Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1883 — A LAD'S REVENGE. [ARTICLE]

A LAD'S REVENGE.

Duka*, tiis Uniontown, Pa., Aroarin, Shot Dead by His Victim’* Son. The Lift of the Wretch Taken at Dusk on a Public Ttoroughfare. [Telegram from Uniontown, Pa.] James Nutt, son of the late Capt A 0. Nutt, shot and killed N. L Dukes, his father's murderer at 7:30 thia evening. Dukes was standing in front of the Jennings House when the evening mail arrived. He remained for some time talking to several men, and was apparently in a fine humor, as he was laughing and conversing in a free-and-easy manner. Then he started down to get his mail As he approached the postoffice Nutt opened fire upon him and shot him twice in the back. Dukes then made a wild run for his life, hotly pursued by Nutt, who fired three more shots, two of which took effect The fifth bullet struck the fleeing man on the left ankle as he was going up the postoffice steps. He fell forward on his face, and died almost instantly. A number of persons rushed up the steps when Dukes fell Policeman Begg ran forward and caught Nutt, who made no resistance “Here, take this.” he said to the officer, banding over his revolver. “You have done a bad piece of work,” said but I could not help it,” was Nutt’s only reply. The officer took his prisoner to jail Dukes was carried to that same old room at the Jennings House in which he murdered Capt Nutt, and which he had continued to occupy ever since. Coroner Sturgeon soon arrived and took charge of the body. He thqp impaneled a jury, but it was decided to postpone the examination of witnesses until to-morrow morning. One witness, however, was examined, and that one was Officer Regg. who detailed what he had seen. The jury then examined the body. Dukes’ coat was first taken off. The pockets contained some papers, which were not touched. In the back were four bullet holes. The holes in the vest corresponded to those in the coat A dirk knife was found hanging to the suspender button on the left side, where he could grasp it in an instant, and in his right hip pocket was found the very identical revolver with which he shot Capt Nutt The dirk knife was ready for a close encounter, and the revolver for long range Many thought that the revolver used by Nutt was the same one his father had at the time Dukes killed him, but it was not It was a Colt 32-caliber, and not so large as the one his father had at the time of his death. All these things were taken by the Coroner. On a later examination of the wounds it was found that only three of the balls had penetrated tne body. They are so close together that a ring four inches in diameter would cover them all Two of them went clear through the body. They were pulled out and' the holes probed. It was found that the two bullets passed to the right of and very near the heart The third hole was then probed, and the ball was found lodged in the muscular tissues of the heart This ball passed through the lungs first and then into the heart It is thought that any one of the balls would have caused death.

Dukes was dressed in a new suit of dark clothes, single-breasted coat and soft black hat He carried a light rattan cane. His collar was a high one, around which was tied a narrow black cravat His body will be left in the room at the Jennings House until after the inquest The barbers are now at work laying him out When he fell, his forehead struck the ground with great force and made an ugly wound Before the Coroner left, a friend of Dukes entered the room and said that Miss Mary Beeson wanted Dukes’ keys, to which he replied: “No one but his mother can have them.” Miss Beeson lives close to the Jennings House, and it has been reported that they have been engaged some time. He visited her daily. Dukes was about 83 years old He was a graduate of Princeton College, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and by his ability had built up a fine practice He was a successful candidate for the Legislature in the fall election of 1882.

James Nutt was taken to the jail by Officer Eegg, and surrendered into the hands of Sheriff Hoover, who immediately locked him up behind the huge iron bars. When Dukes shot Capt Nutt he was treated to the best room in the Sheriff's mansion, and had the run of the house, but this poor boy, who was driven by madness and daily aggravation to do what he did, is not shown the lightest fav’Or. He is not quite 20 years of age, and has always been considered quiet and inoffensive. It is said, however, that he had been practicing with a revolver for some time past. Lost December, Dukes, who had been engaged to Miss Lizzie Nutt, daughter of the cashier of the State treasury,-wrote several infamous letters to her father, questioning ‘her chastity. At the same time he asked Capt. Nutt to come to his room. On Sunda.-, Dec. 24, just about church time, the father went to the room of the traducer of his daughter to settle the affair quietly. While in the room an altercation took place. Dukes drew his revolver and shot Nutt dead The prominence of the parties created great excitement, and the interest continued all through the subsequent trial It was fully expected that the Jury would return a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, as the testimony was strongly against him, but a verdict of acquittal was announced Even the presiding Judge expressed astonishment

The indignant citizens of Uniontown pa-' raded the streets'with effigies of Dukes and the jurymen. An indignation meeting was held, and Dukes was ordered to leave town. He stole away at midnight, riding to the home of his mother in McClelland town, but toon after returned. He bad been frequently warned to leave, but persistently refused. His friends had often advised him to seek another home, and his answer was always that he would either live in Uniontown or be a corpse in the cemetery. As far back as last December Young Nutt had threatened to have Duke’s life, and the latter had always avoided him.