Case Name: UNITED STATES v. SHACKELFORD
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1827-11
Citations: 27 F. Cas. 1037
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. SHACKELFORD.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 27
Pages: 1037–1037

Head Matter:
Case No. 16,260.
UNITED STATES v. SHACKELFORD.
[3 Cranch, C. C. 178.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Nov. Term, 1827.
Dueling—Indictment por Carrying Challenge.
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 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. Swarm, for 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.