The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Philosophy
The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)
Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Dueling
Mr. O’Callaghan, after this, went off to Hampstead, to get a coach to
convey him from the witness’s house. But in the mean time Mr. Rodd, a
surgeon of Hampstead, arrived, in about half an hour from the time of
the fatal shot. Mr. Rodd, after having examined the wound, said it was
impossible to remove him. The shot had entered on his right side, passed
through his intestines, and all but came through on the left side, it
being only confined by the skin. It was visible to the eye. The shot had
carried with it a piece of the cloth of his coat, and other garments.
The deceased had observed to him, that the quarrel which had been the
cause of the duel was not originally a quarrel of their own, but had
sprung out of a quarrel of their mutual friends, who were to have fought
a duel yesterday, and they were to have been their seconds. Upon
recollection, he would not be positive whether it was the deceased or
Mr. O’Callaghan who made this observation. He, however, understood that
it was the prisoner O’Callaghan who shot the deceased. He did not
observe any pistols in the possession of either of the parties, but he
found two pistols lying on the table of his parlour; none of them owned
them; but he had no doubt of their belonging to them (they were produced
in the office in an unloaded state); they were of a large size. There
were no pistols there before they came into the house. The deceased
lived about two hours, or two hours and a quarter. All the prisoners
paid every possible attention to the deceased, during the time he lived.
He conversed with them all, and particularly with Mr. T. Phealan, who,
the deceased told the witness, had been his second, or his friend, he
could not recollect which. He heard him request Mr. Phealan to write the
full particulars of the whole affair to his father, who, he understood,
lived at Limerick.
Mr. Phealan had some conversation with the deceased privately, every
other person having left the room. He then went off to London to procure
more surgical assistance. On his return, the deceased had expired. Mr.
Newbolt went, in the mean time, to inquire for lodgings at Chalk Farm,
or the neighbourhood. Mr. O’Callaghan went to Hampstead to procure a
coach. They all appeared anxious to do everything for the deceased, and
did not seem inclined to abscond, but very readily surrendered
themselves.
The prisoners were not called upon for any defence. The magistrates
informed them, the law did not make any distinction in cases of murder,
all being considered as principals. They must all, therefore, be
detained. It was suggested to the magistrate, that safe custody was all,
probably, that he would require; to which he assented, and it was
agreed, that they should be kept in the watchhouse till the decision of
the coroner’s inquest should be known; when it was suggested by the
magistrate, that it was probable he might admit Mr. Phealan to bail. He
regretted that the surgeon had not attended.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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