
Pm going to kill you" Before she
could make q 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 his hand. The instant
Mutt saw him he levelled his weapon
at him and fred. Two shots tatruck the
roscuer. He fell to the floor /
and for q time lay unconscious in the
blood that poured from his wounds.
DESPERATION OF DEATH,
In the meantime Mrs. Psyton with
Iupsrhuman effort had raised herself
rom the floor and secured the az.
Mutt had become weakened now and
sank in his tracks. Rush.
ng to whore he lay, the woman, her
Wounds bleeding profussly and herself
weak from excitement and loss OF blood,
aimed blow after blow upon his head.
Not until her victims head was q mass
If jelly did she desist. when she sank
o the floor unconscious. When Cole
ound both Mutt and Mrs. Psyton lying
n great pools OF their blood. He then
rave the alarm. When assistance ar
lived the woman was beyond help. As
loon % Nuts wounds were dressed he
was removed to Atchison. arriving here
his evening. Both he and Mrs. Pay.
ON are too badly injured to live and
leither are able to relate the story Of
Tho crime. Coleman Ia also in a bad
way but will recover. Mrs. Psyton 10
Is years old.