Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-14
TIE ANTI-DUELLlNG LAW.

AN ACT 10 prohibit The giving q" accepting within the
District Of Columbia, Of challenge 10 H.; duel
and tor The punishment thereof
81 II enacted. Sc, That i! any person Shall III Tie
District Of COLUMBIA, challenge another 10 tight duel
or shall send deliver any written verbal message
vurroT,irg intended 10 be SUCH challenge. or shall c.
cepl any such challenge message, shall knowingly
carr deliver such ClaiitnI" or shall
knowingly carry Ur deliver ucCepiaI ui suc cEal
rnrc message To fight duel. in ont "i the said
District, and such due! shall be fought in or out q lie
sal! District and either OF The parties th,rc shall be
slan ur mo!a.ly wounded in such duel The surviving
party To such juP and every person carrying or de
vcri:g such challenge message, ar accepting vi such
challenge aforesaid, and all others aiding
or abeliing therein shall be deemed guilty o! felony
and upon conviction thereof in any Court competent 10
III trial thereof in the said District shall he punished by
imprisonment aud confinement 10 hard labor III e pen
tmtary ipr term not exceeding len years, IN Tie DIS
| erection ri the Court
Sec = .4ad tc J9ihcr rno,ied, That if any person
shall give send. Ia be- given sent. 10 any
person ~ the District ui Columbia any challenge to
sight duel, 10 engage IN single combat with ary
deadly dangerous instrument or weapon whatever,
il any person SAID District shall accept any challenge
IL hi GUp 10 engage III SINGLE combat "!th any
deadly dangerous instrument or weapon whatever,
shall b. the bearer Of any such challenge, every person
giving sending, causing 10 be given sent,
arc,piing such challenge being the bearer thereof
and every person aiding abciing IN the giving send
."= "-r' ri"S sI";' Cihcng", stall be- deemed guilty
II "A high crime and misdrm and. nu convc,in
't'fe"i IN ANY c"ufl COMPETENT 10 Try The The
sal" DISTRICT shall b. punslcd BY ant
i:-IIcnt - hard labor ia , re..',arv E- tom,
exceeding five years. in he discretion Of the court.
Sec ) ind be ii farther tnoctd. That Il any person
shall assault, strike bent, wound cause 10 be
sauIted, stricken, beaten, wounded any person in The
District Of Columbia. for declining refusing 10 accept
any challenge igh duel, or t. engage III single
bal with any deadly dangerous instrument or weapon
Whatever or shall p0s publish cause 10 be posted
. or published, any writing charging ary such person
declining refusing To accept such challenge 10 be
Il coward, using any other opprobr"us or injurious
language therein, lending 10 degrade aud disgrace such
person Tor declining refusing such challenge every
person Of, ndirg conviction thereof in any
curprn he trial thereof in lhc said District shall
be- punished bv confinement hard labor in the penrn.
iiary fox term not exceeding tEre years, in the Gscrc
ton of The court
Sec A. 4nG Lc il fgTihcr c"0c,cd That if any person
or persons the purpose Of rvadng the provisions 81
tins act. sa! leave The District Of Columbia By prrvl-
Gus lrTaugc Ecu CT concert within the sane, with intent
10 1--WE receive any such challenge without said DIS
,rict and shall rive receive any such chacn-c
crrdlngIy, The person or persons offending shall hc
deemed guilty Of misd meannr and be subject 10 the
same penalties if such challenge had been given ana
received within said District,
SEE. .iUd be II iuythc, cncc'd That every o!"rter
may Lad "rmrr convection acquiltal for the
IF IN any State country aud the same, hr'ng
established, shal! be bar further proceedings
agains, such person under the next preceding section Of
tbs acl
SEC .9nd ii far,tcr enactcd, That any PERSON Of
Tending against the provisions Of this aci may be
rNnt witness against any other person 'tcndng IN the
Transaction. and may, al tho discretion ot the court
hc compelled give evidence before any grand jnIy
trial ~ court but The person testify ing shall
thereafter be liable I" prosecution for the mat
ter, shall the testimony given be used against hin
in any case whatsoever.
See I. .4nd be ufWiicr cnoccd, That, in addition "a
The oath prescribed hy law 20 he administered to the
grand inrv in the District Of Columbia they shall hp
sworn faithfully and impar'iay 10 inquire into and true
prscntmenl make Of. I'll "irrcGs against this act.
Apprnved FCbrua rs % I>.}g.