New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-10
I-d.o Chambers Charge.

We ara indebted to the editor OF the
Sea Coast Republican, published at Bay st.
I.ouis. for advance proofs of Judge Chan
dler's charge to the grand jury OF Hancock
county, Mississippi. In his charge the at
tention of that body is called to the lately
revived practice of certain gentlemen from
New Orleans whose high sense OF honor has
induced them to resort to deadly weapons
for the settlement of their controversies.
while it did not lead them to regard the
lava and customs of community into
which they intruded for that purpose.
Judge Chandler says:
II ia again my unpleasant duty to call
the attention of the grand jury to repeated
violations of the statute against dueling
It is reported in the newspapers that two
valuable lives have been lost in duels upon
your soil in less than twelve months Other
duelists have had meetings in your county.
which, fortunately, resulted In no injuries
of a very serious nature. To the honor OF
the good old county of Hancock. OF his
toric renown, noted as having been the
abiding place of many eminent people OF
both sexes and for the general good order
of it's citizens, none OF the men VINO mus
trample on your laws and DEFY your minis d,
tiers Of Justice, reside upon your SOIL. Ihey
are all reported to come from your own
favorite city of New Orleans. but they are
nevertheless liable to indictment and pun
ishment in this court.
Under our laws every man who gives or
accepts challenge, or who bears chai-
lenge, or an acceptance OF one, or VINO
fights a duel in this State, or who goes out
of the State to fight, to challenge or to be
challenged to fight, is liable to be indicted.
And "all persons present at the fighting OF
any duel with deadly weapons. either as
second or surgeon, or who shall advise or
give assistance to such duel" is liable to in
dictment." And if any person is killed in
q duel, such killing is held to be murder.
and must be tried and punished as other
cases of murder.
A number of duelists are on bail to ap-
pear and respond to any finding you may
make in their cases. Act on all these
cases speedily and fearlessly, and with
out regard to what the public think OF
dueling and the laws to suppress it. The
law-making power is contided to other
hands; it is our duty to enforce the law,
and no want Of wisdom or expediency in
can justify US in failing to perform our
sworn duty. To shrink from the perform
ance of palpable duty. imposed upon Us
under the solemnities Ut an oath and in
the interests of law and order. in the face
of any public opinion. no matter how de-
cisive and overwhelming it may be, would
exhibit such a want of manhood as to
fairly entitle US to the scorn and contempt
of the duelist himself.
All persons who are supposed to have
been witnesses to these duels, that could be
reached, have been summoned to go before
you,
Any person you cali upon is bound to tes-
tify without reference to his completely in
the crime about which his evidence is de-
sired. And if any witness refuses to testify,
direct your bailiff to hold him in custody,
of the court will be employed to compel him
As german to the question of duelipg, it
is my duty to call your attention to
charge of inhumanity preferred against
your officers by the New Orleans news
papers, on account of their treatment of a
party of duelists that recently fell into
their hands as prisoners. This charge
astOnishes those who are familiar
with the humane and generous nature of
Sheriff Saucier. But if he or any other
officer has failed to take proper care of
these or any other prisoners entrusted to
their keeping, they are subject to indict-
ment and punishment-and if their neg
lect or mistreatment has been so gross as
to amount to inhumanity, that fact greatly
aggravates the Offense And so / instruct
you specially to investigate this charge
thoroughly, and to give these newspaper
men the amplest opportunity of making
good their accusation and to bring in indict-
ments against every officer you find to be
guilty OF crime so damaging to his
character as an officer and 30 worthy of
IN n1shmont