Popular.com

Uniontown, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1882.

The distressing tragedy by which Kashir Nut of the State Treasury lost his life is the general topic of conversation

throughout the town and country. It has been ascertained that a series of letters passed

between Captain Nut and Nicholas L. Dukes, who fired the fatal shot, in regard to the captain's

eldest daughter, Miss Lizzie. Rumor has it that the father had heard

sad stories about the young lady and wrote to Mr. Dukes requesting him to marry her. The latter made

reply, declining to enter into wedlock with Miss Nut and adding his reasons which the father

thought a foul slander on his daughter.

In reply to these letters came back in answer to Mr. Dukes containing a threat against his life.

It is believed that Mr. Dukes anticipated trouble and purchased the pistol with which he fired the

shot after he received the letter.

It was probably Mr. Dukes' intention to remain in his room at the Jennings Hotel so as to avoid meeting Captain Nutt,

and that was why he gave special orders to have the room cleaned up on Sunday morning.

Captain Nutt was a man of undoubted courage, a man of strong convictions, and when he felt there was a provocation to assault a man, he was not afraid to do it.

Mr. Dukes is also a man of great personal courage, and all who know him would fully expect him to defend himself if attacked.

These are the rumors concerning the correspondence between Captain Nut and Mr. Dukes.

The town has rarely been so excited.

Both men were of social prominence.

Nicholas Lyman Dukes, who did the shooting, has heretofore borne a high character for good deportment.

In manner, he is quiet and unostentatious and socially clever and genial. He is noted for

attention to his own business. Apparently, he has had few intimate friends. He is sober, industrious,

...