Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-02-06
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
A N A c T

av.... An ACT
TO SUPPRESS DUELLING.
Passed by III. Legislature of Virgins, an.
&c, 1910. . e..
Whereas experience has evineed, tnat
the existing remedy for the suppression OF
the barbarous custom Of duslling, 10 inaos,
quate 20 the purpose, and the progress and
consequences of the evil have become so
destructive as to require an effort ON the
past of the Legislature to arrest vice the
iss suit of ignorance and barbarian, justified
neither hy the precepts OF morality nor by
the dictates of reason-For remedy where
OF,
. Be it enacted By the Genera! assembly,
That any person i:ho shall hereafter wlial'
IL and niaiiciously, nr by previous agree.
msnt, fghr a duel or single combat with
am engine, instrument, or weapon, the pro-
babe soust quenee Of which might be the
death of either person, and in so dong
Ahall kill his antagonist, or any other per.
son or persons, or inaict such wound as
that the person injured shall die 'hereof
within three months thereafter, such otsen'
der, his aiders, abe,sors and eounsellers be-
ing thereof duly convicted, shall be guilty
'ofInurder, and suffer death by being hang
ed by The neck any law. custom or usage
of this commonwealth 10 the contrary not
understanding. =.
: And be IL further enacted, That it any
person wha,soe yer, shall challenge another
20 Eight duelwith any weapon or IN any
manner whatsoever, the probable issue OF
which may or might result in the death OF
thee hallenser or challenged, or it any per.
son shah accept challenge or fight duel
wrh any weapoa, or in any way whatsoever
.he probable issue of which may or might
terminate in the death Of the challenger, or
challenged, such person sh ali be incapable:
of holding or being elected to any post Oh
nrost. trust, or emelumsnt,civil or military,
;lndsr the government OF this common
wealth.
I, And be i.twiher enacted, That from and
after the passing of this act, every person
who shall be appointed 10 any obce or Place
sivil or military, under the commonwealth
shall, in addition to the oath now prescrio-
cd by law :ake the following oath: II 90
so,ennly swear, or affirm, Gas the case may
bs1 that / have not been engaged in duel,
ny ssading or accepting achallsngs to tgh ut
a duel, or by fighting dusl, or In any 9TH
er manner in viola,;on Of the act entitled an
sc. to suppress durlling, (since the passage
of,ha, actl nor will &c SO concerned di'
rec,l, .r Indirectly in such DUEL, during my
continuance in Office, So help me God"
An9 be it further enacted, That 1t shall
:, be the duty of the Judges Ct the circuit
courts and the county courts, at their quar-.
terly. sessions, to give in charge expressly
% the Jury, all the laws in force to suppress
dugl.ing.-Also to charge tic jury, to pre-
ssus ali persons concerned in carry,ns,sena'
inS, or accepting challenge and it any
nrs.on shall be presented in such eourts,'he
said courts shalt, Il they have Jurisdiction
Of said offences, proceed to i.,s trial of .,s
.saas 10 the ordinary way, and It NOT, that
oh. preseu,mens shall DC either certified by
ordSr of the court, to sseh court as has ju'
,;sdiction, or sha!l be considered in law
sufficient authority for magistrate to issue
his warrant against the accused, where an
sxan&ning court 10 necessary. -
!. 4 A,ad ke, it further enacted That when
any Judge or magistrate Of this common.
wealih, has good cause to suspect any per.
soa' OF persona are asous to be engaged in
duel, he may issus his warrant to bring the
parties before him and il he shall think
nyouer ss,taks of them areeoSnizaaee to
Keep The peace, he shsll insert inshe con-
rl;l;on. thar che party or parties shab not
slor;sy die TINA for which they were bound
81 cfly or indirectly be eenesrisd in adusl,
,s;shsT w,ssh she person suspscsed or any
s,iEsr. psrssa, viihia the time limited ~
he rsSsgnizsace. -,
SnS 81 u jiytAer e,sacfed Thath any
.....,.- 4, nesssus shxll, for the parpsse Of
slndiag che, epeFseios OF the provisions o.
80 ! gsSs, isave the stases the person or per-
~ 80, q g.. - II ~ ersSkd an cuiltv