Duelling
Ireland.
A Duel between Councellor R........ and .........
November 1779
A remarkable trial lately happened in the Court of King's Bench, in Ireland.
A Counseller R..... had fought a duel with a gentleman, and killed him.
He traversed the indictment, and imagined the Jury, as usual, would bring in their verdict of "Manslaughter." But the Barrister found himself mistaken. They deemed the intentious of two men going out, premeditatedly, to fight, to be " Malice aforethought;" and to the astonishment of the Court, brought the prisoner in "Guilty"- Death.
The Judges desired them to recommend him to the Bench, as an object of mercy. They did it with reluctance. This may probably put a stop to the practice of duelling in Ireland.
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(Courtesy: The Origin and History of Ordeals by James P. Gilchrist)
David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
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