The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-01-14
. ANTI-DUELLING.

Whereds, great uncertainty has heretofore ex-
listed in this State in the administration of the
law in regard to duelling; and whereas, it is
therefore proper and expedient l,at the law in
regard TO the same should be plaily decla, ed,
that it may be known in the future:
lie II enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the State of South Carolina, now
met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the
authority of the same:
SEcrtoN l. Tint Section seven az Of the one
hundred and twenty. eighth Chapter Of the Cen
eral Statutes, entitled "Of offences against the
person. be, and the same is hereby amended,
- as to read as follows: "SEcTIoN Z. Whoever
shall challenge a. other to fight at sword pistol
rapier, or any other deadly weapon, or whafhul
accept any such ohall"uge, shall for every such
offence, on conviction thereof, be deprived of
the right Of suffrage and be disabled forever
from holding any office of profit or honor in this
State and shall be imprisoned in the PeniIen-
tiary for aterm not exceeding two years, at the
discretion of the Court. And in case any per-
son shall Kill another in any duel with deadly
weapon, or shall inhic: wound or wounds upon
any person in any duol so as the person or per-
sons SO wounded shall thereof die within tho
space Of six months then next following, that
such person so killing another or so wourdng
any rerson or persons whereby such person or
persons so wounded shall die as aforesaid, being
thereof convicted, shalr suffer deolh rs in the
case of wiltul murder
SEC. 2. That Section of the said CHAPTER of
the General Statutes b., and the same is hereby
4Fn}GnJsd, so as TO read rs follows: SECTION &.
deliver spasl wi'ligesy,or knewiassyt carry, :9r
baiy dsiivsers rsaGGS aaG fhai!le &c intended as or pGr
porting to be such challenge, or who shall be
present at the fighting Of any duel as second
or aid or give countenancc thereto, shall, for
every such offence, OH conviction thereof be for
ever disabled from holding any Office of profit
honor in this State. and shall be imprisoned
in the Peniteniary for a term not exceeding
two years, at the discretion Of the Court and
shall be fined in a sum not less than five hun
dred dollars nor more than one thousand dol
lars"
SEC. 3. That from and aft or The passage of this
Act all members elected to the General Assem-
bly,, and all officers now required to take and
subscribe the oath prescribed in Art. III, Section
30 OF the Constitution of the State, shall, in I'D
dition thereto, take the following oath, before
entering upon the duties of their respective of
fees, to be administered in like manner as the
oath now required: IL do solemnly swear (or
affirm, rs the case may be- that | have not,
since the first day of'January, A. d. 1881, en-
gagged in duel within or without the State. Ell
thcr as principal or second, or been present
thereat as q party thereto in behalf of either OF
the principals in such duel, and that will not,
during the term of Office to which have been
elected, Tor appointed, as the case may be- !
engage III duel as prlnclpal, or ala ana aoet In
such duel as secon l. or as n party thereto in
behalf of either principal or otherwise" To
which shall be added in the case of all officers
charged with the preservation oil the peace, the
following: 'And L will, to the extent of my abil-
ity, enforce the penalties prescribed by law
against duelling and will not fail to bring to JUS
tice all persons offending against the said Law
that may come within my view or knowledge"
SEC. 4. That this Act shall not affect indict
ments now pending for offences under the law
as it now exists. or indictments that may be
brought for offences committed before the passage
of this Act.