Case Name: United States v. Shackelford
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1827-11
Citations: 3 Cranch 178
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Shackelford.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 3
Pages: 178–179

Head Matter:
United States v. Shackelford.
Upon an indictment for unlawfully carrying a challenge to fight a duel, a scienter must be proved.
Indictment for unlawfully carrying a challenge to fight a duel.
Mr. Taylor, for the defendant,
contended that it was necessary for the United States to prove that the defendant knew it to be a challenge. It could not be “ unlawfully ” carried if he was ignorant that it was a challenge.
Mr. Swann, for the United States,
contended that the defendant was bound to know; and that he carried it at his peril.

Opinion:
The Court decided, nem. con., that the scienter must be proved ; and the circumstances that the letter was not sealed, and that the defendant declared that he thought it was a legal notice, were for the consideration of the jury in deciding whether the defendant knew it was a challenge.