Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1884 — ATROCIOUS VILLAINY. [ARTICLE]

ATROCIOUS VILLAINY.

The Nutt Family at Uniontown, Pa., Poisoned by N. L. Dukes’ Friends. [Uniontown )Pa.) special ] Intense excitement has been caused here by the discovery of an atrocious attempt to talce the lives of the members of the Nutt family. The well from which the supply of water was drawn was poisoned by some unknown miscreant. Two of the young ladies are already dead, and other members of the family are dying. As far as can be ascertained, there is no apparent motive for the deliberate crime, and all efforts made thus far to trace the persons engaged in the horrible affair have proved a signal failure. The first intimation of the • coming horror was the announcement last evening of the sudden death of’Miss Annie Nutt, sister of Miss Lizzie Nutt, whose betrayal by N. L. Dukes was followed by the tragic death of the young girl’s father, and subsequently of Dukes, who was shot by James Nutt. This evening Miss Nellie Nutt, another of the sisters, expired, and news of her death was quickly circulated through the town, intensifying public opinion over the horrifying revelations. The water in the well is being analyzed, and the people are awaitin with intense anxiety the result of the examination. In the absence of any known motive for the crime the story of the Nutt scandal and the events following it are being excitedly discussed, aqd although there may be no truth in it the theory is advanced that some friend of Dukes has resorted to this disagreeable act to avenge his killing by the brother of Miss Lizzie Nutt. Young James Nutt, the avenger of his sister’s honor, who is at home, and also his sister Lizzie, were both made ill, but their condition is not critical.