Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-10-28
COtjRTs OF HoEOK,

An ordinance has been issued by the King
of Prussia for the establishment of Courts of
Honor, for the prevention Of dueIling and for
the adjustment of such questions between
officers OF other gentlemen as Have been con-
sidered as coming under the cognizance of
the code of honor. BY the laws Of Prussia,
killing in a duel is regarded rs murder, and
punishable with aeafli! Quite recently in The
case of a duel at Cologne, between a Lieut..
Won Peizer and Mr.. Helm, the latter being Kill
led, Won Peizer was tried and sentenced 10
suffer death /; and hts second who was a lieu
tenant in the same regiment, was condemned
to hard labor in a fortress for ten years. The
second of Helm has not been discovered. The
sentence of Won Peizer had not been execut-
ed at the last account, and 1t was confidently
hoped that the King would commute it. 4
letter from Berlin, published in a London
journal, gives tire following account of the
principles on which these courts are based:
The ordinance on this t5atter is dated, saws
the letter, July 90 and contains 81 articles,
from which it appears that courts of honor
are to be permanent IN all garrisons, the mem
bers being named by the King, All aficers
Of the army, with The exception of general Of.
fcers arc subject to tie jurisdiction of those
courts. The punishment which those courts
may infict are five, viz /. reprimand, dismiss
al, rusticatior from the body of oEcers, de-
privatlon of the right to wear military uni
form, removal from The dwelling which Off
GERS, on half-pay rhay have obtained. In all
cases where a dispute has arisen, and a duel
may follow, councils Of honor are specially
charged with the task of feconciling the par
ties. The officers intending to fight are sound
under heavy penalties 10 give immediate no.
tice to those councils, which are then to pro-
cure all the necessary information ON what
has passed, and should they not be able TO re-
conclle fine parties are {, refer the matter to
one Of the courts Of honor. ssi
The Court, after having heard the parties.
will make a declaration, limited to one of the
three following %categories II: That the no.
nor OF neither party is to be consfnered out
ragged, and the court does not think it neccs-
sary TO issue a %reprinand. 3. That either or
both parties are TO be reprimandef, and that
they are to recipr6calfy apologize before the
court and shake hands! 3. That one or both
IS to be dismissed the Service. In fine latter
case a report is to be addressed to tire King by
fee Court of Honor; and an ordinance viii
subsequently decide on the matter, should the
parties refuse TO acquiesse To the suggestions
of The court, they shall be authorized TO fight,
but subject TO the penalties given below.
Should there be any real SaHse for the duel,
the Council of Honor shall make another at
SoHSA @hS PhflCS3 AIT II thi
should prove unsuccessful; the council and
seconds shall be present a., the fight. After
il has been concluded, the C5urcil Of Honor
shall send in a report Of the matter to be
Council Of War, which shall apply to tbs COM
batants the following punfshments,-1. IL
neither ADVERSARY is killed. both shall ne con-
fined in a fortress foEapne or two months, &C.
cording to the nature of the wounds inflicted.
2. If one has been killed, or dies of wounds,
fhe survivor shall be pu: under arrest, and
confined in a fortress for a time not exceeding
four years, nor less than one. 9. Should the
challenge be given for a duel a outranec, the
survivor shall be confined for from five TO ten
years. Should neither adversary be killed
the same amount of punishment shall be in
ficted ON BOTH but reduced to a period Of
from two to six years. 4. Ifthere are agra.
ting circumstances, the survivor shall be SEN
fenced to from ten to twenty years imprison-
ment. 6. Should a dnel take piece without
notice being given to the Council of Honor,
but in rhd presence of seconds, or should il
take place without seconds being present, the
punishment shall be increased. 6. In all ca
ses the Council of War shall inquire If he who
has sent the challenge hiss done SO deliberate
ly and maifciodsly, or onls in a moment of
passion or irritation. In the former case the
punishment may be doubted r.