Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-31
STORIES OF THE CODE.

STORIES OF the CODE.
Duels with Women In tho Case-G.ll.n.
try OF the Typical southerncr.
Atlanta Cor. of the Philadelphia Times.
II is a notable fact that very few Of the
duels fought in the south have hinged upon
women as their cause. Considering the es-
pecial gal'antry on which the %southerner
prides himself, and remembering the fierce
contention that the softer sex has always
aroused, even from the time when Helen,
with lips fashioned for kissing, sounded
wars rude alarm for a world, this statement
needs explanation. 1t is to be found main
ly in the promptness with which the south
erner always resents an imputation against
a WON ms honor or an insult to her person.
The G lief remaining characteristic of that
sepirit Of chivalry, now happily or unhappi-
ly fading away, is the tenderness with which
a woman's name and character is handled
throughout all circles Of society in the south.
Under only the most respectful conditions
is she discussed in public, and scarcely ever
is her name mentioned in promiscuous
crowds. The general sentiment DEGREES that
any i%nsinuation directed toward a woman's
motives or procedure must be satisfied by a
personal demand. To litigate over the hon
or of a wife would be to court contempt,
and the man that begins a crusade against
the virtue of the humblest woman knows
perfectly we'll thar a shot gun, sooner than
a jury, awaits him at the c,nsummation Of
his purpose. 1t is the certainty of punish
ment, direct or deadly, that protects the
southern woman from the hands of the H.
centious or the tongue of the slanderous.
Where two gentlemen have a difference, at
the bottom of which there is a feminine
.provocation, they manage in most cases to
direct the public from the true issue. The
pattern for this is set in "Camille," where
the lover and libertine by common consent
shuttle a pack Of gamblers cards in the face
of the audience that they may hide the form
Of the half-divine coquette that has moved
them to anger; masking themselves even
with blackguardism that they may hide the
woman that looks out from their eyes. That
Mars often goes a-field at the behoof Of
Venus, cannot be doubted; but he does not
carry her free upon his shield nor sound
her wrongs as a shibboleth.
COOL KILLING.
Once in a while there are duels fought in
which a lady is a purely incidental cause.
Such a duel took place in South Carolina,
in the year 1858, between Messrs. John
Dunorant and j. D. Legare. The gentlemen
were, the story runs, devoted and intimate
friends. 1t appears that Legare was quite
attentive to a young lady of great beauty
and worth in the upper part of the state.
The two friends shortly after Legare had
met the lady went to the village where she
lived for the purpose of getting some good
shooting. They were, of course, frequent
visitors at her fathers house. One day
Legare imagined that he detected a sudden
GOODNESS on the part of the young lady and
her family toward himself. In questioning
his friend as to the probable cause of it, he
asked him it he had ever made any remarks
about him to any Of the family. Dunorant
replied that he had said nothing Of conse-
quence; that on one occasion he had been
asked if Legare ever drank, and had an
swered that he sometimes did. Legare at
once attributed the change, real or supposed,
in the behavior of the laday to this state
ment or admission on the part of his friend.
A prolonged discussion ensued between
them, the particulars Of which N be
reliably stated. 1t is generally believed
that Dunoran was disposed to be conciliatory
while Legare WAS very much angered. The
issue between them was finally narrowed
down to a demand on the part Of Legare
that Dunorant put in writing precisely what
he had said to the father Of the lady. Dun
oran declined to do this. He contended
that the demand was an implied insult,
Legare persisted, and upon Dunoran.'s re
naming firm, sent him a challenge. Du'
norant promptly accepted it, and the details
Of q meeting were arranged: Dunorant wa.
l n ~arx1 1oo, ~ ~ III, <ko -,,tD1 =, oosf
that on the evening before the duel he wen
out to practice, and could literally not hit a
barn door. Legare was q capital shot. From
that he would kill him at the first fire. HI
the time, II will kill him when / draw the
trigger"
When the men were on the ground 8
curious thing occurred, as l am Informed
When the second who was to give the wore
called. care you ready, gentlemen
Dunorant responded in a firm and steady
tone, "No." He then drew a small pen.
knife from his pocket, opened it deliberate
ly, and, fixed his eyes squarely on Legare
walked toward him. When he had traver
sed only tvo-thirds of the intervening dis.
lance, he stopped, and reaching down, GU,
OH a small twlg that stood between himseli
and his opponent. He then returned 10 his
position, shut his knife carefully, and re.
turned to his pocket. Without taking his
eyes off Of Legare, he announced, Ready
and said to his second, 81 am going to Kill
him." The men being in position, the
command Fire! one-two-three!" rang
out upon the air. A ring of smoke aprane
from the nipple Of each pistol, and Legare
dropped dead in his tracks. Dunorant
stood for a moment as if he we're carved in
stone, and then dropping his arm slowly,
turned to his second, unhurt.
AQUARDR1LATERAL DUEL.
The ia nous duels between the Messrs
Sonle, father and SOD, and Marquis Turgat
and Duke d'Alba we're occasioned by a re.
mark made concerning Mrs. Sonle, the