The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-17

reputation. Let them set at work ct once
The Richmond Trsgedy-Duelling Must
f he Punished rs Murder.
The recent fatal duel at Richmond is the
nrst case of duelling which has occurred in
virginia, at least the first case to which gen
erai attention was called, since the offence was
made murder by act OF the Legislature. 1t is,
consequently, case to be punished as muir
der. the barbarous code is to be made
disreputable it can only be done by the stern
ana ignominious punishment of those who re-
sort to it. We hope that this young man
MCCARTHY, If he lives to be tried, will meet
the just doom Of the murderer, both as an ex-
ample to others who would as ruthlessly sacri-
fee human life and as q punishment for the
crime Of which he was guilty.
In the history Of duelling few encounters
have occurred owing to some great and
grievous wrong. Indeed, the code itself
makes it impossible for men to fight where
real injury has been done. Gentlemen only
fight with gentlemen, and, consequently, no
gentleman can fight with criminal Duels,
therefore, are usually based on trivial occur
rences, which would be regarded as ridiculous
subjects of quarrel had they not a
tragic ending The present case is no ex-
ception. Tiers were some verses attributed
to Mordscai which were supposed by McCar-
thyto refer to young lady in whom he had
an interest. These led to the quarrel and the
duel. Both the principals were wounded,
Mordecai fatally. The killing was murder,
and the murder was committed by the chal-
longing party. There are no excuses for the
crime no mitigating circumstances, so for as
the facts have been developed, and no reason
why the murderer should not be tried and
executed for the crime Of which he is guilty.
The fact that duelling was once favorite
pastime with Southern gentlemen makes the
offence all the more heinous The Legislature
of Virginia had made this pastime murder,
and these young men knew it. In fighting
each other they disregarded the duties they
owed to society, and deliberately violated both
the divine and the human law. The survivor,
and others through him, must be taught that
duelling, like other kinds of murder, is igno-
minious IN the only way it is possible to teach
this lesson-an ignominious death on the
gallows.
When we come to examine into the causes
which lead to duels like this we are astonished
at their feebleness. A barbarous practice is
perpetuated as sign of manliness and high
worth Eagerness to take offence and to fol-
low up the quarrel with the deliberate spilling
of human blood thus becomes cardinal viz
tue. Perhaps the chief reason why Page
Mccarthy challenged and killed his adversary
was because his father had fought and died in
the same unholy way. The other man believed
that to refuse would be cowardly and dishon-
orable, and he was as eager for the duel as
Mccarthy. Had the fatality OF the shooting
been reversed-had Mccarthy died instead of
Mordecai-we should now call for the same
direful punishment. Mordecai has already
paid the penalty Of his crime, and it only re-
mains to make the offences OF both ignomin-
ious by the ignominious punishment of him
who yet remains subject to the law. IT
Mccarthy is brought to the gallows
we shall hear no more of duelling,
and the dishonor which is regarded
as honorable will be swept away. The
seconds, too must meet the doom of the
principal who survives. They were more than
mere accessories to the murder they were
actual participants in the crime All must be
punished by the extreme penalty OF the law,
that this species of murder the only one
which society ever protected, may be regarded
in its true aspects.