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An Act to Prevent the Practice of Duelling [sic], 1779 Conn. Acts 517, 533 (Timothy Green).

  • Year:
  • 1779
Category:
Jurisdiction:

"An Act to prevent the Practice of Dueling.[1]

BE it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That if any Person within this State, shall challenge the Person of another or shall accept any such Challenge to fight at Sword, Pistol, Rapier, or other dangerous Weapon, such Person so challenging or accepting, shall forfeit and pay into the Treasury of this State, for every such Offence, being thereof convicted before the Superior Court by the Testimony of one or more credible Witnesses, Confession of the Party offending, or other sufficient Evidence, the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, and shall also find sufficient Sureties to the acceptance of such Court, for his good Behaviour during Life; and such Person shall also be disabled ever after from holding any Office of Profit or Honor under this State; and if such Convict shall be unable or neglect to pay the said Forfeiture, he or they shall be closely imprisoned for the Term of one full Year.
   
Be it further enacted, That if any person or Persons shall willingly or knowingly carry or deliver any written Challenge, or verbally deliver any Message, meant as, or purporting a Challenge, or shall be present at the fighting any Duel as aforesaid, as a Second, or Aid, or to give Countenance thereto; he or they being convicted as aforesaid, shall suffer the same Forfeitures, Pains, Penalties and Disabilities as aforesaid; saving only finding Sureties for good Behaviour during Life, as before provided."


[1] Spelled “Duelling” in original source document.

Acts and Laws, Made and Passed by the General Court or Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, in America; Holden at Hartford, in Said State, on the Second Thursday of May, (Being the 13th Day of Said Month), Anno Domini, 1779 (New-London, CT: Timothy Green, 1779), 533. An Act to Prevent the Practice of Duelling [sic]. Passed May 13, 1779.