The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-16
THE NATIVE AMERICAN.
THE ANTIDUELLING LAW.

THE ANTIDUELLING LAW. u.s..
AN ACT to prohibit the giving accepting,
y thin the District Of Columbia. of a challenge
10 fight a duel, and for the punishment there
of.
Be ii enacted &c. That If any person shall, in
the District of Columbia, challenge another to
fight duel, or shall send or deliver any written
verbal message, purporling or intended to be
such challenge, shall accept any such challenge
or message, or shall knowingly carry or deliver
any such challenge or message, or shall knowing
ly carry or deliver an acceptance of such cha-
lenge or message 10 fight duel, in or out of the
said District, and such duel shall be fought in or
out Of the said District, and either of the parties
thereto shall be slain MORALLY wounded in such
duel, the surviving party to such duel, and every
person carrying or delivering such challenge or
message, or acceptance Of such challenge or mes
sage aforesaid, and all others aiding or abening
therein, shall be- deemed guilty of felony, and,
upon conviction thereof in any court competent
10 the trial thereof in the said District, shall be
punished by imprisonment and confinement to
hard labor in the penitentiary for term not ex-
ceeding ten years, in the discretion of the court
Sec. 2. find be It further enacted, That if
any person shall give or send. or cause to be CIV
ell or sent, to any person i'll the District of Co.
lumbia, any challenge to fight duel, or to en-
gage in single combat with any deadly or DANCE
rous instrument or weapon whatever, or if any
person in said District shall accept any challenge
TO fight duel, or to engage in single combat with
any deadly or dangerous instrument or weapon
whatever, 'or shall be the bearer Of any such
challenge, every person so giving or sending, or
causing to be given sent, accepting such
challenge, or being the bearer thereof, and every
person aiding or abetting i'll the giving, sending,
or accepting such challenge, shall be deemed gull
~ Of high crime and misdemeanor and, on con-
viclion thereof in any court competent to try the
same in the said District, shall be punished by
Imprisonment and confinement TO hard labor in
the penitentiary for term not exceeding five
years, in the discretion Of the court.
Sec. 8. ind be it further enacted, That ;f
any person shall assault, strike, beat, or wound,
or cause to be assaulted, stricken, beaten, or
wounded, any person in the District Of Columbia,
for declining or refusing to accept any challenge
to fight duel, or to engage in single combat with
any deadly or dangerous instrument or weapon
whatever, or shall post or publish, or cause to be
posted or published, any writing charging any
such person so declining refusing to accept any
such challenge to be coward, or using any other
opprobrious or in urious language therein, tending
10 degrade and disgrace such person for declin-
ing or refusing such challenge, every person SO
attending, on conviction thereof in any court COM
ne tent to the trial thereof in the said District,
sb all be punished by confinement to hard labor
in the penitentiary for term not exceeding three
years, in the discretion Of the court :.
Sec. 4. find be it further enacted, That, if
any person or persons, for the purpose of evading
nj provisions of this act, shall leave the District
Of Columbia, by previous arrangement or con-
cert within the same, with intent to give
live any such challenge without said District,
.nd shall give or receive any such challenge ac-
cordingly, the person or persons so offending
aha be deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor, and be
subject to the same penalties as if such challenge
I'D been given and received within said District.
Sec. 5. .4nabeH further enacted, That every
ofender may plead former conviction or acquit-
tal for the same offence in any State or country;
and the same, being established, shall be bar TO-
any further proceedings against such person I'M
der the next preceding section Of this act.
Sec. 6. find be 1t further enacted, That any
ma rson offending against the provisions of this
~ ay be competent witness against any other
;, erson offending in the transaction, and may,
IT the discretion Of the court, be compelled to give
Evidence before any grand jury, or on any trial
III court but the person so testifylng shall not
thereafter be liable to prosecution for the same
matter, shall the testimony SO given be used
against him in any case whatsoever
Sec. 7. find be it further enacted, That, in
addition to the oath now prescribed by law to be
administered to the grand jury in the District of
Columbia, they shall be sworn faithfully and i'm
partially to inquire into, and true presentment
m Ike Of, all offences against this act
Approved, Feb 20, 1889.