The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-21
lion. William Goold.l

The book of books which in my young
days was read in schools as well as meeting
houses, gives stirring account of a case of
personal combat. In the reading of the
Bible in school when we come to the story of
David and Goliath the whole school left their
lessons, and all eyes and ears were intent on
the reader of that narrative. | think the
SuDday-sch0o boy was excusable who, while
listening to an oral account by his teacher of
the preliminaries of the battle got excited,
and when the teacher came to repeat the big
braggart's proclamation. he could wait no
longer but blurted out, Skip that, skip that !;
tell us who licked"
During the reading in our district school,
it occurred to me that David would have APP
peared better if when the general told him
that to whoever would kill the Philistine
the king would give his daughter in mar
rage with great riches, he had taken the Of
ficer's word. To make it sure that the offer
was genuine the youngster went to another
and asked if it was true; and even went to
the third with the same question, so that
there should be no mistake about the damsel
and the shekels. When David replied to the
Philistine's boasting by saying he came in
the name of the Lord OF hosts, to have ap-
peared consistent, he should have added by
way of parenthesis land Saul and his
daughter" There is ground for suspicion
that like most personal encounters there was
woman at the bottom of it.
There was an ancient law of England that
one accused of felony could demand his
wager of battle" If the evidence was
clear the accused was not compelled to fight.
Otr 20,
which would relieve him. If the judges
allowed the appeal the combat begun by the
accused throwing down his glove, which was
taken up by the accuser; whereupOn each
party affirmed categOrically by an oath the
truth of the accusation and denial and added
This will prove against thee by my body"
Thereupon the parties must proceed to fight
with club and buckler in the presence of the
court from sunrise until the appearance of
the stars In the evening, If both we're able
III the accuser was vanquished the accused
was acquitted. If the accused was van.
quished he was hanged forthwith This
law had been dead letter for years but un-
repealed. 1918 was the last in which the ap-
peal to wager of battle was allowed by the
the judges In England. The defendant was
charged with the rape and murder of the APP
pelant's sister. The accused claimed the
right of appeal to battle, and the judges after
long consultation allowed it. The accuser
declined to fight, whereupon the accused
allowing an appeal to the wager of battle
was abolished by Parliament.
Single combat has been resorted to to set
tie controversies In New England, even in
the. blue-law State. Some time during the
early settlement of Connecticut, (the date
nave LOST, dispute arose between Lyme
and New London about the title to tract
OF land, formerly an Indian reservation.
which was Joined by both towns. 1t was
nnaIIy agreed to settle the title to the land in
controversy c9anr Nhy oy combat between two cham
Iown meetings were held. The champions
were chosen and upon q day mutually
agreed upon the champions appeared in
me Held, each one accompanied by
his own townsmen to cheer him on
and to enforce fair play. The Champions
fought yaliantly with their fists, with no in
terruption until victory was declared in IA
vor OF the Lyme cOmbatant. That town
then quietly took possession of the contro-
verted tract ana las held 1t undisputed until
the present day.
Single combat with deadly weapons as
public exhibitions were winked at by the
Puritan authorities of Boston 200 years ago.
Judge Samuel Sewall himself, a magistrate
~ the straightest sort, records in his diary
this:
1887, Friday, April 22. Two persons, one
array ed In while, the other In red go through the
town with naked swords advanced, with drum
attending each OF them and Quarierstaff ian
oficrr) and a great rout following as usual. 1t
seems tits challenge to be fought at Capt Wings
Ithe lrading public house OF the town next
Thursday:
1t seems this was not solitary case. The
diary continues:
>. Apr; 20. After the stage fight in the evening
Ihe soldier who wounded his antagonist went,
accompanied with a drum and about drawn
sss shouting through the streets In kind of
apr 20: 70. Another challenger goes with his
SaAeu SWORD through the street with itchborn
aiuninier' ana man carrying quarterstaff."
Pluck and prowess have ALWAYS had a
gfeat charm Tor people in whatever cause ex-