The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-07
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
A KANSAS MAN FATALLY SHOOTS
A WOMAN.
And Seriously Wounds Mah--i3The Weak
and Bleeding Woman Arises and With Z
an Axe Inflicts Fatal Wounds
Upon the Murderer

Atchison, Kan, Feb. 5.-Jim Mutt,
Duke, in Uniontown. Pa, because he
seduced Miss Mutt, is dying from wound
inflicted early this morning by Mrs. Pay
ton, who committed the act after Mutt
in u drunken rage, had fatally shot her
Neither can live. Leonard Coleman a
hired man who attempted to save Mrs.
Payton's life, is lying dangerously wound
ed, having received bullet from Nuts
revolver.
The crime was most horrible and IN
provoked. The prominence of the fami
les concerned make it more sensational
The Nuts and Dukes were at one time
prominent politicians in Pennsylvania,
while Coleman, who is 81 years old, Origi-
nally came from New York. where he was
well known. Fourteen years ago w. w.
Duke, then prominent lawyer in Uniou-
seduced Miss Mutt. Before that the Nuts
and Dukes were ut war and during one
of several encounters Duke killed Nuts
father. He was acquitted, however
making the plea of self defense. When
young Mutt came to trial he was also
promptly acquitted, the trial creating q
great sensation at the time. Short
| " afterwards he moved to Kansas, near
where his present farm is situated, and
managed his mothers farm. He was
considered II good citizen, and became
prosperous and until two years ago the
| Paytons worked for Mutt, living on his
farm. Their relations became strained.
however, and the PaytOn family, consist
| ing of the parents and five children rented
farm eight miles from n utt's place,
from Mrs. A. Il. Bradbury.
In the meantime Mutt renewed his re
lations with the family. Nothing out Of
the way was observable in his conduct
however until last night, when he Saun+'
tered into the PaytOn household at & late
| hour, under the influence of liquor. Pay
ton was absent and Coleman, the hired
man, was the only other man on the prem
Uses. Mutt. who had been on Il weeks
spree, was in no pleasant mood and rough
y ordered Mrs. Payton to get him somr
supper Mrs. Payton complied though
More through fear than because she
cared to- and seeming trouble, she quiet
| ly got the children from the room. AS hn
, ate, Mutt became more abusive toward
Mrs. Payton. and seemed to be turning
mad. When he had finished eating he de.
liberately drew his revolver, and pointing
it at the now thoroughly frightened
woman, cried: "Pm going to kill YOU
Before she could make move he had car
| ried his threat into effect and sent three
bullets into her body. The shots attracted
| Coleman, who rushed into the house with
| an axe III ms hand. The instant he enter
ed, Mutt leveled his weapon at him and
| tired-twO shots struck the wouid-tr
rescuer He fell to the floor, and FOR
| Il time lay unconscious.
In the meantime Mrs. PaytOn. with
Superhuman effort, had raised her3clf
from the floor and secured the axe. bush
ing to where he lay the woman her
wounds bleeding prOfusely. and h1rself
weak from excitement and loss of llcod,
rained blow after blow on Nuts head
Not until her victims head was q mass
of jelly, and she too weak to longer ~i'll
the axe did she desist Then she sank
| to the floor and went into q state I'm.
consciousness that lasted several hours
When Coleman finally recovered COZ.
seriousness he found both Mutt and Mrs
payton laying in great pool of blood
Coleman gave the alarm and when H~ss-
lance arrived the woman wys beyoni as-
distance. As soon as Nuts wongaa
We're dressed he was removed to AtcI ,,3.2es
Coleman is also in Il bad way, but w re-
cover. Aside from the facts above he
steadfastly refuses to be interviewed.
-O
There is only one baking powder t. asl,
for when you want the beSt-Dr. PrcrS.